FABI Director, Prof. Mike Wingfield, in his capacity as the IUFRO President, hosted members of the South African committee of the International Forestry Students Association (IFSA) on 29-30 September.  This was to enable to group to hold a strategic planning meeting for the 45^th International Forestry Students Symposium (IFSS). This symposium, to be held in South Africa from 2-17 July 2017, provides an opportunity for forestry students from around the world to exchange knowledge and share interests while participating in a range of forestry-related activities. The event also includes the annual IFSA General Assembly.

The group, led by Sabelo Sithole comprised representatives from Fort Cox College of Agriculture and Forestry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Stellenbosch University, University of Pretoria, and University of Venda. They met with Mike as well as representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Forestry South Africa (FSA) and the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) to discuss planning and to gain support for sponsorship for the IFSS.