IAPPS NEWSLETTER

Number III      March, 2005

XVIth INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONGRESS 2007

Planning of the next IAPPS Congress (in association with the BCPC International Congress), to be held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow, Scotland, from 15 to 18 October 2007, has begun.

The Organizing Committee* met in Glasgow on 2 November 2004 and confirmed its commitment to overseeing a smooth integration of the two events.

Professor Phil E Russell (UK) will chair the all-important Program Committee, and is currently appointing a supporting management team of Vice-Chairmen. Early consideration is also being given to the overall structure of the event, and possible key topics for inclusion in the technical program.

It was proposed that Dr Heinrichs, IAPPS Secretary General, should chair the International Advisory Committee, and that the core of this committee should be all current members of the IAPPS Governing Board.

*Membership of the 2007 Organising Committee:

Dr David V Alford (Chairman)
Dr Georg F Backhaus (Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft, Germany)
Dr E A 'Short' Heinrichs (IAPPS, USA)
Professor George Marshall (Scottish Agricultural Colleges, Edinburgh)
Dr Colin H E Ruscoe (Chairman: Exhibitions Committee)
Professor P E Russell (Chairman: Program Committee)
Mr Chris G Todd (Chairman: Finance Committee)
Dr Barry Thomas (BCPC)
Miss Lizzy White (Chairman: Accompanying Persons Committee)

For further information about the Congress, please contact:

BCPC,
7 Omni Business Centre,
Omega Park, Alton, Hampshire,
GU34 2QD, UK.
Tel: + 44 (0) 1420 593 200.
Fax: + 44 (0) 1420 593 209.
E-mail: md@bcpc.org
Web: www.bcpc.org

PLANT PROTECTION AND PLANT HEALTH IN EUROPE:
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
"INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES"

We would like to direct your attention to our International Symposium "Introduction and Spread of Invasive Species" which will take place 9 -11 June 2005 at the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

Invasive species are considered to be the second largest reason for biodiversity loss worldwide. In recent years, national and international environmental policy and legislation have begun to reflect this fact. In addition to the direct ecological risks they pose, invasive species of pests, pathogens and weeds are of increasing importance in a more and more "borderless" Europe, within cropping, amenity and natural situations.

Some invasive pests are rapidly extending their natural range within Europe: how can we detect potentially invasive species at an early stage? Do we have appropriate monitoring and information exchange systems in place? Currently, beneficial alien species (introduced, for example, as beneficial insects or micro-organisms) are exchanged between European states, virtually without real limitations. Since they are, in fact, introduced from abroad, is this ecologically risky? Generally, what role does trade play in heightening the risk of introductions resulting from the exchange of goods? Should attention be paid to alien species in the quality-control procedures of goods, perhaps even at the point of production?

Official phytosanitary regulations, inspection and alert systems should protect people, production and nature from negative impacts of alien species. In the EU, for example, the activities of authorities are being harmonized. However, are the recently introduced quarantine structures already effective and are they working optimally? What might be required for the future?

The Symposium will bring specialists from research, consultancy, trade and administration together. Their interactions and discussions will widen our views across the selected foci of the large spectrum of alien, invasive species.

For further information about the provisional program, and to access the registration form on-line, please check our website http://dpg.phytomedizin.org/Invasive_Symposium

Dr Falko Feldmann
Symposium Program Committee
Managing Director
German Phytomedical Society
Messeweg 11-12
D-38104 Braunschweig
E-mail: dpg@bba.de

The IAPPS Newsletter is published by the International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences and distributed in Crop Protection to members and other subscribers. Crop Protection, published by Elsevier, is the Official Journal of IAPPS. IAPPS Mission: to provide a global forum for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, integrating, and promoting plant protection concepts, technologies, and policies that are economically, environmentally, and socially acceptable. It seeks to provide a global umbrella for the plant protection sciences to facilitate and promote the application of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to a the world's crop and forest ecosystems. Membership Information: IAPPS has four classes of membership (individual, affiliate, associate, and corporate) which are described here. The IAPPS Newsletter welcomes news, letters, and other items of interest from individuals and organizations. Address correspondence and information to: Dr. Manuele Tamo, Editor IAPPS Newsletter Biological Control Center for Africa, IITA-Benin 08 B.P. 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Republic of Benin E-mail: m.tamo@cgiar.org