After ICCB-ECCB 2015

Back home from Montpellier, where I attended the ICCB-ECCB. Wow... what a meeting. An extreme abundance of experiences, of which I would share only a few. Unavoidable is the headache on which parallel section to attend, but finally I managed to attend a couple of great talks. I liked the plenaries, although they varied in the approach to the audience - and the success. Although some colleagues think that plenaries are boring, too general, lacking science etc., I do not agree. Plenaries are to give insights, lessons or even visions on the main directions of conservation, including even philosophical debates. And we got that in Montpellier.

The strong emphasis in IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) is an important step. If our community want to take a role in this intergovernmental process, we need to know it and be involved. SCB is an active stakeholder from the beginning of IPBES (see also editorials in Conservation Biology) and now it was spread to the 2000+ audience.

I liked the large free space at the Antigone level, which provided a quite place for rest, discussion or checking e-mails. It is vital in a meeting of this size to provide such relaxing spaces. Indeed. During one poster session I leaved this level and descended to the first floor, and the voice of thousands of people from the zero level lobby was simply frightening, I almost ran back!

Although SCB meetings usually great for the social programs and funs, I would like to highlight a new intervention at this meeting, and this was the jam session on Wednesday evening. Organised by European Section board member, Francisco Moreira, it turned to be a great evening. Fans of instruments from guitar to flute and drums, and singers slowly showed up, and entertained us at a more or less professional level. Considering that these guys met first time to play music together, I have to say I had serious reservations on whether it will be something good to attend, but I thought I have to be in the audience to support Francisco :-).  And indeed it was worth to attend and enjoy the evening including singing several songs together with the ad hoc SCB band.

As I was involved into the organisation for a while, I know what extreme difficulties were behind the scene, including the rather complex organisational structure, a result of being both global and European conservation congress (thus the global board, the European board, the executive office and the SCB conference committee had responsibilities), and some unexpected changes in key persons. The result of such a huge meeting, with a smooth running, however is a great success of the organisers, led by Piero Visconti (Europe Section president), Raphael Mathevet from Montpellier (Europe Section board member), and Geri Unger SCB executive director.

Now, after a busy day in the field in the central Camargue wetland bird paradise, I have one day to recover, then back to the office. But the week behind was a great time for me.

András Báldi

From different knowledge sytems to decision-making - congress report from Hungary

The 9th Hungarian Conference on Conservation Biology was held in Szeged between 20 and 23 November supported by the SCB Europe Section and the Hungarian Chapter. As the latest meeting of a 12-year-long congress series, this conference clearly showed some interesting and new approach and directions in conservation science in Hungary. As the first congress in Sopron (2002) covered topics from habitat management to species conservation issues, this 2,5 day-long meeting addressed among other issues the role of international conservation policies and processes (e.g. IPBES), the impacts of the EU CAP, the influence of post-normal attributes and the significance of other knowledge systems (e.g. traditional ecological knowledge) in facing conservation challenges. 

Diversity of topics and views and the increasing contribution of social scientists made this congress a progressive event with the aim to integrate different disciplines and perspectives.  Participants (more than 27o) came also from a diverse background - researchers, practitioners, national park staff, NGOs, students. 

T. Hartel at the opening talk

In his opening talk, SCB-ES Board member Tibor Hartel presented the outcomes of a complex study of socio-ecological-economical systems in Transsylvania. A rapidly changing socio-economic system with a shifting population, disappearing traditional land-use practices and a region facing the impacts of incoming CAP money and land-grabbing processes: what is the future vision for this area? This is one of the key question addressed by this transdisciplinary research.  



During the evenings round table discussions revolved around the concept of ecosystem services and its usability in conservation, bridging the gap between science and practice, wilderness areas and national park zones. Human population growth and the question of virtual and real field identification were also discussed during the evening meetings. Post-congress excursions visited the  Kiskunság National Park and the Körös-Maros National Park.

Since serious concerns have been raised by the conservation community due to the latest governmental measures, the Congress approved a statement advocating  for the integrity and autonomy of the conservation insitutions and national parks in Hungary. 

Land sparing - land sharing debate at ECCB 2012

Yesterday we held the symposia entitled 'Land sharing versus land sparing - a European perspective' organised by András Báldi and me.

