A team of 24 students and two professors from the Forest Engineering program at the University of Cauca, all members of the Applied Silviculture Research Group, represented the institution at the IX Chilean Congress of Forest Sciences, held from October 22 to 26 at the campus of the Universidad Austral de Chile in Valdivia. During the event, a total of seven oral presentations and four posters were presented on innovative research in the field of forestry.

The Chilean Congress of Forest Sciences brought together experts from various countries, providing a space for academic exchange. "This experience was very enriching, as it not only allowed us to share our work but also gave us the opportunity to learn about other research on topics that are very interesting and similar to those we are studying, which broadens our perspective on the different research areas within forest sciences," said student Danitza Riascos Gómez, reflecting on this enriching experience. It also allowed the Unicaucano participants to establish connections with other students and faculty in the forestry field, strengthening their professional training and understanding of diverse ecosystems.

Below, we list the oral presentations that were presented:

1. Commercial Reforestation with Native Species in Colombia: Experience with Colombian Pine (Retrophyllum rospigliosii) – Jorge Andrés Ramírez Correa and Adriana María Marín Vélez.

2. Monitoring of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Panels Exposed to the Elements in Southwestern Colombia – Paola Torres, Jorge Ramírez, and Juan Gabriel Arboleda.

3. Wood Exposure Simulations in Outdoor Environments to Improve the Sustainability of Products in Service – Paola Torres.

4. Variation of Plant Functional Traits Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Southwestern Colombia – Juana María Mutiz Sosapanta, Marien Vanessa Pérez Joaquí, Yorlady Karina Ledezma Ortega, Jorge Andrés Ramírez Correa, and David Herrera Ramírez.

5. Structure and Diversity of Forests Associated with Trigonobalanus excelsa in the Colombian Massif – Anyi Fernanda Baos Muñoz, Laura Yulieth Guzmán Ortega, Jorge Andrés Ramírez Correa, Edilber Sebastián Guerrero Martínez, and Jhoan Mateo Tobón Idrobo.

6. Anatomy of Growth Rings in Three Timber Species from Northern Colombian Amazonia – Jhoan Mateo Tobón Idrobo, Adrián Camilo Ramírez Castaño, and Jorge Andrés Ramírez Correa.

7. Seed Availability of Quercus humboldtii and Trigonobalanus excelsa in the Colombian Massif – Adrián Felipe Dorado, Anderson Gutiérrez, Ángela Medina, Liceth Muñoz, and Jorge Andrés Ramírez Correa.

Posters Presented

· Productivity of Pinus maximinoi at the End of the Rotation in Commercial Plantations in Southwestern Colombia – José Giovani Medina Luligo and Bárbara Danitza Riascos Gómez.

· Terrestrial LiDAR as a Tool for Quantifying the Aerial Biomass of Three Forest Species – Luis Alejandro Muñoz Torres, Laura Sofía Bolaños Buesaquillo, Diana Marcela Gaitán Burbanoy, and Yedir Orlando Elvira Muñoz.

· Floristic Characterization of Agroforestry Systems Associated with Coffee Crops in Southwestern Colombia – Catalina Calvache, Gustavo Adrián Sánchez, Eduardo Bedoya, and Camilo Gómez.

· Local Strategies for the Conservation of Natural Forests: Experience in Southwestern Colombia – Paula Escobar and Gabriela Galíndez.

The outstanding participation of these students and professors reflects the University of Cauca's commitment to promoting applied research in forest sciences and contributing to the exchange of knowledge in both regional and global contexts. By presenting innovative research on crucial topics such as reforestation, material sustainability, and ecosystem conservation, the Unicaucanos strengthen their professional profiles and the academic visibility of the institution. This type of initiative not only fosters the development of sustainable environmental solutions but also consolidates the network of collaboration among Latin American researchers in an area of vital importance for the future of the planet.

Writing: Communications Management Center