SCCS Europe (Hungary) 2025 - Abstract submission deadline extended
Bernadett Zsinka
Connecting Eastern and Western Europe in conservation biology
Balatonvilágos (at Lake Balaton), Hungary,
02 - 06 September, 2025
Dear Early Career Conservation Biologist,
We are delighted to invite you to the 10th SCCS Europe in 2025, organised by the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research. SCCS Europe offers young conservationists, students and early career researchers the opportunity to meet renowned plenary speakers, attend career-enriching trainings, workshops and field trips, and have fun at the largest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton, at a student-friendly low price.
We proudly introduce our prominent keynote speakers:
- Dr Tibor Erős, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Hungary
There will be a series of workshops, networking opportunities, fun, and of course, the possibility to present your own research results. The all-inclusive conference fee will be 400 Euro (discounts are available) - including conference registration, accommodation, and catering (three meals per day).
We are looking forward to welcoming you to the heart of Europe! Join SCCS Europe in 2025!
THE NEW ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS 20 JUNE.
SCCS Europe organisers
Piero Visconti
Dear colleagues,
The European Commission and Member States are currently gearing up to negotiate the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU's long term budget, which usually covers a 7 year period (2028-2034), and sets a maximum level of resources for major categories of EU spending. Currently, only 6% of the EU budget supports biodiversity-related objectives, well below the EU own commitment of reaching 7.5% of total budget in 2024 and 10% by 2026–2027 which is the level required to close the annual funding gap, estimated at €19 billion (~10% of the 2025 EU budget).
Without urgent and scaled-up investment, the EU risks falling short of its biodiversity and Green Deal targets: which includes protecting 30% of land and sea, strictly protecting 10%, and restoring 20% of ecosystems by 2030. Failing to meet these goals could jeopardise the EU’s biodiversity strategy. Additionally, several members of major parties in the European parliament are elaborating proposals to defund the LIFE program, the primary source of funding for conservation actions in the EU. A group of concerned scientists from the Science 4 Future network, has developed this statement documenting the risk associated with reducing conservation funding and outlining the evidence in support of closing the biodiversity funding gap in the upcoming negotiations on the MFF between Member States and the European Commission.
Please note that sign-on is restricted to scientists, researchers and academics as this initiative is restricted to scientists, we are aware of similar initiatives emerging from e-NGOs that are open to any signature. We invite you to share it widely within your research networks. We hope to be able to hand over the signatures to one of the EU commissioners in person, possibly making this a public event with media attention. You can sign the statement here
If you have questions about the initiative feel free to email me at visc...@iiasa.ac.at and Carla Freund: fre...@iiasa.ac.at
Many thanks in advance for your support,
Best regards
Piero Visconti
Principal Research Scholar and Research Group Leader: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Group
Biodiversity and Natural Resources Programme
IIASA - International Institute
for Applied Systems Analysis
Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Phone: +43(0) 2236 807 427
NaturaConnect project | Google scholar page
Chapman M, Jung M…. Visconti
P. (2025) Meeting European Union biodiversity targets under future land-use
demands." Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025): 9, 810–821 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02671-1
Visconti, P., et al. (2024) "BIOCLIMA: Assessing Land use, Climate and
Biodiversity impacts of land-based climate mitigation and biodiversity policies
in the EU." Report to the European
Commission, Brussels. Publication Office of the European Union
Visconti P., O’Connor, L., Beher, J. (2024) Approaches to identify terrestrial priority areas for achieving the 30% and 10% protection target in the EU’. ETC BE Report 2024/4. European Topic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystems.
