The XVII International Congress of SECEM (Iberian Society for the Conservation and Study of Mammals) was held in Évora, at the Colégio do Espírito Santo, from 5 to 8 December 2025. This scientific meeting, organised biennially, is one of the main Iberian platforms for the presentation and discussion of advances in mammal research, bringing together specialists, managers, technicians, students and organisations dedicated to wildlife conservation.
CESAM/DBIO was represented by Ana M. Figueiredo, Mariana Rossa, Beatriz Afonso, Victor Bandeira, Rita Tinoco Torres, Filipa Peste Costa, João Carvalho, Eduardo Ferreira, Paloma Linck, Pedro Severino, Carlos Fonseca and Daniela Teixeira. The researchers delivered four oral communications and presented eleven posters, contributing to the dissemination of recent studies developed within the Wildlife Unit and strengthening CESAM’s institutional presence in the field of mammal research in the Iberian context.
The congress included several thematic sessions covering areas such as ecology, behaviour, conservation, habitat management, emerging threats and the application of new monitoring methodologies. These sessions provided opportunities for the exchange of up-to-date scientific results and fostered collaboration among researchers from different institutions across the Iberian Peninsula and other European countries. In addition to formal presentations, the event offered moments of debate and reflection on conservation strategies, emphasising the importance of cross-border cooperation and the integration of science into management practices.
The participation of CESAM/DBIO researchers reinforces the institution’s commitment to producing relevant scientific knowledge and transferring that knowledge to the scientific community and to stakeholders involved in the conservation of Iberian mammals.
The detailed programme of the congress can be consulted here.