Yale's student chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) was first organized in 1989, as part of a network of natural resource professionals concerned with tropical resource management. ISTF provides a forum for students with interests and experiences in linking natural resource conservation and management with economic development. Members participate in a range of social, educational, and professional activities that promote the sharing of experiences and knowledge related to resource management in developing countries. Each year, ISTF organizes a two-day conference on an emerging topic in the tropics. Conferences in recent years have brought together representatives of governments, universities, and environmental and development organizations to discuss:
*Reduced Emissions from Degradation and Deforestation
*Payment for Environmental Services
*Illegal Logging and Certification
*People in Parks
*Himalayan conservation and development
*Ecotourism
Contact: gillian.paul@yale.edu, benjamin.Blom@yale.edu, ian.cummins@yale.edu