The Centre for Invasion Biology (C·I·B) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) are collaborating to host the National Symposium on Biological Invasions 2026. The event will be an in-person event taking place from the 9th to the 11th of November 2026 at the Protea Hotel and Conference Centre, Stellenbosch. The Symposium is open to experts, researchers, students, managers and policymakers currently working on, or with an interest in biological invasions in South Africa.

Biological invasions represent one of the foremost drivers of global biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Yet critical knowledge gaps persist, particularly with respect to underrepresented taxonomic groups and ecosystems that have received comparatively limited scientific attention. This symposium aims to address these gaps by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue that spans terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments — from inland catchments to the coastal zone.

The Symposium’s Scientific Committee will be accepting abstracts for oral and poster presentations focused on the theme as well as presentations focused on any aspect of biological invasions relevant to Southern Africa.

Call for abstracts is open and close on 31 August 2026 at 17:00.

Abstracts for oral and poster presentations must be submitted through the online submission system (see Call for abstracts). No emailed abstracts will be considered. Acceptance of an abstract does not constitute registration for the Symposium. All presenting authors are required to register separately.

The Organising Committee of the Symposium invites organisations, institutions, companies, publishers, NGOs, research programmes, government agencies, and environmental service providers to participate as exhibitors during the Symposium. Additional sponsorship and partnership opportunities are also available for organisations interested in supporting the Symposium.

Organisations interested in exhibiting are encouraged to contact the Organising Committee for information regarding exhibition packages and sponsorship opportunities. Early booking is encouraged as exhibition spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact Christy Momberg (christymomb@sun.ac.za) and Dr Potgieter (lukepotgieter2@gmail.com)

Dr Andrew Liebhold is an internationally recognised forest entomologist whose research focuses on the population ecology of forest insects, with particular emphasis on biological invasions.

Prof Francois Roets is the Chair of the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University.

Dr Josie South is an Associate Professor and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow in invasion ecology at the University of Leeds.