Call for Proposals

Scheduling notifications updates will be provided here. If you have questions, contact us at [email protected].

Important Dates

February 2 - Call for proposals opens for all submissions
March 16 - Deadline for lecture presentations, organized sessions, panel discussions, roundtable discussions, science flashes, and workshops
April 30 - Deadline for posters
June - Notification deadline for all proposals
July - Schedule available

Additional Topics

Proposals are also welcome in the following areas:

Agroforestry
Bioenergy, Climate Change, and Carbon
Business Acumen
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Natural Resources Research, Practice, and Education
Economics, Policy, and Law
Forest Ecology
Forest Health and Genetics
Forest History & Philosophy and Ethics
Forest Production & Utilization
Forest Technology
Human Dimensions and Education
International Forestry
Inventory & Biometrics
Family Forests
Leadership Development
Recreation and Wilderness Management
SAF Matters
Silviculture
Soils & Hydrology
Sustainability and Certification
Urban and Community Forestry
Water Resources
Wildland Fire Management
Wildlife Management

Theme

The theme, "From Roots to Canopy: 125 Years of Forestry and Natural Resources," acknowledges 125 years of professional forestry in the United States. This event will bring together foresters, researchers, and policymakers, to reflect on the rich history of forestry, share current advancements, and look ahead to the future of sustainable forest management.

Join us in Hartford, Connecticut, October 22-25, 2025, to celebrate the sector, learn from your peers, grow your network within and beyond the sector, and develop as a forestry and natural resources professional.

Subthemes

Subthemes help bring in additional elements of the convention to the program, provide direction to selected speakers, and bring cohesion to the technical program

1. Foundations of Forestry: Building a Legacy of Knowledge, Conservation, and Stewardship
Forestry’s roots trace back to Indigenous knowledge and early conservation efforts, shaping how we manage forests today. While challenges like wildfires, pests, and balancing resource use with preservation persist, forestry continues to evolve. This subtheme explores how traditional and modern knowledge have shaped the culture, education, and ecology of contemporary forestry.

2. Sustaining Growth: Innovations and Practices in Forest Stewardship
Forestry continues to evolve by integrating innovative practices with modern silviculture and harvesting techniques to balance timber production, wildlife conservation, and habitat preservation. This subtheme recognizes how forest innovation and community-based initiatives contribute to biodiversity and ensure healthy forests for future generations.

3. Forests in the Community: Collaboration and Urban Connections
Urban forestry connects ecological and economic benefits by linking growing cities with surrounding rural forests. It brings together governments, local communities, and NGOs to collaborate on sustainable solutions. This subtheme addresses the need for continuous learning in urban forestry to strengthen ecosystems while fostering a deeper understanding of forestry’s role in everyday life.

4. Forests for the Future: Resilience and Adaptation in a Changing World
Forestry is leading the way in adaptation and resilience as climate change reshapes our environment. Urban forestry and green infrastructure extend forest management into cities, creating ecological buffers and strengthening community resilience. This subtheme highlights strategies and adaptive management frameworks that balance conservation with economic growth while prioritizing ecological integrity and sustainable revenue generation.

5. Forestry’s Next Frontier: Emerging Trends and Opportunities
The future of forestry relies on societal engagement, addressing environmental challenges, and meeting economic and global needs. This subtheme explores redefining the economic value of forests, reshaping forestry with a fresh perspective, ensuring the next generation upholds sustainable practices, and strengthening forest resilience against ecological threats.

Who Should Submit a Proposal?

You! Natural resources and forestry professionals and students (undergraduate and graduate) from across all disciplines and career levels are welcome and encouraged to submit a proposal. We need your voices to create a diverse technical program that informs on a variety of subjects from A-Z.

How Do I Submit a Proposal?

Submit your proposal using the online submission form starting on February 15. Proposals sent by email will not be considered. Proposals that are incomplete will not be considered.

