Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference and

9^th ESENIAS Workshop

Species, ecosystems and areas of conservation concern under threat from the invasive alien species

03-06 September 2019

Aqualina Hotel, Sveti Stefan

Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia

Organised by:

HYDROBIOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OHRID (HIO)
 

EAST AND SOUTH EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR

INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (ESENIAS)

DANUBE REGION INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES NETWORK (DIAS)

INSTITUTE OF BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH,

BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (IBER-BAS)

Supported by:

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

GALICICA NATIONAL PARK

Conference Overview

Invasive alien species (IAS) together with climate change have been recognised as major and fast growing drivers of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Europe and worldwide. According to the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), there are already over 14,000 alien species present in Europe, of which around 10% are invasive. The ecosystems with globally significant biodiversity are most vulnerable to the impact of IAS, and therefore, need special protection. The EU Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species requires assessment of the adverse impact on biodiversity and related ecosystem services, focusing explicitely on protected sites and endangered species and habitats. The Regulation also calls for undertaking of restoration measures in order to strengthen the ecosystems' resilience towards invasions, to repair the damage caused and to enhance the conservation status of species and their habitats in accordance with Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC.

There are not many regions in the world, which are characterised by a significant natural biogeographical uniqueness (endemism and relict species) and cultural and historical heritage, such as the region of Lake Ohrid. The global significance of this small area has been recognised worldwide and the ancient Lake Ohrid (the oldest European lake) has been designated as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1979. Because of its value and the peculiarity of the whole region, in 2014 Lake Ohrid and its sister Lake Prespa were declared as an ‘Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve’under the Man and Biosphere Programme of UNESCO. Much earlier, in 1995, in recognition of its high value for the protection of bird species and other wildlife, Ezerani at Lake Prespa was designated as the first Ramsar Site in the Republic of North Macedonia. Another initiative of the Government of the R. North Macedonia in 2018 was the proposal for designation of Studenchishta Marshland, the last remnant of the former Ohrid Marsh, as a Ramsar Site, based on its importance for biodiversity and maintenance of the stability of the Lake Ohrid ecosystem. Another biodiversity hotspot, the Galicica Mountain, has been protected at national level and declared as a national park.

The East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS) has conducted several projects related to IAS in the region, such as: ’Climate change and invasive alien species –  growing threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functionality in ancient LakeOhrid and its watershed’ (2012-1014) and the ESENIAS-TOOLS Case study: ‘Assessment of the impact of alien species on the biodiversity and endemism of ancient Balkan lakes’ (2015-2017). Some of the projects of the Danube River Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS) also deal with inventory and assessment of impact of IAS in nature and national parks, as well as protected areas in the Danube Region, e.g. ’Ecosystem consequences of biodiversity change due to fish species invasions’ (2014-2016), the projects Danube-IASapp (2016-2017) and Danube – IAS Corridor (ongoing). In 2019, a new IAS monitoring programme will be initiated and included in the Joint Danube Survey 4 organised by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and the Danube countries.

This conference entitled ’Species, ecosystems and areas of conservation concern under threat from the invasive alien species’ is the third conference organised jointly by the ESENIAS and DIAS. The conference aims at:

• Presentation of research results from the recent ESENIAS and DIAS project activities
• Sharing of results and information on other IAS related initiatives carried out in the region, such as national and local monitoring programmes, risk assessments, pathway analyses and action plans, control and eradication projects, management plans and national strategies, citizens activities and responsibilities, data planning and management
• Networking and cooperation among scientists in the ESENIAS and DIAS regions and with other networks and projects in Europe.

Scientific Topics

1. Invasive alien species traits and trends – invasive alien species introduction and spread, biological and ecological traits; characteristics of recipient environment; invasive alien species and climate change
2. Vectors and pathways for invasive alien species introductions – analysis, prioritisation, action plans
3. The Danube River as invasive alien species corridor – priority species for the Danube Region, impact on threatened species, specificity of biological invasions in the Lower, Middle and Upper Danube River sections
4. Invasive alien species impact – impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services, impact on human health, safety and the economy; pests and pathogens; adverse impact on protected areas, endangered species and habitats
5. Invasive alien species prevention and management – early detection and rapid eradication, surveillance systems; risk assessment and horizon scanning; control measures; restoration of damaged ecosystems; education, citizen science, strategies, policy and legislation
6. Management and sharing of IAS data – IAS networks and information systems, databases, data planning and management
7. Other topics – general aspects related to the quality of the aquatic and terrestrial environements and associetied biological communities, which may influence the introduction and spread of IAS, as well as the application of prevention and management measures.

Important Information

The official language of the conference will be English.

Authors are invited to submit their contributions related to one or more of the scientific topics given above. The scientific presentations will be oral or poster. Each presentation should indicate the most appropriate topic.

All contributions will be peer reviewed by the Scientific Committee members. The reviewers reserve the right to change the scientific topic and form of presentation (oral/ poster) in case of thematic consideration or timing.

Publications

Abstracts accepted for presentation will be published in a Book of Abstracts (in electronic and printed form).

The authors are invited to submit full papers for publication in the following journals, according to the requirements of the corresponding journal:

• Annual edition of ‘Review of the Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid’– papers may refer to aquatic and terrestrial species and environments
• ‘Phytologia Balcanica’ (http://www.bio.bas.bg/~phytolbalcan) – selected botanical papers (after peer review) will be published in the regular issues of the journal
• NEW: ‘Acta Zoologica Bulgarica’ (IF) (http://www.acta-zoologica-bulgarica.eu/) – selected zoological papers (after peer review) will be published in a special issue from the conference or in regular issues depending on the number of accepted papers.

Registration Fee is Not Required!

Key Due Dates

Abstract submission:       Extended until 30 June 2019

Registration:                    Extended until 30 June 2019

NEW: Full paper submission:

           ‘Phytologia Balcanica’                                          - Extended until 15 October 2019
           ‘Review of the Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid’ - Extended until 30 October 2019

           ‘Acta Zoologica Bulgarica’ (IF)                            - Extended until 30 October 2019

Registration

Please download the Registration form here >>>

Abstract submission

Please download the Abstract form here >>>

Please download the Conference announcement here >>>

NEW: Accommodation and travel information >>>

NEW: Conference excursion (06 September 2019) >>>

NEW: Poster sizes - portrait, maximum 70 / 120 cm

NEW: Conference programme >>>

NEW: Abstract book >>>

Contacts:

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For registration, accommodation and travel information.

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For submission of abstracts and full papers.