The symposia was opened by Ben Phalan from Cambridge who was followed by five other speakers. The symposia was finished by a discussion between the speakers and the audience. This was led by William Sutherland.

The echoes suggest that the debate was very pleasant and constructive.

What is the right choice for biodiversity and agricultural production? Land sparing, where agricultural areas are intensively used for production while the nearby species rich areas are protected, or land sharing where farming is done in larger areas in an environmental friendly way?

This debate highlighted many dimmensions of these questions: scale matters, context matters, and the results may not be transferred from one region to another. Europe is a diverse place where some areas are still used in an environmental friendly way, while others are intensively farmed. Areas with low intensity farming are typically rich in biodiversity and have high nature value. Intensifying agricultural production would likely result in species and population loss in these areas.

A good summary of the presentations is given by Joern Fischer here. 

(This is how I perceived this symposia. If this text is skewed - it is because my culture and Eastern European origin. Balancing comments are welcome).

Tibor Hartel

ECCB Ecofriendlyness grant goes to National School of Forestry carbon off-set and biodiversity restoration project

"We’re looking at the whole system – not just carbon in the trees but also in the soil, and there are biodiversity benefits too; it isn’t just about quickly growing some spruce!"

A bid from the University of Cumbria's National School of Forestry has been selected by the Board as a partial off-set for the European Congress of Conservation Biology which was held in Prague in 2009. The bid to establish a new native oakwood at Greenah Crag on the University’s estate was led by the National School of Forestry’s Dr Andrew Weatherall, Dave Atkinson and Dr Owen Nevin.

Ninety percent of Atlantic oakwoods, Europe’s temperate rainforest, are found in western UK. High rainfall and humidity throughout the year due to the oceanic climate means these are internationally important for the number and abundance of rare lower plant species. This habitat has the European Special Area of Conservation designation (Natura 2000 network). This project will demonstrate how combining funds from carbon offset projects with state funding for afforestation can increase native woodland cover in Cumbria, England and the UK. The increase in native woodland will have conservation benefits for a range of woodland flora and fauna.

Call of Interest - 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology

The Europe Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB-ES) is seeking a host and venue for its 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology to be held in 2012.

You can download the pdf version of this document here.

After the successes of the ECCB2006 (Eger, Hungary, 1000+ participants) and ECCB2009 (Prague, Czech Republic, 1200+ participants, www.eccb2009.org), we expect that the 3rd Congress will be similarly well attended. At this stage, the Board of Directors of SCB-ES is seeking expressions of interest in holding the 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology in 2012 (ECCB2012).

Expressions of interest should contain the following (max. 2 A4 pages):

1. The location (country, city and proposed host institution).
2. The local organisers and contact details.
3. The advantages of this location in terms of access, transport andinfrastructure; brief summary of conference facilities.
4. The attractiveness of this location from an ecological perspective.
5. Suggestion for the timing of the conference, with justification (e.g. relevance to a key theme or possibilities for holding the meeting jointly with another organisation).
6. Special accommodation possibilities to attract student participants.
7. Profit sharing will be negotiated at a later date; at this stage, however, interested host institutions must agree to take financial responsibility forthe congress in case of any loss.

Expressions of interest should be sent to András Báldi at baldi@nhmus.hu by October 31st 2009. Short-listed expressions will be invited to submit full proposals by January 31st 2010.

Great Success of attendance at the Second European Congress of Conservation Biology

News from Prague. From the 1st to the 5th September the Second European Congress on Conservation Biology took place at The Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague. More than 1200 Conservation Scientist, students, manager and policy makers from 56 countries meet for this very important event, that takes place every three years in Europe. There was a 20 % increase in attendance compared to previous meeting in 2006 in Eger, Hungary. In this way the ECCB becomes, uncontested, as the main Conservation Biology scientific meeting in Europe. Very interesting and provocative plenary talks were given by Dr. Ladislav Miko, Minister of Environment, Czech Republic, Dr. Joan Martinez-Alier, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Dr. William Sutherland, University of Cambridge, and Dr. Petr Pysek, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

The next ECCB (European Congress of Conservation Biology will take place in 2012. We hope to see you there.

