Actual Message of SILVA Network’s presidency
Dear Colleagues and Friends of SILVA Network,
Like many of us were feeling in these days, I was shocked and paralyzed by the pictures of people suffering and dying in burning cities in Ukraine, many decades after World War II. Putin’s war, in violation of the law of nations, severely affects lives of all people on the European continent, both in Western countries and in Russia itself. Our full solidarity is with the Ukrainian colleagues whose families are in acute danger of loosing their homes and even their lives.
Since the 1980s, SILVA Network performed as a platform where people from all countries in Europe were peacefully and friendly sharing their views on university education on forests. Very often we had participants from Russia joining our conferences, and only a few years ago our colleagues in St. Petersburg hosted an important meeting. This is unique in the ICA Organization, where SILVA constitutes one of the standing committees, as Russian organizations are not members in the other initiatives.
Taking into account the actual situation, I deeply regret that we have to suspend cooperation with state institutions from Russia for the time the war in Ukraine is going on. This is definitely not a measure against our colleagues, rather against a regime that endangers peace and freedom in Europe. Like other European organizations in forest research and education, we are open for continuation of our contacts on a personal basis and ready for rebuilding official bridges after this insane war comes to an end.
Kind regards,
Norbert Weber
