Recent News

EEF Produce Position Paper for EPBRS Workshop

The EEF produced a position paper for a European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy (EPBRS) workshop, "Investing in Innovative Research for Nature and our livelihoods: Strengthening the research strategy to reinforce the ERA on Biodiversity”, held on 11 April. Six questions that need increased attention in ecological and biodiversity research in Horizon 2020 to contribute to the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity were highlighted by the EEF. The questions relate to patterns and drivers of biodiversity from genetics to ecosystem levels, how human welfare and ecosystem services are affected by biodiversity components and their interactions, and relations between biodiversity science and society.

For more information see
http://www.europeanecology.org/sciencepolicy/

European Commisson Publishes Seventh LIFE+ Call for Proposals

The European Commission has published a call for proposals to the LIFE+ funding scheme. Up to €278 million is available for co-financing of projects under three headings: Nature and Biodiversity; Environment Policy and Governance; and Information and Communication. The deadline for proposals is 25th June 2013.

For more information see
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus2013/call/index.htm

EU Budget Agreed by Leaders

On 8th February 2013, leaders of the nations of the European Union agreed the budget for the EU for the next seven years. The deal represents a €34.4 billion cut to the 2007 - 2013 budget. However, due to concerted efforts by the scientific community, EU leaders have agreed that the funding for the Horizon 2020 (the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, 2014 - 2020) and ERASMUS (educational exchange for Higher Education students) programmes will grow in real terms over the period to 2020, compared to 2013 levels. This is in recognition of the particular contribution that both programmes make to the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. The exact amount of the settlement for Horizon 2020 will be determined through meetings in due course. Although the budget will be less than the €80 billion settlement proposed by the European Commission, this is still a very positive outcome for science in the European Union.

For more information see
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/135344.pdf

New BiodiversityKnowledge Network to be formed

Ecologists in Europe can now express their interest in attending a meeting in Brussels on 21st - 23rd May 2012, aimed at developing a new biodiversity 'Network of Knowledge (NoK). 'BiodiversityKnowledge' is an initiative by researchers and practitioners, funded through the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), to help all in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem services make better informed decisions regarding the use of natural resources. With the formation of the new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on 21st April, decision-makers at an international level are taking seriously the need for evidence to inform decisions on the management of the Earth's life support systems. The new EU-level Network of Knowledge aims to bridge the science-policy interface at the European level. All researchers are invited to engage with the conveners of BiodiversityKnowledge to design and develop the Network. An initial meeting in Brussels from 21st - 23rd May will begin discussions on network design.

For more information see
http://www.biodiversityknowledge.eu/

New EEF Board Elected

New members have been elected to the Board of the European Ecological Federation. All members of the Board serve a term of three years in office and are eligible to stand again for a further term. Cristina Máguas (Portuguese Ecological Society) and Alberto Basset (Italian Ecological Society) have been elected as the new Vice-Presidents. Roland Bobbink (Netherlands - Flemish Ecological Society), Adrián Escudero (Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology) and Christophe Thébaud (French Ecological Society) have been elected as Ordinary Board Members. The President, Stefan Klotz, and General Secretary, James Bullock, have been re-elected for a second term.

For more information see
http://www.europeanecology.org/about/council.php

12th EEF Congress held in Avila, Spain

The 12th European Ecological Federation Congress has taken place in Avila, Spain. The meeting was extremely well-attended, with almost 1,000 delegates from across Europe and the globe joining the EEF in listening to a wide selection of stimulating sessions. High-quality plenary talks from Professor Georgina Mace, Imperial College London, Professor Jane Memmott from the University of Bristol and Professor Terry Chapin from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, completed a fascinating and wide-ranging programme.

For more information see
http://www.eefcongress2011.eu/

Web Ecology Relaunches

Web Ecology, an innovative open access journal run by the European Ecological Federation, is relaunching. The journal will now be published by Copernicus Publications. Ecologists are now invited to submit papers for inclusion in the journal. A special introductory offer means that for a short period only there is no service charge to publish in the journal.

For more information see
http://www.europeanecology.org/publications/journal.php

INTECOL 2013: Into the Next 100 Years

The website for the 2013 INTECOL meeting, 'Ecology: Into the Next 100 Years', has now launched. The second announcement for the meeting is also now available, with full details of plenary speakers. Details of how to submit proposals for symposia (deadline: 30 November 2011) are also available, along with preliminary information about how to propose workshops and submit abstracts. The meeting is taking place in London from 18 - 23 August 2013. The EEF, along with many of the national ecological societies which form its members, is an academic sponsor of the meeting. The 2013 EEF Congress will take place as part of the INTECOL meeting.

For more information see
http://www.intecol2013.org/

EEF Congress: Second Circular released

The Second Circular, with further information regarding the 12th EEF Congress in Avila, Spain, has been released (February 2011). The circular includes details of the plenary lectures, titles of sessions, field trips and important deadlines (including for registration). For further details about the Congress, please contact the local organisers of the meeting.

For more information see
http://www.eefcongress2011.eu/

EEF Education Forum

The British Ecological Society is currently inviting other European Ecological Societies to establish an Education Forum for the EEF. The intention is to encourage discussion of matters related to ecological education across Europe and consider how we can best work together to influence change in education. Please contact Karen Devine, BES Education Officer (karen@britishecologicalsociety.org) for more information if you would like to be involved

For more information see
www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org

Estonian Naturalists' Society Joins EEF as Associate Member

The Estonian Naturalists' Society has joined the EEF as an Associate Member. Although as an Associate Member the Society does not have the right to vote at the EEF Council Meeting, it has now become part of the EEF network, meaning that its members can now benefit from links to over 8,000 ecologists in EEF member societies across Europe.

EEF Board and Council meet in Madrid, Spain

Members of the Board and Council of the European Ecological Federation met last week in Madrid, Spain, to discuss the ongoing business of the organisation. Members were joined by the local organisers of the forthcoming EEF Congress (2011) in Madrid, who presented plans for what promises to be a fantastic meeting. Further information about the EEF Congress will appear on this website when available.

For more information see
info@europeanecology.org

Date of 2011 EEF Congress Announced

The date of the next Congress of the EEF, a meeting formerly known as 'EURECO', will be 25 - 29 September 2011. The meeting is being hosted by the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology and will be held near Madrid. Further information will appear here in due course.

For more information see
http://www.aeet.org

EEF Council Meets in Budapest, Hungary

Members of the Board and Council of the European Ecological Federation met in Budapest, Hungary on 13 October 2009. Members of the Hungarian Ecological Society delivered a brief presentation on the activities of their organisation. The minutes of the meeting are available from info@europeanecology.org

EEF Board Meets in Brussels - 18 June 2009

The EEF Board met in Brussels on 18 June 2009 to discuss the development of the Federation. Members of the Federation wishing to access the minutes of the meeting can contact info@europeanecology.org.