WELCOME! 

The 17th edition of the conference of the International Aquatic Plants Group, IAPG, will take place from 15 to 19 September 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, after being 26 years away from Lisbon.

Every two to three years, since 1964, the IAPG promote a conference to share scientific advances, exchange ideas, and deepen our collective knowledge of aquatic plants and their ecosystems. It also provides an invaluable opportunity for networking, fostering collaborations that can drive impactful research on all aspects of aquatic plant science, including botany, genetics, ecology, physiology, conservation and management.

The last time Lisbon hosted the event was in 1998, focusing on "Aquatic Weeds: Towards Integrated Aquatic Plant Management." Since then, the significance of aquatic plants has grown in various areas, including invasive ecology and control, aquatic plant-based bioassessment, biodiversity, biotic interactions, ecological stoichiometry and nutrient cycling and new insights on the fundamentals of aquatic plant sciences. Over the past decades, these developments have been shaped by the impacts of climate change, water pollution, dam construction, and changes in land use affecting rivers and riverine areas and their aquatic plant communities. Concurrently, there has been a significant rise in research on the role of aquatic plants in nature-based solutions, on constructed and natural wetlands, on restoration of freshwater ecosystems and lately on the novel perspectives driven by advancements in technology and AI-powered innovations. This Lisbon edition’s theme - “Back to the Future of Aquatic Plants and the Way Forward” - seeks to unite knowledge of aquatic plant sciences from past achievements to current challenges to leverage innovation for a sustainable future.

The meeting will begin with registration and lunch on Monday, September 15th, followed by an opening ceremony, the first keynote lecture, and presentations, concluding with a welcome reception. Tuesday, September 16th, will feature a full day of engaging presentations, while Wednesday, September 17th, will be dedicated to mid-symposium excursions. Two mid-symposium excursions are planned, offering visits to inland wetlands and coastal areas to the northwest and to the south of Lisbon. These excursions will showcase beautiful landscapes and diverse aquatic vegetation types, providing an opportunity to experience the unique heritage and local charm of the area. The event will then continue with a day and a half of additional presentations, wrapping up before lunch on Friday, September 19th. The symposium will be held at the LNEC Auditorium in the heart of Lisbon. In September the weather in Lisbon is usually warm and pleasant with around nine hours of sun to be appreciated daily. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is known for its beautiful light, charming landscapes and historic architecture, as well as its lively culture, old-fashioned trains, delicious cuisine and rich history. The city is built on a series of hills, offering panoramic views of the neighbourhoods and of the Tagus River, the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Lisbon for the Symposium of Aquatic Plants!

Francisca Aguiar
(Chair of the Local Organizing Committee)