Arrival tea and registrations
Hosted by Stellenbosch University
Forestry Science Symposium 2026
24–26 November 2026Stellenbosch, South Africa
Conference programme
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Browse the programme by day or search by speaker, topic or theme.
Tuesday, 24 November
STIAS
10 Marais Road, Stellenbosch Central
Welcome
Opening address: Dr Ronald Heath
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsFull presentationSession chair: Louis Titshall (Sappi)
Stories of susceptibility: mortality and growth in the first two years of the IMPACT Open-Air Laboratory
Prof David Drew
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsFull presentation
Beyond mean climate: preparing South African forestry for a future of climate extremes
Dr Yolandi Ernst
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsFull presentation
High‑resolution climate downscaling using terrain features and global circulation models: applications for species suitability in the management of plantation forestry
Dr Jaco-Pierre van der Merwe
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsFull presentation
Using functional traits to design climate-resilient forestry systems in South Africa
Prof Rob Skelton
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsFull presentation
An integrated framework for climate-responsive species–site matching in South African plantation forestry
Mrs Miranda Wilson
Morning tea
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsSpeed talk
Investigating morpho-physiological indicators of drought tolerance in commercially important eucalypt species and hybrids
Ms Londiwe Mthembu
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsSpeed talk
A comparison of water-use and water productivity of E. dunnii and E. grandis x E. urophylla and their potential impacts on subsurface water resources
Mr Molefi Khoabane
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsSpeed talk
The influence of plantation site x species interactions on water-use patterns of various pine species in the Mpumalanga escarpment area of South Africa.
Dr Heinrich Hechter
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsSpeed talk
Differences in cambial dynamics of four eucalypts in response to drought and drought release
Dr Leandra Moller-Hanekom
Climate-Resilient Forestry SystemsSpeed talk
A mechanistic climate-resilient solution for South African forestry
Dr Caroline Hardy
Q&A
Silviculture and Sustainable Timber ProductionFull presentationSession chair: Tatenda Mapeto (NWU)
Financial performance associated with vegetation management treatments in eucalypt pulpwood stands
Prof Keith Little
Silviculture and Sustainable Timber ProductionFull presentation
Changes in eucalypt biomass and soil nutrient status due to high intensity nutrient removal over seven cropping cycles: preliminary results
Dr Glen Cooper
Silviculture and Sustainable Timber ProductionFull presentation
Understanding the impact of mechanical mulching as a residue management tool on subsequent operational efficiency of downstream operations
Mr Leeshan Mahadeo
Silviculture and Sustainable Timber ProductionFull presentation
Season-driven growth responses in juvenile Eucalyptus across different species and planting densities.
Mr Kudzai Kundishora
Lunch
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentFull presentationSession chair: Nicky Jones (Sappi)
Toward breeding 5.0 in forest trees: a genomic vision for eucalypt improvement
Prof Zander Myburg
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentFull presentation
One pathway, many gene families: a pangenome perspective on lignin biosynthesis
Dr Anneri Lotter
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentFull presentation
Forty years of Eucalyptus dunnii breeding at Sappi: progress, challenges and future opportunities
Mrs Tracy le Roux
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentFull presentation
Landscape genomics identifies climate-adaptive genetic variation in Eucalyptus grandis
Dr Jessica Winn
Discussion forum: big questions for forestry—challenges and opportunities
Afternoon tea
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
Genotype × environment interaction and site-specific deployment of Eucalyptus germplasm across contrasting ecological zones in Tanzania
Mr Charles Kimani
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
Dissecting the genetic architecture of Teratosphaeria destructans resistance in Eucalyptus
Mr Tshoganyetso Motete
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
Development of a commercial tissue culture protocol for hybrid pine species (P. patula x P. tecunumanii)
Ms Georgia Dyer
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
Optimising frost tolerance phenotyping protocols in Pinus patula x P. tecunumanii hybrids for climate-resilient pine breeding
Ms Anicka Nel
Q&A
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
The effect of mycorrhizal fungi inoculation in Eucalyptus grandis seedlings on growth rate in a nursery setting at SA fine-tuned Stutterheim
Ms Inathi Kwezi
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
Multi-scale precision phenotyping Fusarium circinatum resistance in hybrid F1 Pinus
Mr Bertus van Rooy
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
Lean breeding in Eucalyptus: balancing genetic gains and diversity under resource constraints
Mr Nuveshen Naidoo
Advanced Tree Improvement, Genomics and DeploymentSpeed talk
Performance in rust resistance and frost tolerance of selected individuals in progeny tests versus their performance as clones of acacia mearnsii
Dr Julian Moreno Chan
Q&A
Poster session & cocktail reception
STIAS
Delegates are invited to view the posters and engage with presenters while enjoying drinks and light refreshments.
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