The Graduate Program in Forest Sciences (PPGCFL) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) is the only graduate program in the state exclusively focused on research, development, and innovation in Forest Sciences. Recognized by CAPES with a score of 3, the program began its activities in February 2012 and, by March 2024, had already contributed to the training of 118 qualified professionals, standing out for its scientific advancements and the specialization of human resources in the field.

With the objective of meeting regional and national demands, PPGCFL aims to qualify human resources for teaching, research, and outreach activities, promoting technical and scientific development in the field of Forest Sciences. Moreover, the program is committed to producing and disseminating innovative technologies related to timber and non-timber forest products, for use in their natural state or as processed or transformed products. It also excels in seed science and technology, emphasizing native species from the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes, and in developing strategies for conserving biodiversity of forest species with ecological and economic relevance.

The program's academic and scientific activities are organized into three main research lines, which reflect the region's needs and potential:

• Technology and Utilization of Forest Products
• Seeds, Propagation, and Physiology of Forest Species
• Biodiversity, Conservation, and Use of Forest Genetic Resources

PPGCFL's faculty currently includes 16 professors, comprising 12 permanent and 4 collaborating members, all highly qualified and with diverse backgrounds obtained from renowned higher education institutions. Their doctorates were pursued at leading Brazilian universities in agricultural sciences, such as UFV, UFLA, USP, UFC, UFPEL, UFRPE, and UFRN. Approximately 65% of the PPGCFL faculty expanded their academic training through postdoctoral fellowships or internships, including experiences at prestigious international institutions such as the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain; the University of Stirling, Scotland; Imperial College London, England; and the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal.

PPGCFL benefits from the presence of the Agricultural School of Jundiaí (EAJ), a UFRN campus located in Macaíba, RN, which has consistently worked to strengthen its role in Agricultural Sciences. This effort is reflected in its undergraduate programs in Forestry Engineering, Agronomic Engineering, and other technological training courses at the technical, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, contributing to the integration of education, research, and innovation in the field.

The program boasts robust and diverse infrastructure that supports research, development, and innovation across various fields of knowledge. Key facilities include the Forest Experimentation Area (AEF), the Laboratory of Systematic Botany (Labots), the Laboratory of Studies in Plant Biotechnology, the Laboratory of Genetics and Forest Breeding (LabGeM), the Laboratory of Non-Timber Forest Products (LPFNM), the Laboratory of Forest Seeds (LASF), the Laboratory of Environmental Technology (LABTAM), and the Laboratory of Wood Technology and Biomass Energy (LATEM), among others.

The research activities of PPGCFL benefit from multiple international collaborations that have contributed to the production of scientific articles and the strengthening of research networks. Among the international partners are Antonio Pizzi from the University of Lorraine, France, whose studies focus on wood technology; Joshua Ighalo from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria, specializing in the validation of bio-adsorbents; Alistair Jump from the University of Stirling, Scotland, recognized for his work on forest ecology and climate change; Sly Wongchuig from Université Toulouse, France, researching hydrology and climate change; Venki Uddameri from Texas Tech University, USA, collaborating on sustainable water resource management projects; Vinicius Augusto de Oliveira from Tarrant Regional Water, USA, working on hydrological modeling and studies on climate change impacts on water resources; João Paulo Fidalgo Carvalho from the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal, participating in projects focused on the valorization of native forest species; and Joseph Williams Jr. from the University of Tennessee, USA, collaborating on plant reproduction research, co-advising students, and contributing to the production of scientific articles.

Coordination Email: ppgcfl@eaj.ufrn.br