Types of Proposals

Proposal Type	Description	Length of Proposal	Number of Speakers/Presenters
Lecture Presentations	Formal conversation or lecture around a specific topic	30 minutes (includes introduction and Q&A)	Maximum of two speakers
Organized Session	Multiple individual lecture presentations within a larger submission; all presentations present on similar topic area	90 minutes (for 3 presentations)  or 180 minutes (for 6 presentations)	Maximum of two speakers per presentation
Panel Discussions	Panelists (3 - 4 experts) will share insights and knowledge to curated questions posed by moderator and audience	90 minutes	Maximum of 5 speakers (4 panelists plus a moderator)
Posters	Printed displays that fit within a space 42 inches wide by 40 inches high (107 cm by 102 cm)	Presenters are expected to engage with individuals, either one-on-one or in small groups throughout the poster symposium	Maximum of two presenters
Roundtable Discussions	Share experiences, hold group discussions, and have participants interact with the content	90 minutes	Maximum of four facilitators
Science Flashes	Present ideas, key findings, and emerging research to a large audience	10 minutes (includes introduction and Q&A)	Maximum of two speakers
Workshop	Designed to teach or develop a specific skill and may include hands on elements, group discussions, and practical applications	Full day (up to 8 hours) Half day (up to 4 hours) Quarter day (up to 2 hours) To be held on Friday, September 20	Maximum of four facilitators

Components of a Proposal

Submitters will need to have the following prepared to submit a proposal.

Component	Description	Word Limit
Primary Speaker /Lead Organizer-	Name, Institution, and Email Required. A submitter may submit a proposal on behalf of a primary speaker, but required information should be included.	n/a
Proposal Title	Creative yet descriptive	15 words or less
Proposal Takeaway	A summary of key points and issues. If accepted, the takeaway will appear in marketing materials and is what attendees will use to make decisions about which sessions to attend.	50 words or less
Full Description of Proposal	A description of the proposal. This may include your research abstract and should address how your proposal will relate to the sub-theme you selected. If accepted, this description will appear in the JOF convention proceedings.	300 words or less
Learning Objectives	The objectives of your proposal in the context of what participants will be able to demonstrate, explain, identify, establish, and/or outline as a result of attending this presentation or completing this session	200 words or less
Session Design (Workshop Only)	How the program will apply adult learning principles considering the target audience and adapting to engage/support the non-target audience with application of diverse learning modes?	500 words or less
Participant Outcome (Workshop Only	The outcome you seek to indicate a successful event - for example, applied new skill, improved performance/productivity, transformed behavior, adjusted attitude/mindset, increased awareness - immediately at the end of the session, and 3-6 months and/or 9-12 months following the workshop/seminar.	200 words or less

Volunteer Opportunity: Review SAF Convention Proposals

We are looking for knowledgeable and passionate SAF members to join our team of reviewers for this years science and technical session proposals. If you are familiar with or aligned to our key topic areas, included forest technologies, ecologies, policy, agroforestry, recreation, and more, we'd love for you to participate! Reviewers will review details about how to evaluate and score proposals and can review as many proposals as they'd like. Each proposal requires an average of 10-15 minutes to thoroughly review it. Complete the form linked HERE by Friday March 21st if you would like to be a reviewer!

Review Criteria

Proposals are blindly reviewed by subject area resources specialists using three overarching criteria: general application, practice of forestry, and audience appeal. Each criterion is weighted uniformly on a scale of 1 to 5.

General Application
• Clarity: The thought/expression/concept is reasonable and comprehensible across the proposal.
• Originality: Reports preliminary or novel results on limited data sets or applications of existing methodologies to new areas.

Practice of Forestry
• Scientific Approach: Outlines the problem, hypothesis, methodology, application, results, and analysis.
• Practical Application: Bridges the gap between science and decision making in the field and among stakeholders.
• Learning Objectives: Describes what a participant will be able to demonstrate, explain, identify, establish, outline, etc.
• Outcome: Defines the long-term consideration of impact and/or implications of session attendance.

Audience Appeal
• Appeal: Is of interest to a number of diverse participants and/or contributes appreciably to professional development.

Additional Support

For questions, contact [email protected].