A 2-day symposium. Invited speakers will present their expert opinions on a range of topics that encompass current priorities in avian reintroduction biology.

Reintroduction is a widespread technique for conservation of endangered species. It is highly visible and has tangible outcomes easily grasped by people in the short term. This often results in translocation becoming a showcase for conservation; proof that we are attempting something, and a way to generate public support and involvement.

Birds are the major taxa in reintroduction projects globally, and provide excellent examples of the significant advances and failures that reintroduction practitioners have made. The overall success of bird reintroduction campaigns is often poor. Reintroduction practice has evolved with little scientific rigour and poorly established monitoring and reporting protocols. The result is we often fail to learn from our mistakes. Conservation science is increasingly addressing this issue and scientists involved in reintroduction procedures have a responsibility to coordinate and advance the expertise generated through their involvement.

Of additional benefit is the wide scientific base reintroductions draw from. However, this raises its own problems. Wildlife ecologists, population modellers, geneticists, animal husbandry professionals, and veterinarians all contribute expertise with often differing, and sometimes conflicting, goals and approaches. There is a desperate need to coordinate our thinking across these disciplines to promote a stronger knowledge base for more efficient and successful reintroductions in the future. Our aim is to bring experts from these various fields together to present and discuss their views and answer questions about how to create a unified reintroduction framework.

Organised by Dr John Ewen, Professor Doug Armstrong, Kevin Parker & Dr Phil Seddon

Present a poster of your research or work in this area: there are spaces for approximately 25 posters that will be displayed throughout the meeting. Attendees will have plenty of time to study posters and interact with speakers and other delegates during tea/coffee breaks. Posters will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis and abstracts of no more than 250 words outlining poster content should be emailed to joy.hayward@zsl.org by 28 March 2008 for consideration. Accepted poster presenters will be notified by 4 April 2008.

For further information and to register your interest: please contact Joy Hayward, Scientific Meetings Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY.
Tel:+44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411. E-mail: joy.hayward@zsl.org.

Registration required:

Yes

Free:

No