What is the SERM?
The SERM, the Southern European Regional Meeting, is a yearly meeting of forestry students from one IFSA Region.
The IFSA (International Forestry Students' Association) is a global network for students in forest sciences. In more than 40 countries so-called Local Committees (LC) work on a regional scale for bringing together students from all over the world in order to broaden their mind about our world's forests and their sustainable management.
The IFSA has an observer status with the UNFCCC secretariat in representation of the global youth populace and has participated in the COP16 Conference on Climate Change 2010 in Cancun, Mexiko. The IFSA wants to give youth a voice in international forest policy processes and is a non-governmental, non for profit and non religious organisation entirely run by students for students (further information on: www.ifsa.net).
Each year most of the different IFSA Regions invite to a regional meeting for the LC members in this region for several days. Those meetings aim to discuss regional topics and trends as well as to promote the cohesion and effectiveness of IFSA work within the region. In 2012 the Southern European Regional Meeting (SERM) takes place in Switzerland.
This years subject will be the 'Multi-functional use of forests in Switzerland'. We would like to show you the many different functions swiss forests should provide in order to meet the various needs and expectations, like recreation, protection from natural hazards and promotion of biodiversity.
In the six days from the 10.-15. April 2012 you will be able to join different excursions, take part in workshops, learn something about swiss culture (chocolate & cheese & maybe more), see different parts of Switzerland, get to know new people from different countries
and so on.
We have space for two students from each Local Committee, which means we will be a group of about 50 people, including the organization committee.
We would be happy to see you in Switzerland the next April!
