Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference 2024 and

13^th ESENIAS Workshop

Invasive alien species impact and management in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture

26–29 November 2024

Menemen, Izmir, Türkiye

Organised and supported by:

General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye

International Agricultural Research and Training Center (UTAEM), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye

General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture (GDFA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye

Turkish Nature Conservation Association (TTKD) ‘Love Nature’

Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Türkiye

Faculty of Agriculture, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÜ), Türkiye

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER-BAS), Bulgaria

East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS)

Danube Region Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS)

SuEkos, Türkiye

EWRS Invasive Alien Plants Working Group

The issue of biological invasion has been identified as a significant environmental challenge over the past few decades, with a particular impact in the fields of conservation biology, forestry, agriculture and fisheries. Invasive alien species (IAS) represent a significant component of this issue in terrestrial, marine, brackish, and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. These include both plants and animals, such as insects and fish, that have been introduced and translocated globally. Biological invasions are increasingly recognised as a major global change that erodes ecosystems, societal well-being, and economies. However, comprehensive analyses of their economic ramifications are lacking for the majority of national economies, despite the rapidly escalating costs observed globally.

Networking and regional cooperation in different scales is crucial for evaluating the impact of IAS and for the development and implementation of proper management measures for IAS and can facilitate the implementation of existing IAS instrumentsin order to protect biodiversity and ecosystems and reduce the social and economic negative effects.

This conference is the sixth one organised jointly in frames of the networks ESENIAS and DIAS, focusing on the topic: ‘Invasive alien species impact and management in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture’. It will highlight the importance of regional cooperation for finding innovative solutions to IAS issues.

The conference aims at:

• Update on current ESENIAS and DIAS project activities and outcomes
• Exchange of 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, citizen science activities and responsibilities, data planning and management
• Discuss and propose innovative approaches and solutions to implementation of IAS research and management strategies at regional level
• Enhance cooperation and networking among scientists in the ESENIAS and DIAS regions and with other networks, organisations and projects in order to build capacity and raise awareness on IAS.

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; viruses, bacteria and other small organisms as IAS
2. Vectors and pathways for invasive alien species introductions and spread – 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 and containment 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 associated biological communities, which may influence the introduction and spread of IAS, as well as the application of prevention and management measures; forest fires and IAS.

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.

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

• International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research (https://ijiaar.penpublishing.net/)
• Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry (https://hjbc.hacettepe.edu.tr)
• Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research (http://stiinte.ulbsibiu.ro/trser/): Full paper submission to:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
• Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Agricultural Sciences (MKUJAS) (https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/mkutbd)
• Turkish Journal of Agricultural and Natural Sciences (TURKJANS) (https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/turkjans)

Registration Fee is Not Required!

Key Dates

Abstract submission:      18th October 2024

Registration:                    18th October 2024

Registration

Please download the Registration form here >>>

Abstract submission

Please download the Abstract form here >>>

Please download the Conference announcement here >>>

Conference Venue

International Agricultural Research and Training Center / Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlüğü (UTAEM), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MFRPTI)

Camikebir District, Maltepe Road No 27/1, Menemen, Izmir, Türkiye (Camikebir Mah. Maltepe Yolu No: 27/1 Menemen–İzmir, Türkiye)

https://arastirma.tarimorman.gov.tr/izmirutaem

Transport from/to Venue

At Izmir Airport participants can take Metro (IZBAN) to Menemen that is 51 km far from Adnan Menderes Airport. Travel cost is about 1 euro, credit cards can be used to buy the ticket. Please select Menemen while buying the ticket.

Arriving Passengers can access the Airport SUBWAY-IZBAN station from the specified routes:

·       At the exit of the departures floor of Domestic Terminal go crosswise left at the opposite direction

·       At the exit of the arrivals floor of Domestic Terminal take the elevators or escalators across the exit

·       At the exit of the arrivals floor of International Terminal, follow the guiding signs of SUBWAY-IZBAN and take the travelator. IZBAN goes to Menemen.

In Menemen participants may use bus; public bus station is located very close to IZBAN. There is also a taxi station which is just in front of the Metro (IZBAN) station. Taxi will be cheep and easy to reach the conference hotel.

The hotel is known as ’UTAEM Misafirhanesi’ (UTAEM Guesthouse/Hotel). The address is the same as conference venue:

Camikebir District, Maltepe Road No 27/1, Menemen, Izmir, Türkiye (Camikebir Mah. Maltepe Yolu No: 27/1 Menemen–İzmir, Türkiye)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HFMVpKrEP72ckJfj8

Please download the IZBAN map here >>>

Accommodation

We recommend staying at the UTAEM (Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlüğü / International Agricultural Research and Training Center) Guesthouse/Hotel  (with 36 rooms with 2 single beds, and 14 rooms with one double bed; with a meeting hall and 3-star restaurant) because no transportation to Conference Venue will be needed. The price for a double room per person is 40 Euro/night, while for a single room is 45 Euro/night, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. No alcohol is available.

Excursion

An excursion will be organised on 29 November 2024 to Izmir. Agricultural areas and natural park will be visited in the morning, while Izmir Town will be visited in the afternoon. Bus transport will be provided by the organisers. Participants can stay in Izmir to take transport if they will travel back on the same day.

Contacts:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For registration and submission of abstracts.