The 53rd Annual Conference of the German Ecological Society (GfÖ) took place in Freising, Germany from 9 - 13 September 2024 and was hosted by the research campus in Freising-Weihenstephan. The conference was under the topic “The future of sustainable land use across ecosystems, landscapes and biomes” and welcomed over 700 participants, including ecology, biodiversity, and environmental pollution professionals alongside early career researchers and students.

The agenda of the conference featured a wide range of topics connected to diversity discussions, knowledge exchange and addressing possible solutions for the global environmental challenges. Over 60 thematical sessions were presented to the participants covering topics such as biodiversity conservation and restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, environmental and biodiversity change, and ecology. All of the topics provided an opportunity for interesting debates and discussions between the participants.

For a second consecutive year, SELINA was among the EU-funded projects showcased at the exhibitors’ booths, which contributed to strengthening and expanding its connections within the scientific community. 

SELINA, in collaboration with two other EU projects (SpongeBoost and REST-COAST), was featured at a booth, where the conference participants had the opportunity to engage in conversations with the project communication team from Pensoft and explore promotional materials, including brochures, badges and information leaflets, offering a comprehensive overview of the project's activities, impact and goals.

SELINA’s presence at the GfÖ conference was promoted on social media, encouraging participants to visit the booth and learn more about the project.