In 1890, the Congress of Agriculture and Forestry in Vienna proposed to establish a "central organ" for applied forest research in the European countries.
In 1892 the Union of Forest Experiment Organizations was founded in Eberswalde, Germany.
Originally, only Austria, Germany and Switzerland agreed that their forest experiment stations would join the Union.
In 1903, Japan came along and by the First World War, the number of countries has risen to 22, including USA and Canada.
 
Between the two world wars, the organization lost its Central European character and representatives from Africa, Asia and South America were able to discuss their forest research.
The number of members from universities, forestry education centers and other forestry institutions increased considerably.
The organization changed its name to “International Union of Forestry Research Organizations”.
World War II interrupted the activities of the Union.
Since 1980s, IUFRO has been increasingly addressing forest-related social, economic, and ecological problems of global importance.
In 1890, the Congress of Agriculture and Forestry in Vienna proposed to establish a "central organ" for applied forest research in the European countries. In 1892 the Union of Forest Experiment Organizations was founded in Eberswalde, Germany. Originally, only Austria, Germany and Switzerland agreed that their forest experiment stations would join the Union. In 1903, Japan came along and by the First World War, the number of countries has risen to 22, including USA and Canada.  
Between the two world wars, the organization lost its Central European character and representatives from Africa, Asia and South America were able to discuss their forest research. The number of members from universities, forestry education centers and other forestry institutions increased considerably. The organization changed its name to “International Union of Forestry Research Organizations”. World War II interrupted the activities of the Union. Since 1980s, IUFRO has been increasingly addressing forest-related social, economic, and ecological problems of global importance.
International Union of Forest Research Organizations