ECCB abstract submission

I was deeply involved into the organisation of the 1st ECCB in Eger, 2006. Then, we invested a lot efforts to provide possibilities for social activities. Now I have some insight to the organisation of the 2nd ECCB too. I can confirm that the organisers do a great job. Did you find on the registration page the many exciting programs, from bat watching to exploration of the university's own brewery? Imagine a day, start with beer tasting in campus, then all day science, and finally some bat watching! And many more - this is what the organisers offer.
At the moment, however, the main task is on the conservation biologist community. That is, to submit abstracts until 31 January. Although the abstract-counter nicely increasing day after day, we should still urge our friends and colleagues to join the congress. Please help ECCB and the Europe Section of SCB with spreading the information about the congress as widely as possible.

András Báldi

PC meeting with European Commission and MEPs

In December the PC led a visit of 20 conservation biologists to the European Parliament in Brussels. Meetings were arranged with 4 Directorates-General from the European Commission:

- DG Environment (Directorates Nature & Biodiversity and LIFE)
- DG Agriculture and Rural Develpoment
- DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
- DG Research

Afterwards the group met with few Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European Environmental Bureau.

The visit was quite successful and relevant conservation issues were discussed, for example, the Natura 2000 network and the protection of biodiversity in the climate change context, the European strategy on invasive species, the establishment of Marine Protected Areas or the representation of conservation science in the framework programmes. Specifically, the protection od roadless areas, an initiative launched by the PC, was received with great enthusiasm.