What is IFSA (International Forestry Students' Association)?

IFSA is non political, non religious and non profit an International organization of the Forestry students’ and related disciplines. It is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with an ideal purpose, registered in Germany and managed entirely by students studying Forestry all over the world. It has been established in 1990 to unite local students’ organizations from all world districts which in the present moment include more than 60 students’ organizations from more than 40 countries. An IFSA member for Bulgaria is the Students’ club for environment protection (SCEP) in the University of Forestry. IFSA keep good contacts with other world students’ organizations like the International Agronomy Students’ Association, the International Pharmacy and Medicine Federations and other. Its professional partners are the European Forest Institute, FAO, IUFRO, IUCN and other.

IFSA is divided into 8 regions – Latin and North America, North and South Africa, Asia, Oceania, North and South Europe – as every region has its own official representatives. Every year the detached regions organize their meetings and during the summer the world meeting IFSS – International Forestry Students' Symposium is lead, where all the students of the 8 regions get together.

The purposes of IFSA

The most important purpose of IFSA is to enrich the formal education of Forestry students and related disciplines through extracurricular activities as giving them the ability for a wider view over interesting topics and Forestry problems in a global scale. To encourage improvements in higher education and to help co-operation not only among the students from different countries but also among them and IFSA professional partners as well as other companies and organizations in the field of Forestry and the related natural sciences.

Activities

Offers and organizes students' symposiums, seminars, competitions and meetings like giving technical, scientific, social and cultural support that play the role of a forum for exchanging experience, information and ideas. Takes part in work meetings and conferences of its professional partners. Publishes a magazine, at least three times a year, with subjects for the forest problems in a global scale; ensures a students' exchange concerning the professional realization or extra qualification. One of the most important purposes is the development and the incessantly addition of contacts, articles and reports on the organization web page - www.ifsa.net

IFSA Officials

IFSA is controlled by "Official Seven" who are the main people responsible for the whole development of the organization. They are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three Councilors responsible for directing, consulting and taking in new members of the organization. The main functions the "Official Seven" carry out, is to take part and represent IFSA on conferences, seminars and symposiums on a world level, the preparation of the General Assembly, publication of annual reports and reports for the organization activity and leading the different activities and projects that IFSA develops and executes. The official office of IFSA is the Secretariat located in Germany. Its role is to keep the whole base information of the organization and to maintain the correspondence with the all members and partners. The representatives of the detached regions are chosen by the General Assembly to help the Secretariat and the "Official Seven" to achieve IFSA's purposes in their regions. They also help new student organizations to become members of IFSA and report for essential changes in their region. IFSA has also Commissions – the executive organs, established by the General Assembly with the aim for a better work and coordination on executing the tasks set.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest body in the organization that makes decisions – all the Forest students' organizations, members of IFSA all over the world takes part in it. Every year it settles the year tasks onward and chooses the next direction. The General Assembly is lead during the International Forestry Students' Symposium and has 5 official sessions. During these sessions the reports for the past years are made by the direction as well as new offers for a changes of the organization status which are chosen by voting.

International Forestry Student Symposium - IFSS

The International Symposium is the biggest and the most official event of IFSA. The General Assembly takes part in it. International Symposium is organized each year by the local organizations of IFSA by the country chosen for a host. It is a platform for the students to meet face to face, to exchange ideas, experience and information, to build new friendships. During the Symposium the local organizations, members of IFSA have the chance to meet and talk with the official representatives of the Organization which for its part update the data base for its members, to attract new members and to inform students for the running activities. The International Symposium also offers good opportunities for students exchange among the different universities, gives a chance to the participant students to learn more about the natural facts and resources of the host country and their managing.

   IFSS History (require Power Point)