Elisabeth Köstinger
Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism of Austria

“Multifunctional boreal forests and mountain forests are among the ecosystems most affected by climate change. They play a key role in tackling climate change and achieving the Paris climate goals. I am therefore supporting the IBFRA18 Cool Forests Conference and I am delighted to be an Ambassador for Cool Forests.“

Gerald Schweighofer
CEO, Holzindustrie Schweighofer

"As a traditional family-owned company that has been active in the timber industry for more than 400 years, we are committed to sustainable forestry. We rely on the ecosystem services that forests deliver and on sustainably managed forests. For this reason we also see the challenges climate change poses on forests and therefore actively support research and scientific discourse in this important field."

Peter Mayer
Managing Director, Austrian Research Centre for Forests, BFW

"Measures to combat climate change and to implement the sustainable development goals are in many ways related to forest ecosystems. When taking a close look at global forest ecosystems it is evident that boreal and mountain forests play an important, yet not adequately considered, role. Therefore, the conference "Cool forests at risk?" is convened at the right time to increase the recognition of these crucial ecosystems. Moreover, the Conference provides the opportunity to discuss the role of cool forests regarding the concepts of bioeconomy and circular economy for the benefit of our societies."

Prof. Dr. Pavel Kabat
IIASA Director General and CEO

"We are delighted to be holding the IBFRA18 conference here at IIASA in Austria. IIASA is ideally placed to bring together multidisciplinary teams from a global network to address the challenge of managing and protecting ‘cool forests’ and the resources and benefits they provide.This unique event will draw attention to the challenges the forests are facing and inform strategies and policies on how to tackle them. I am proud to sign off as a Cool Forest Ambassador. Please join me. I look forward to welcoming you to Laxenburg."

Lina Dabbagh
Head of Policy Advocacy, Climate Action Network International

“In the struggle to limit global warming to 1.5o C, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement, carbon sequestration in natural ecosystems play an outstanding role. It is vital to protect primary forests, halt deforestation and peatland degradation, and restore lost and degraded forests in a sustainable and participatory manner, while strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities”.