2027 Spring Conference: Species Solutions: Emerging issues and practical approaches to species survey, mitigation and compensation- Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS

Submit a proposal here:

Deadline: 30th October 2026

We are seeking proposals for presentations and workshops for our 2027 Spring Conference, which will provide practical updates for ecological consultants and other ecologists and environmental managers ahead of the 2027 survey season

Spring is a key point in the professional year, as survey programmes are being planned, licence applications prepared, mitigation strategies refined, and project teams look ahead to the practical challenges of a busy field season ahead.

For our 2027 Spring Conference, we want to focus on the work that sits at the heart of professional practice for many CIEEM members: high-quality species survey, effective mitigation design, successful compensation and enhancement, and evidence-led advice that helps clients, regulators and decision-makers make good choices.

We are particularly keen to hear from practitioners who can share technical updates, case studies, lessons learned and practical problem-solving across a range of protected, priority and notable species. The emphasis should be on information that delegates can take away and apply in the coming survey season, whether that is a new approach, a refined method, a regulatory update, or a candid reflection on what has and has not worked in practice.

We welcome presentations and workshop that:

• Provide practical updates on species survey methods, timing, effort, interpretation and reporting
• Share evidence, case studies or reflections on effective mitigation, compensation and enhancement
• Explore how consultants can give clear, proportionate and defensible advice in complex project contexts
• Help practitioners prepare for the 2027 survey season, including emerging issues, common pitfalls and good practice for species
• Consider climate adaptation and resilience both in the context of survey planning and the implementation of ecological measures
• Help practitioners understand what Environmental Delivery Plans might mean in practice for species survey, mitigation, compensation, licensing and client advice

Themes:

• Species survey: Updates on survey design, field methods, timing and proportional effort, data quality, interpretation, reporting and communicating uncertainty and using professional judgement across protected, priority and notable species.
• Mitigation that works: Practical examples of avoidance, mitigation and monitoring measures that have delivered good outcomes, including what practitioners would do differently next time.
• Compensation, enhancement and long-term outcomes: Case studies and evidence on habitat creation, compensation measures, translocation, receptor site design, post-construction monitoring and securing lasting benefits for species.
• Licensing, regulation and professional judgement: Updates or lessons on protected species licensing, planning conditions, regulator expectations, proportionate assessment and defensible decision-making.
• Innovation in everyday practice: New or improving tools, technologies and analytical approaches that help commercial ecological work, including their limitations and appropriate use.
• Preparing for a changing climate:Targeted examples of how climate adaptation or resilience considerations are influencing species survey, mitigation or compensation, to help practitioners prepare for the year ahead.

We are looking for contributions that are grounded in practice and useful to the people who will be planning, managing and delivering ecological survey and mitigation work in 2027. Presentations do not need to be polished success stories and we welcome honest reflections on difficult projects, evolving methods, constraints, trade-offs and lessons learned.

We are especially interested in proposals that speak to a core CIEEM audience of applied ecological practitioners and consultants, while also being relevant to local authorities, statutory agencies, NGOs, land managers, clients, students and others involved in applying ecological advice on real projects.

Proposals for individual presentations will be evaluated based on the following two criteria:

1) Relevance to the conference focus: Please explain how your talk or session relates to species survey, mitigation, compensation, enhancement, licensing, professional judgement or field-season readiness.

2) Practical application: What will delegates be able to use, consider or do differently after attending your talk or session?

Workshop proposals will also be evaluated against an additional two criteria:

3) Co-design and collaboration: A good range of presenters or perspectives involved and represented, for example consultants, clients, regulators, local authorities, contractors, researchers, land managers or NGOs.

4) Engaging and accessible structure: How will you keep the audience engaged, make the session useful to practitioners, and allow time for questions and discussion? Creativity is encouraged, and CIEEM can support use of Mentimeter where helpful.

Please use the session proposal and abstract submission form to tell us how you would like to contribute. If you have any questions, please email training@cieem.net.

Submit a proposal here, by the 30th October 2026:

Help practitioners prepare for the 2027 survey season by sharing the technical updates, practical experience and professional insight that support high-quality ecological work on real projects.

If you would like to know when tickets go on sale please add your details here: 2027 Spring Conference tickets