4^th EPCN Conference

1^st – 4^th June 2010

Berlin (Erkner), Germany

Leibniz Centre

for Agricultural Landscape Research

Home

Objective

Organisation

Programme

Abstracts & Registration

Publication

Venue & Accomodation

Photogallery

Contact

Objective of the conference Berlin, Germany will be the host of the 4^th Conference of the European Pond Conservation Network (EPCN) continuing a series of three highly successful conferences since 2004. These events take place every two years, attracting more and more pond experts with widely diversified backgrounds from basic sciences to the practical aspects of conservation and management. 130 delegates from 25 countries attended the last conference in Valencia, Spain 2008. Millions of ponds are an exceptional freshwater resource around the world that represents 30 percent of the global surface area of standing water. They have a high potential for ecosystem functions and services. On the other hand, ponds face many threats from human activities but receive little protection under European and national legislation. There is an urgent need to protect, consolidate and increase the pond resource in Europe. Therefore, the European Pond Conservation Network (EPCN) was launched 2004 in Geneva, as an issue of the 1^st EPCN Conference to promote awareness, understanding and conservation of ponds in European landscapes. EPCN conferences take place every two years (France 2006, Spain 2008). As a result, at the Valencia conference an important milestone was delivered with the publication of the “Pond Manifesto”. This document presents the case for conserving European ponds. It provides an outline strategy for much needed conservation action across and beyond the continent. We warmly invite you to continue this process and would be happy to see you at the 4^th EPCN Conference 2010 in Berlin (Erkner), Germany. In 2010, the year of biodiversity, the objective is to intensify exchange of experiences of pond experts from both, basic sciences and applied work on conservation and management to address the issue of the Pond Manifesto (2008).  Who should come to the conference? The conference is addressed to scientists and students of universities and research centres, experts from consulting firms, decision makers from ministries and governmental authorities, representatives from organisations for nature conservation, water management and farming.