The European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy 1 : Promoting knowledge for sustainability. Research priorities to sustain Ecosystem Services Conference of the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy Practical information BUDAPEST, HUNGARY 27-30 April 2011 ORGANISERS Institute of Ecology and Botany of HAS, Vácrátót, Alkotmány u. 2-4. H-2163 Chair: Katalin Török, director Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Nature Conservation, Budapest, Fő u. 44-50. H-1011 Co-Chair: Rozália Érdiné Szekeres, Head of Department VENUE 1 www. epbrs.org
The conference will be held at STEFÁNIA KULTÚRPALOTA (STEFÁNIA PALACE), where a large meeting room for plenary sessions and smaller rooms for group work are available. Address:1143 Budapest, Stefánia út 34-36. Important!! The entrance is from the back side, Zichy Géza utca 5. See the map below. WIFI will be available for the delegates during the meeting. Map of the venue (see entrance from the Zichy street) and hotels. 1. 2. 3. 4. Stefánia Kultúrpalota (Stefánia Palace) The entrance of the Stefánia Palota Lions Garden Hotel Ibis Budapest Heroes Square 2
http://maps.google.hu/maps/ms?client=firefoxa&hl=hu&ie=utf8&msa=0&ll=47.582084,19.162903&spn=0.207498,0.43602&t=h&z=11& msid=211347149700569791841.00049abeef5ee0b3ce600 ACCOMODATION Lions Garden Hotel **** 1146 Budapest, Cházár András-utca 4. www.lions-garden-hotel-budapest.com/ price for EPBRS participants: 68 EUR/single room, 78 EUR/double room These prices include use of the Spa. The Lions Garden Hotel is in walking distance from the Stefána Palota. The hotel requires a valid credit card number and expiration date to guarantee the reservation. Participants have to send these data directly to the hotel by fax in order to confirm registration. Rudinszky Adrienn, Sales Manager Telefax +36 1 2214274 Ibis Budapest Heroes Square *** 1068 Budapest Dózsa György út 106 http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6564-ibis-budapest-heroes-square/index.shtml price for EPBRS participants: 50 EUR/single room, 60 EUR/double room From the Ibis Budapest Heroes Square you can use the trolleybus No 75. Detailed information and registration at the EPBRS website. Hotel reservation will be done by the organisers according to your selection on the registration site. If you select Lions Garden Hotel, credit card information is required, see above. Participants have to cover the costs of their own accommodation. TRANSPORT Budapest Airport is about 16km (10 miles) from the centre of Budapest. The airport operates a minibus shuttle system to anywhere in Budapest with fixed rates for passengers. Tickets are purchased at the terminal (HUF 4990 return). Be sure to book your return journey 24 hours in advance: telephone +36 1 296-8555 (all day) or email: info@airportshuttle.hu Booking: booking@airportshuttle.hu Taxi service: - Taxi service is provided by FŐTAXI (official carrier of the airport) with a standard fee within the territory of Budapest. Phone: + 36 1 222 2222 - not necessary to order before, taxi stand in front of the airport - Taxi plus - necessary to order by telephone (the cheapest taxi, airport transfer 3500 HUF) Phone: +36 1 888 8000 Transport in Budapest Budapest has an extensive public transport system, including metro, buses, trams, trolley buses and suburban railway: http://www.bkv.hu/en/ Tickets and passes are valid on all tram, metro and trolley bus lines. On bus lines, tickets are valid on the whole length of the lines. Single tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines, from booths in the metro, at train stations and at main crossroads in Budapest, at newsagents and at every Post Office in Budapest and in the suburb. 3
A single ticket costs HUF 320. Passes are available for unlimited travel over a fixed period of time: one day (HUF 1550), three-day (HUF 3850) or seven-day (HUF 4600). There is also a coupon book for 10 journeys at HUF 2800. PLANNED WORKING PROGRAM (Steering Committee meeting from 26 April lunch to 27 April lunch. The meeting is open to EPBRS delegates, please indicate your participation in the registration.) 27 April 14:00-18:20 Conference opening, plenary keynote presentations in the main conference hall, with coffee break at 16:00-16:30 in the lobby. Introduction to breakout group work 19:00 Conference banquet in the Stefánia Palota. 28 April 09:00-13:00 Breakout group meetings with coffee break at 11:00. 13:00-14:00 Buffet lunch at the venue. 14:00-18:00 Breakout group work continues with coffee break at 16:00-16:30. 18:30 dinner the restaurant of the Stefánia Palota 19:30 Departure for the visit to the Hungarian Parliament (passport necessary). 29 April 09:00-13:00 Plenary session, finalizing the recommendations, with coffee break at 11:00. 13:00-14:00 buffet lunch at the venue. 14:00- departure for those, not participating the excursion to Csévharaszt. 19:00 dinner at the venue of the meeting. 30 April 08:00-15:00 Field trip to the Csévharaszt Nature Reserve area by bus. Lunch box will be provided. Field trip to the Csévharaszt Nature Reserve area Csévharaszt is located about 30 km from Budapest to the SE. It shows one of the richest habitat diversity of the Pannonian sand forest steppe in the Danube-Tisza interfluve region preserving many endemic species. It has been under nature protection since 1938 and its natural values were revealed by profound botanical and zoological studies. Starting with the International Biological Program /IBP/ in the sixties of the last century, it serves as a focal area for complex national and international long-term research projects. Recent research focuses on the ecological effects of climate change and land use change, including ecosystem services. Habitat reconstruction experiments are also carried out. For the 3-4 km excursion proper walking shoes and a raincoat/umbrella are recommended. 15:00 Back to Budapest via the Ferihegy airport CONTACT Conference and Communication Coordinator: Eszter Székely-Bognár (szekely@botanika.hu) Alkotmány u 2-4. H-2163-Vácrátót T: +36 28 360122/112 ext. F: +3628360110 About weather: http://www.weather.com/common/welcomepage/world.html 4
About Hungary and Budapest: You can find more information on Hungary on www.hungary.com You can find more information on Budapest on www.budapestinfo.hu/en The official website of the Hungarian Presidency is www.eutrio.hu The currency in Hungary is the Hungarian forint (HUF). 1 euro is equivalent to just about 270-275 HUF. The dialling code for Hungary is +36, which is followed by a 1 for Budapest. 24-hour medical assistance: Falck SOS Hungary. Tel: 200-0100 24-hour dental assistance: Tel: 267-9602 Emergency service: 112 Power voltage: 220-230 Volt 5