European Association for Landscape Ecology – IALE Europe, organized IALE 2017 European Landscape Ecology Congress, From pattern and process to people and action in Ghent, 12-15 September 2017.
The congress theme reflected that landscape ecology is a meeting point – where pattern and process meet people and action – seen as a way of thinking when dealing with European landscapes. Organizers wanted to put emphasis on the integration of pattern and process as a biophysical component of landscape ecology with people and action, bringing in the social and cultural approaches. This requires a true interaction of natural and social sciences, and of science, policy and practice. Therefore the congress was an opportunity to reflect on the state of the art of landscape ecology today. Furthermore, the challenge of the congress was what the future directions are of landscape ecology as a social relevant approach for science, policy and practice.
Participation on the congress provided insight in current landscape ecology research situation in Europe. We met many researchers and people active in landscape ecology, we exchanged knowledge, experiences and talked about the possibility of professional cooperation.