CTFS- SIGEO and Smithsonian Institution represented at The Prince of Wales' meeting in London

CTFS-SIGEO Director, Stuart Davies, and Senior Staff Scientist and leader of the CTFS-SIGEO Functional Traits Initiative, Joe Wright, represented the Smithsonian Institution and STRI in a two-day workshop on "Critical Challenges and Opportunities for Tropical Forest Science" coordinated by Prince Charles’ Charities’ International Sustainability Unit. It was held in London at the Royal Society and St. James’s Palace, Clarence House. 

The science group agreed on a memorandum that describes a series of concerns and initiatives required to halt the loss and degradation of tropical forests. This memorandum, the "St James’s Palace Memorandum on Tropical Forest Science", was presented to Prince Charles, senior representatives of Governments, and leaders from civil society and the private sector. Prince Charles is extremely motivated and supportive of this initiative. He has been working for a number of years towards building a strategy on curbing global deforestation.

The meeting culminated in a series of short presentations by Prince Charles, scientists, several representatives of government (UK, US, and Germany), and the business community. Stuart had the opportunity to talk about the mission of CTFS and the value of the large plot network while Joe was able to discuss restoration and conservation with the group. The US Ambassador to the UK, Barbara Stephenson, who had two stints as Ambassador to Panama, spoke very enthusiastically of her introduction to tropical forests at STRI in Panama.

For a link to the Memorandum, click here 

  

For further information, see: http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/news-and-diary/red-isu-meeting