EPCN Workshops
EPCN Workshops, Conferences & Community Meetings
For many years, EPCN has organised international workshops every two years. These events have been key to building the community and advancing pond research and conservation.
Workshop objectives included:
- Sharing the latest knowledge on pond ecology, management, and conservation (oral and poster presentations)
- Connecting people and fostering new collaborations
- Launching joint projects and promoting links between scientists and practitioners
- Bringing together the EPCN community for plenary discussions and the General Assembly
Looking ahead:
EPCN will continue to host in-person gatherings, but in flexible formats. This includes dedicated workshops or conferences, as well as special sessions at national or international conferences, ensuring that the community can meet, exchange ideas, and collaborate regularly.
11th EPCN Conference (2024)
The 11th EPCN Conference was held online on 12–13 November 2024 as part of the PONDERFUL project, under the theme Ponds and pondscapes for biodiversity, climate and people.
The event brought together over 500 participants from around the world, including scientists, practitioners and policymakers. Nearly 100 presentations and 25 posters covered topics such as pond biodiversity, climate regulation, nature-based solutions, and practical management, highlighting the global importance of ponds and small water bodies.
Exploring the power of ponds: International Pond Conference 2024 – Ponderful
10th EPCN Conference (2023)
The 10th EPCN Conference took place as a special session at the 13th Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences (SEFS13) in Newcastle, UK, in June 2023. SEFS13 brought together more than 400 delegates from 27 countries from across the freshwater science community, including many working on ponds and small water bodies.
The EPCN‑organised session was highly successful, with strong representation of pond research and practice not only within the dedicated EPCN session but across the wider SEFS programme, highlighting ponds as an integral component of freshwater biodiversity science and management.
Ninth EPCN Conference (2021)
The 9th EPCN Conference was held online in May 2021, one year later than originally planned due to Covid-19. Supported by the Hydroscape project, it focused on how stressors and connectivity influence freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem function.
The conference featured oral and poster sessions on pond monitoring, conservation and management, pondscape patterns, and urban ponds, alongside a virtual social programme including a field trip to the ponds of the New Forest and a pond-themed quiz.
Eighth EPCN Workshop (2018)
The 8th European Pond Conservation Network workshop was held from 21–25 May 2018 in Torroella de Montgrí, Spain. It was organised by the University of Girona with support from local partners and featured interdisciplinary presentations on pond ecology, biodiversity patterns, ecosystem responses to global change, and the management and restoration of coastal and temporary waters.
Seventh Workshop (2017)
The seventh EPCN workshop will be held on the 1-4 May 2017 at the University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. The workshop is being run in conjunction with a LIFE Seminar and the 12th Annual SWS European Chapter Meeting. The themes are Ponds in a Changing World and Sustainable wetland management: exploring novel approaches for water management, biodiversity conservation, restoration, pollution control, and climate change. More information on the event, submitting abstracts, and booking your place is available from the 7th EPCN Workshop website. #EPCNLifeSWS2017
Sixth Workshop (2014)
The sixth workshop took place from 14–18 September 2014 in Huesca, Spain, under the motto Wetlands Biodiversity and Services: Tools for Socio-Ecological Development. More than 300 scientists and practitioners from 27 countries participated. Many oral and poster presentations focused on ponds, and a special session on Mediterranean ponds was organised.
Fifth Workshop (2012)
The fifth workshop was held in 2012 at the Neumünster Abbey in Luxembourg City. Continuing the EPCN conference series, it presented recent knowledge on pond ecology, conservation and management through keynote lectures, oral and poster sessions. Several specialised workshops addressed policy issues, landscape interactions and practical pond management.
Fourth Workshop (2010)
The fifth workshop was held in 2012 at the Neumünster Abbey in Luxembourg City. Continuing the EPCN conference series, it presented recent knowledge on pond ecology, conservation and management through keynote lectures, oral and poster sessions. Several specialised workshops addressed policy issues, landscape interactions and practical pond management.
Third Workshop (2008)
The third workshop was organised in 2008 in Valencia, Spain, under the auspices of EPCN, as part of a European Union LIFE-Nature project on the restoration of priority amphibian habitats. The theme, Pond conservation: from science to practice, aimed to bring together researchers, managers and practitioners to strengthen knowledge on pond ecosystems.
Second Workshop (2006)
The second workshop took place in February 2006 in Toulouse, France. During this meeting, the network finalised the document “Developing the Pond Manifesto” (download here), which presents the background and motivations of EPCN activities.
First Workshop (2004)
The first EPCN workshop was held in 2004 and co-organised by the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, the University of Geneva, the University of Toulouse III, and the Pond Conservation Trust.
This workshop laid the foundations for the EPCN network.