EPPO-REUFIS-BFW Conference

‘Safeguarding Forests in Europe: Emerging Risks of Agrilus Wood Borers (Buprestidae)’

Vienna, 21-23 April 2026

 

 

 

REGISTER NOW!

 

The EPPO Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Conference ‘Safeguarding Forests in Europe: Emerging Risks of Agrilus Wood Borers (Buprestidae)‘ will be organized in BFW (Vienna) on 21–23 April 2026. This is a joint event co-organized by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), the Forest Invasive Species Network for Europe and Central Asia (REUFIS), and the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW).

 

We invite you and your colleagues from NPPOs and academia to attend and contribute to this Conference, which will provide an important opportunity to exchange experiences and enhance preparedness for the protection of European forests against quarantine forest pests.

 

Focus of the Conference

 

The meeting will address the growing threats posed by tree-killing buprestids to Europe’s forests, with a particular emphasis on:

 

  • the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), native to south-east Asia and already causing devastating losses in North America, European Russia, and Ukraine;
  • the bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius) and the two-lined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus), both originating from North America and posing significant risks to European ecosystems.

 

All elements (from biology to national systems of surveillance and control) will be covered.

 

Since the first Conference focused on invasive Agrilus held at BFW in 2018, substantial research and practical experience have been gained worldwide. A new conference will provide a platform to share knowledge, identify gaps, and strengthen strategies to safeguard European forests from these pests. Bringing together experts from native and invaded regions, the event will emphasize the interdisciplinary approach required to address quarantine species, engaging researchers, forest protection and phytosanitary specialists, administrators, and policy makers.

 

Participation and registration

 

· Register here: http://meeting.eppo.int/index.php/Y8948. Registration is open until 31 December 2025.

· Registration fee: €180 (3 full days; without conference dinner) or €250 (with conference dinner). Fees must be paid by 31 January 2026.

· Up to 90 participants may attend in person on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, subject to payment of the registration fee. The talks will also be broadcast online.

 

When registering, participants can indicate their preferred presentation format (oral or poster) and topic. Each participant is expected to present one contribution (oral or poster), though an additional poster may be allowed depending on the programme committee’s decision.

 

The working language of the conference is English.

 

Abstract submission

A book of abstracts in a pdf format will be published on this page before the conference.


To submit an abstract:

  1. Download the template here.
  2. Fill in the file
  3. Send it to Dmitrii Musolin (EPPO) at dm@eppo.int by 31 January 2026.

 

Venue 

The conference will be held at the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW): Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131 Vienna

 

 

Accomodation 

Information on recommended accomodation can be accessed here. 

 

Important dates

Registration: by 31 December 2025

Registration fee payment: by 31 January 2026

Abstract submission: by 31 January 2026

 

Contacts

Dmitrii Musolin (EPPO): dm@eppo.int

Ferenc Lakatos (REUFIS): lakatos.ferenc@uni-sopron.hu

Gernot Hoch (BFW): gernot.hoch@bfw.gv.at

 

 

EPPO Network of experts working on surveillance, monitoring, and control of Agrilus planipennis (Emerald ash borer) and its Newsletters: https://eppo.int/RESOURCES/special_projects/agrilus_planipennis_network