Background
This conference and exhibition is one of a number of global events to celebrate the International Year of Forests. It has been proposed in the firm belief that greater wood use can make a significant and valuable contribution to society’s desire for a more sustainable future. It is also based on the conviction that a sustainable and prosperous forest products sector is essential for sustainable forest management. The overall aim of the conference is to help participants understand the outlook for wood products and develop strategies for future development with, in particular, a focus on the artistic, cultural and socio-economic uses of wood. Technical programme Throughout the three days of the conference, the 300 participants from 40 different countries will hear from 70 leading thinkers about the contribution that wood products can make to a more sustainable future for the World. Amongst the prominent speakers attending this event are the following:
Artistic programme Alongside the technical sessions, on all three days, artisans will be present at the venue to showcase their craft. Chosen to represent a range of different wood carving styles and techniques, artisans from all over India will be present to demonstrate, in a practical way, the art and joy of wood. Foreign artisans from China, Turkey, Japan, Indonesia and Cameroon will also be demonstrating their skills and their work. Reflecting the theme of the artistic contributions of wood to society, competitions have also been organised for photographs, photo-stories, art and poetry on the theme of the "art and joy of wood". The prize winning entries will be on display at the exhibition and the photo competition winners will attend to receive their prizes and talk about their work (see "photo competition" webpage). Media Contact This conference will be held at the J N Tata Auditorium in the IISc Campus, Bangalore from 19-22 October 2011. Journalists interested in covering this event or to arrange interviews with any of the speakers, artisans, competition winners or organisers of the conference are requested to contact: Ms Dharini Parthasarathy (FAO, New Delhi) +91 88 2610 7830 or Mr Pankaj Aggarwal (IWST, Bangalore) +91 98 8003 4208 . |