About IBFRA

The International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA) is a network that promotes international cooperation on boreal forest research and management. Since its founding in 1991, IBFRA has served as a platform for collaboration among scientists, governments, and organizations committed to understanding and sustaining the world’s boreal regions. IBFRA conferences provide opportunities to share research, strengthen partnerships, and inform policy for the stewardship of northern forests.

IBFRA Conference 2026

Each IBFRA conference focuses on issues of global concern such as global change, biodiversity, climate change, disturbances and the global carbon cycle, as well as on issues requiring increased coordination within the boreal community such as classification, inventory and monitoring.

This year’s theme “Living with disturbance: Resilience in boreal forests“ highlights that boreal forests are dynamic ecosystems shaped by natural and human disturbances. As the pace and intensity of change accelerate under a shifting climate, understanding how these forests - and the people and communities who depend on them - adapt and persist has never been more critical.

We invite practitioners, and policy makers to share knowledge and explore pathways toward resilient boreal landscapes that sustain ecological function, cultural values, and community well-being.

View the Program
FAQs

Past conferences have included: USA (1992, 1997, 2004, 2021), Norway (1993, 1998), Sweden (1993, 2006) Canada (1994, 2000, 2013), Finland (1995, 2015, 2023), Russia (1996, 2002, 2011), China (2008), and Austria (2018).

2026 Organizing Committee

  • ALEXIS ACHIM

    Université Laval
    Conference Host

  • VINCENT ROY

    Natural Resources Canada
    IBFRA Steering Committee Liaison

  • NELSON THIFFAULT

    Natural Resources Canada
    Scientific Committee Coordinator

  • NICHOLAS COOPS

    University of British Columbia
    UBC Liaison/Coordinator

  • AMY WOTHERSPOON

    University of British Columbia
    Event Coordinator

  • CATHERINE CHAGNON

    Université Laval
    Event Coordinator

  • EMMANUELLE BABY-BOUCHARD

    Université Laval
    Event Coordinator

2026 Scientific Committee

  • Alex Appiah Mensah

    Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Annie Claude Bélisle

    Professeure sous octroi, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

  • Arun Bose

    Scientific Staff Member, Forest and Soil Ecology, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

  • Cédric Albert

    Assistant Professor, Université de Moncton

  • Claire Singer

    PhD candidate, Applied Sciences, Saint Mary's University

  • Clémentine Pernot

    Direction de la recherche forestière (DRF), ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts du Quéebec

  • Darren J.H. Sleep

    Chief Scientist, Forest Ecology and Conservation, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)

  • Dmitry Schepaschenko

    Principal Research Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria

  • Ellen Whitman

    Forest Fire Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service

  • Erika Olofsson

    Associate professor, Linnaeus University

  • Fidele Bognounou

    Biologist, RNCAN

  • François Hébert

    Research scientist, Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts du Québec

  • Isabel C Barrio

    Professir, Agricultural University of Iceland

  • Jean-Daniel Sylvain

    Chercheur scientifique, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts

  • Jérôme Laganière

    Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre

  • Joanne White

    Research Scientist, Canadian Forest Service

  • Junior A. Tremblay

    Research Scientist - Environment and Climate Change Canada

  • Karin Hjelm

    Associate professor Senior researcher, Skogforsk (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden)

  • Kaysandra Waldron

    Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada

  • Kevin Solarik

    Director, Canadian Forest Sustainability, NCASI

  • Loïc D'Orangeville

    Associate Professor, Université Laval

  • Martin-Hugues St-Laurent

    Professor, Université du Québec à Rimouski

  • Maxence Martin

    Professor in Applied Forest Ecology, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

  • Olivier Villemaire-Côté

    Assistant professor, Université Laval

  • Rafaella Mayrinck

    Assistant Professor, University of New Brunswick

  • Raquel Alfaro Sanchez

    Research Scientist, Climate Change and Forest Ecology, Northern Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service

  • Roberto Silvestro

    Professor, Université de Québec à Chicoutimi

  • Sanghyun Kim

    CEO & Co-founder, MiON Forest Inc.

  • Seung-Il Lee

    Assistant Professor of Forest Entomology, Lakehead University

  • Stephen J. Mayor

    Research Scientist in Terrestrial Systems Ecology, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

  • Tuomas Aakala

    Professor, University of Eastern Finland

  • Valentina Buttò

    Professor, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

  • Txomin Hermosilla

    Research Scientist, Canadian Forest Service

  • Victor Danneyrolles

    Research Professor, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

  • Yan Boulanger

    Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada

FAQs

    • Researchers and students in or outside academia,

    • Natural resource managers and representatives of the forest, wood and energy industries,

    • Representatives of indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, government and policy advisors, and anyone interested in the implications of climate-disturbance interactions in the boreal region.

  • All registration information will be posted near the end of 2025.

    Some things to note:

    • Early bird registration fees will be available during the first month of registration. Be sure to check your email regarding these dates.

    • Reduced registration fees will be available for students and early-career researchers. Details will be posted on the registration page.

    • All presenters for both oral and poster presentations must register by April 15, 2026 to be included by the final program. If you do not register by this date, your presentation slot will be offered to someone else.

    Keep checking back to this website for more information.

  • Unfortunately we are unable to provide travel grants or financial assistance for this event. We encourage you to seek financial assistance from your home institutions.

  • Yes. Optional field excursions will take place toward the end of the conference, offering participants the chance to explore local boreal forest landscapes and management sites near Québec City.

    Stay tuned for more details, coming soon.

  • No, unfortunately this will be an in-person event only.

  • Yes. The program includes networking receptions, poster sessions, and social events designed to foster collaboration and exchange among participants.

  • A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Hilton Quebec, 100 Bd René-Lévesque Est. (valid only for the dates of the event), right beside the Convention Centre. Please refer to our Venue & Accommodation page for a reservation link, phone number and promotional code to book your discounted rates.

  • Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.

    Please check entry requirements well in advance at the Government of Canada webpage.

    We are happy to provide official letters of invitation to those with accepted oral and poster presentations attending the events. View our Registration Page to complete a form with all the information we require for your letter.

    Note that the visa application in Canada can be very slow. We encourage you to apply for a visa application as soon as possible.

  • Registration includes daily coffee breaks and lunch on days of the scientific program, plus additional drinks or meals at select social events.

    Information about these events, what they include, the conference dinner, and their prices will be available closer to the event

  • Abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings and schedule, but presentations will not be recorded. We encourage you to contact presenting authors for which you would like to have further discussion or sharing of resources.