5th Planta Europa Conference
Cluj-Napoca - Romania
September 2007

Hepatica transylvanica in Transsylvania

"Working Together for Plants" is the title of the 5th Planta Europa Conference in Romania. All workshops will deal with one overarching question:

How can partnerships facilitate plant conservation in Europe?

Looking at all levels, from local up to European, participants will exchange experience and best practice examples on working together with different stakeholders and organisations on governmental and non-governmental side. It will be discussed how partnerships need to be designed to work for the benefits of conservation and landscapes. Planta Europa is all about working together in partnership.

Four thematic workshops will deal with the main partnership theme under broader headings related to the international plant conservation strategies:

Theme 1: Partnership projects for understanding and documenting plant diversity

Theme 2: Partnership projects for conserving plant diversity

Theme 3: Partnership projects for the sustainable use of plant diversity

Theme 4: Partnership for education, awareness rising and capacity building

In the strategic part of the conference, the final review of the European Plant Conservation Strategy will lead to a discussion on the way ahead for plant conservation in Europe. We will not only develop a new European Strategy to focus our expertise, efforts and attention, but also develop a longer-term vision for plants beyond 2010. With this, Planta Europa is spearheading the conservation efforts with finding new approaches for conservation beyond the 2010 target of halting the loss of biodiversity. An end, or a mere beginning?

Pre-registration can be made on the conference website. Abstracts and contributions to the thematic workshops must be submitted by 1st March 2007. Guidelines for abstract submissions can also be found at the conference website.

Award ceremonies will be another important part of the conference. If you would like to nominate a colleague for outstanding contributions of Europe's plant diversity, please get in touch with the Planta Europa Secretariat. Deadline for nominations is the 15th of April.

Besides the official programme, Planta Europa conferences offer plenty of opportunities to network with plant conservationists from across pan-Europe and present your work in this interesting framework.

See the conference website for further information.