From July 6 to 10, 2026, the 8th European Congress of Conservation Biology (ECCB 2026) took place in Leiden (the Netherlands). The Congress, organised by the Society for Conservation Biology Europe and Leiden University, brought together more than researchers and conservation professionals from across Europe to discuss current challenges and approaches in biodiversity conservation. The event gathered over 850 participants from 25 countries. The central theme addressed throughout the Congress was: How biodiversity can be effectively safeguarded in the long term.
During the Congress, the Researcher of LSFRI 'Silava', Laura Ķēniņa presented the first results of the postdoctoral research project Assessment of structural dynamics and biodiversity composition of hemiboreal old-growth forests to advance closer-to-nature management (No. 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/040) in the poster presentation "Stand structure and dynamics of deadwood in old-growth coniferous forest stands in hemiboreal Latvia". The study presented structural changes in old-growth Norway spruce and Scots pine stands over a five-year period, with particular attention to changes in deadwood volume and stand structure. Participation in ECCB 2026 provided an opportunity to present and discuss the first results of the postdoctoral research within the broader European conservation research community, as well as to gain new perspectives relevant to further research on old-growth forests and biodiversity.