ECCB 2009 Steering Commitee Meeting

The Steering Committee of the 2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology met with the Local Organizing Committee at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. The meeting started at 8:00 with a visit to the venue where the congress will take place. The Committee was really happy with the facilities offered by the University Congress Center. The place looks really wonderful. There will be two rooms with around 500 people capacity that will be connected by a video conference system and that will be used for the plenary talks. The Conference Center has capacity for up to twelve parallel sessions, although we hope to be able to keep the congress with no more than 8 or 10 parallel sessions.
At 9:00 we started the formal meeting. The LOC presented how is the current situation. Abstract submission is now closed and the congress has received over 1200 abstracts. This is a 50% increase in abstract submission compared to ECCB 2006!. So we are expecting around 1500 participants in Prague. It is going to be a huge congress!
The Steering Committee meeting was very successful. The BoD was very happy with all that has been accomplished by the Local Committee. Distribution of information about the congress has been really good as can be seen from the number of different countries submitting abstracts.

The BOD meets in Prague, 20-22 February

During the next weekend BoD members will be meeting in Prague. First, on the 20th February there will be a ECCB Steering Committee meeting at the Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences. The main points will be to review the general programme of the congress and the evaluation and selection of abstract, now that abstract submission has been closed. During the 21st and 22nd of February there will be a SCB-Europe Section meeting of the Board of Directors (The BoD) also at the Czech University of Life Sciences. We will keep you informed.

ECCB 2009 - Extended abstract deadline 13th February!

Extension of deadline for abstract submission

The organisers would like to thank all those who have shown such high interest in ECCB 2009. Due to numerous requests the abstract submission deadline has been extended untilFriday 13th February, 2009!!!
If you haven’t yet submitted an abstract, don’t miss this last opportunity to shape the program. There will be no further extension. Complete instructions are available at www.eccb2009.org/index.php/callforpapers. If you have any queries or questions do not hesitate to contact ECCB 2009 Congress Secretariat: conference@eccb2009.org (mailto:conference@eccb2009.org ).
Looking forward to meet you in Prague,

Petr Zasadil
Chair of Local Organising Committee

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

2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Abstract submission is now open!

2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology; “Conservation biology and beyond: from science to practice”

The organisers (SCB – European section & Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague) would like to provide some information regarding the congress.

Authors are invited to submit abstracts of papers (speed presentations, oral presentations, posters or invited symposia presentations) according to the topics of the scientific programme (see below). Call for oral/poster abstracts is open from October 01, 2008 to January 31, 2009.

For submitting abstracts please use this link http://www.eccb2009.org/index.php/callforpapers

More information is available on the aforesaid congress Web site.
The general topic areas will cover many disciplines related to nature
conservation:

Alien and invasive species;
Artificial light and noise pollution;
Biodiversity and conservation in Non European Countries;
Biogeography;
Climate change and biodiversity;
Conservation at the science-policy interface;
Conservation capacity building;
Conservation genetics;
Conservation in a socio-economic context;
Conservation in agricultural landscapes;
Economics of biodiversity;
Ecosystem management: theory and practice;
Ecosystem services;
Education and outreach;
Ex-situ conservation;
Fire ecology and management;
Forestecology and management;
Freshwater and wetland ecology;
Game ecology and sustainable hunting;
Grassland ecology and management;
Habitat fragmentation and metapopulation dynamics;
Impact of transport infrastructures;
Inventory and monitoring;
Landscape ecology and conservation;
Marine conservation;
Methods and analytical tools;
Natura 2000;
Population ecology and conservation;
Protected areas: planning, design and management;
Recovery of endangered species ;
Risk assessment and uncertainty;
Scientists and managers: bridging the gap;
Spatial ecology and conservation;
Urban ecology and conservation;
Other _____________________

Please note that the call for Symposia & Workshops is now closed and a list of those accepted will be posted soon.
Established registration fees will be announced soon on the congress Web site.
Registration will open from November 01, 2008!!!

For more details about the congress please visit the website
www.eccb2009.org ( http://www.eccb2009.org/ ).
For general information or expressions of interest, please contact the
Congress Secretariat at conference@eccb2009.org.

We are looking forward to meet you in Prague!