Meetings and Conference Support

One of the primary objectives of the CFS is to disseminate information regarding urban growth and its effect on the forested landscape.  Conference sponsorship is an effective way that the CFS supports the dissemination of research results to the pertinent regulatory departments, policy makers, other researchers, and the public. A list of meetings and conferences financially supported by CFS is provided below.

The CFS was particularly active in the sponsorship and development of two international conferences devoted to science and policy related to urbanization. The first conference- Emerging Issues along Urban/Rural Interfaces: Linking Science and Society was held in Atlanta, Georgia in 2005. The conference was organized by Dr. David Laband, SFWS Professor at Auburn University. In addition to the CFS, other major sponsors included the National Science Foundation and the USDA Forest Service, Southern Center for Wildland-Urban Interface Research and Information.  The conference was a tremendous success bringing together 250 participants from over 20 countries, including over 75 students. An extensive conference proceedings was published following the meeting.

Riding the success of the 2005 meeting, a second meeting: Emerging Issues along Urban Rural Interfaces 2: Linking Land-Use Science and Society was held in Atlanta, Georgia in 2007. Like its predecessor, it provided a forum for a diverse array of topics related urbanization. An extensive conference proceedings was published for this meeting as well. Planning is currently underway for a third meeting.