About the conference, June 16-18 2013

Invasion by non-native (alien) species has been recognized as one of the main threats to global biodiversity. Among introduced species, predators have had the largest effect on native fauna globally. Today, the impact of invasive alien species (IAS) is a major concern throughout the world and their management and control will continue to be a huge challenge for conservation biologists and managers during the coming decades.

With this conference we want to demonstrate successful management of IAS, with a main focus on invasive predators, to both relevant authorities and the public by presenting European IAS projects as case studies. Gathering policy makers, authorities and managers from the EU-level down to the regional level will also provide an opportunity to discuss and share what needs to be done, by whom, how it should be done and how to pay the bill.

More specifically the aims of the conference are;

• to raise awareness on the policy context (regional, national & international level) that frames the legal requirements for the management of IAS.
• to share knowledge and experience on the management of IAS (in particular mammalian predators), and put it into a larger perspective
• to present research that helps the management of IAS and to pinpoint knowledge gaps where more research is needed
• to disseminate knowledge and awareness to the public

Target audience

• European managers and authorities (with Nordic focus), policy makers and scientists/researchers in the field of IAS, and conservation biologists.
• Local hunters and the public.