The International Workshop on "Invasive Plants in the Mediterranean Type Regions of the World"

25, 26 and 27 May 2005 in Mèze - FRANCE

Presentation (.pdf) - Programme (.pdf)

Summary
	Introduction Workshop presentationl Objectives Place and date Organizers Partners Workshop participants Format of the workshop

Introduction

Hidden by their inoffensive aspect, their beauty or their inconspicuousness, some plants hide their true nature; a conquering temperament and a terrific capacity for adaptation , which has led them to invade natural habitats.

Impacts of these invasive plants are numerous: on the environment (second cause of loss of biodiversity), on human activities (agriculture, pastoral activities…), on health (allergies…), and on the landscape.

Since 2001, the Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen has coordinated the program « Invasive plants in the French Mediterranean region ». This initiative is a pilot project in France and considers the global problems of invasive plants. An original feeture is that it includes the participation of horticulture and landscape professionals.

“Invasive plants in the French Mediterranean area” has 3 objectives :
- surveillance of invasive alien plants in the mediterranean area of France,

- eradication and management actions for some of these invasive plants,

- partnership with all professionals concerned (horticulture and landscape professionals, managers, scientists, …) in order to manage the problem.

International workshop on “Invasive plants in the Mediterranean Type Regions of the World”

Concerned professionals across the world implicated in invasive plant management have unanimously expressed the need to exchange and capitalise their knowledge in this field. In order to respond to this collective request, the Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen has been asked to organise an international workshop on “Invasive plants in the Mediterranean type regions of the world”.

This workshop, the first of its kind, will bring together scientists, the nursery industry and landscape professionals etc. from the 5 Mediterranean type regions of the world (Mediterranean basin, California, Australia, South Africa, Chile).

Why focus on Mediterranean regions? These regions have high biogeographic and climatic similarities, where many of the same invasive plants and the same issues are found (coastal habitats, islands, soil erosion problems,…). The problems of invasive plants will be tackled through case studies, with examples of successful management strategies which can potentially be transferred to other countries. This workshop fits within the objectives of the European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species and is developing partnership with relevant experts..

This International Workshop will be held in May 2005 in Mèze. It is co-organised by the Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen and the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, with the support of the Council of Europe.

Presentation (.pdf) - Programme (.pdf)

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