ATBC 2008 - Scientific Program

Scientific Program

The scientific program is now accessible on line (PDF File - 2,50 Mo). The booklet was prepared, edited and printed in Suriname by Suriprint N.V.

Plenary lectures, symposia and other sessions : Web

Postrals* and posters : Web

* the term "Postral" is copyright Pedro Jordano, Estacion Donana Sevilla, Spain, who created it while discussing and preparing the 5th Symposium/Workshop "Frugivores and Seed Dispersal".

Based on extrapolations of current deforestation trends in the tropics, the Guiana Shield can be identified as the largest remaining area of natural tropical forest in the world by 2050 (Hammond 2005). After the declaration of Rio in 1992, that of Tokyo in 1997, and Johannesburg in 2002, more than ever the Guianan forests appears as a conservation priority. As testified by the commercial use of several non-timber forest products (NTFP), it is clear that the sustainable harvest in natural forests of some products such as balata gum (Manilkara bidentata), carapa or andiroba oil (Carapa procera and C. guianensis) or Brazil nut (Bertholletia exelsa) is highly dependent on how such plants recruit and survive in their natural condition. This is largely dependent on the presence of animals that disperse their seeds, primates and rodents especially. If these animals are exterminated through unregulated hunting, or the food trees they depend on are overharvested, the chances of the long-term survival of many tree species is reduced. The failure of key forest processes, such as dispersal, undermines the long-term options for deriving sustainable benefit from the forest and maintaining the important regional and global-scale role that forests play in mitigating the consequences of strong climatic events, such as El Niño. During the proposed ATBC meeting, not only do we hope to interact with colleagues from other countries, but we also want to highlight the function and functioning of the greatest species-rich tropical ecosystems of the planet. By 2050, the Guianas may remain as one of the few areas in the world with extensive tropical forests and wetlands in natural condition, at least natural enough to maintain some of the last viable breeding populations of large mammals and birds, marine turtles and migratory and tropical shorebirds. There is a considerable responsibility on today’s young scientist’s shoulders who, tomorrow, will have to understand tropical biodiversity and advize on its protection and conservation.

The proposed program for 2008 consists of a four days of meetings with plenary sessions in the early morning, followed by concurrent symposium and oral sessions, followed by poster sessions. There will be one day of field excursions in the middle of the program, and ATBC-organized workshops. In addition, before and after the meeting, participants will have the possibility to extend their visit to the natural ecosystems and protected areas of Suriname by travelling to various coastal and remote field stations in the interior of Suriname.

We will encourage parallel sessions and workshops to promote regional and cross-continental research collaboration (workshops are not granted by ATBC2008). We will allow governmental and non-govermental agencies and organisations to highlight their priorities for region-wide or even wider research.

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