Conference funding – A contribution to biodiversity and beach management

Hello everyone,

I believe most of you love beaches?! :) Perhaps for sunbathing, swimming, surfing, snorkeling? Or something entirely different? Today, beaches are highly valued for their recreational purposes and support many coastal economies worldwide, but, beaches are also highly dynamic ecosystems providing a habitat for a range of unique biodiversity such as e.g. birds, that use the different zones of a beach for resting, feeding and breeding.

With this campaign, I want to raise money for a conference in Sydney this year, where I am planning to present the findings of my Masters Thesis in Natural Resource Management on the importance of abiotic sandy beach characteristics for the habitat use of three resident shorebird species in Australia. This is particularly of interest, as stationary territory holders may not be as flexible in changing to a new habitat if aren´t suitable anymore. By understanding a species needs with regards to the morphology of a beach as a habitat, future beach management can be improved by incorporating new insights especially with regards to habitat loss due to raising sea levels or human disturbance.

The publication I handed in has been accepted now, but the conference costs, flight and accomodation will range around 3000 Euros. As I am not enrolled in a PhD programme (yet), there are no funds available at the moment to cover such expenses. Therefore I am grateful for any financial support and also happy to contribute myself something in exchange, if I can, just let me know :)