From September 12-16″ 2011″ promising mid-career officers in public forest agencies from 12 countries converged in Milford” Pennsylvania for the international training seminar titled Global Issues in Governance of Natural Resources: New Leadership for New Challenges.

The seminar” co-organized by Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI)” U.S. Forest Service International Programs and MegaFlorestais” was held at Grey Towers” a historic site and home of the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service” Gifford Pinchot” now owned and beautifully maintained by the U.S. Forest Service.

The week-long training exposed participants to cutting-edge analysis on a wide range of issues in order to provide a deeper understanding of global transitions in forest governance. The training promoted improved information sharing and networking” as well as  better-prepared second generation forest leaders to work with their global peers to solve future challenges.

One 2011 participant summarized his experience at Grey Towers as the following:

“By stripping away our agency” our job titles” as individuals we’re able to devote more than a half powerpoint slide on the challenges and forestry problems our countries are facing.  As agency representatives we traditionally share a large national success story without the context of challenges we overcame. I think that’s the real benefit of a venue like this” of attending the Global Issues in Governance seminar. The honesty in sharing difficulties and not just best practices helps us all deal with the pressing issues facing forest governance around the world.”

The second annual Global Issues in Governance of Natural Resources training created a unique chance for dialogue and facilitated focused discussions on topics such as tenure reform; global shifts in the forest sector” including the growing demand for food” fuel and fiber; and  climate change adaptation and mitigation measures among future forest leaders.

The 2011 seminar included representatives from national forest ministries and public agencies” as well as civil society organizations from Brazil” Cameroon” Canada” China” DRC” France” India” Indonesia” Nepal” Peru” Russia and the United States.

To see photos from this year's seminar and for more information on the Global Issues in Governance of Natural Resources click here.