Welcome to the Pan-African Ornithological Congress (PAOC15)

Elephant Hills Conference Centre
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe

This website has been generously sponsored by The A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI)

POSTPONEMENT OF PAOC15.

IN VIEW OF CURRENT UNCERTAINTY RELATED OF COVID-19 AND THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF IMPACTS IN MANY COUNTRIES, THE PAOC COMMITTEE AND THE LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE HAVE DECIDED, WITH CLOSE INPUT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE, TO POSTPONE PAOC15 TO:

2022 – DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

WE HAVE MADE THIS DECISION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

THE CONTINUED POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK FOR TRAVELLERS DURING 2021
MANY TRAVEL RESTRCITIONS ARE STILL IN PLACE AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WHEN THESE WILL EASE.
BASED ON QUESTIONNAIRES WITH PAOC, SYMPOSIA CHAIRS AND OTHERS, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT A MAJORITY WOULD PREFER PAOC15 TO TAKE PLACE IN 2022, AND SOME WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IF IT WAS IN 2021. VERY FEW OPTED FOR A VIRTUAL CONGRESS.
PAOC WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BRING ENOUGH PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENT AND FURTHER AFIELD TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AFRICAN BIRDS AND TO PLAN FOR THEIR CONSERVATION.

IN LIGHT OF THESE AND OTHER FACTORS, WE BELIEVE THAT POSTPONING PAOC TO 2022 IS THE MOST SUITABLE AND RESPONSIBLE PATH TO TAKE. WE WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGISE TO THOSE WHO WERE STILL HOPING TO PARTICIPATE IN PAOC15 THIS YEAR, BUT WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT US IN HOLDING A SUCCESSFUL CONGRESS IN 2022.
FOR DELEGATES WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID:

IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN REGISTERED AND INTEND PARTICIPATING IN PAOC IN 2022 AND YOU AGREE THAT BIRDLIFE ZIMBABWE IS AUTHORISED TO RETAIN YOUR REGISTRATION FEE, PLEASE INFORM US IN WRITING TO info@paoc15.org.
ALTERNATIVELY, IF YOU WISH TO CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION AND REQUIRE YOUR FEE TO BE PAID BACK PLEASE INDICATE THIS IN WRITING TO info@paoc15.org AND SUPPLY BANK DETAILS FOR THE REFUND.
For those that have booked and paid for accommodation, please indicate in writing to our agent, Travel Portfolio at info@travelportfolio.co.zw, whether or not your payment may be retained for next year. Accommodation Rates remain the same for 2021.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOLDING PAOC15 IN 2022 AND HOPE THAT YOU CAN JOIN US IN VICTORIA FALLS THEN.

ABOUT PAOC

The Pan-African Ornithological Congress (PAOC) is held once every four years and it brings together hundreds of professional and dedicated amateur ornithologists. The Fifteenth PAOC (PAOC15) will be held in 2022.

THE AIMS AND PURPOSES OF THE CONGRESS ARE:

To further the study of African birds
To promote the preservation of African birds as an integral part of the African Heritage
To foster the appreciation of birds and discussion of African birds in relation to man
To disseminate information on African birds through appropriate international meetings (e.g. the Congresses) and publications (e.g. the proceedings of the Congresses).

PAOC IS COMPRISED OF FOUR REGIONS

WESTERN REGION

Comprising of West Africa and associated islands east to Libya, Chad and Nigeria;

EASTERN REGION

CENTRAL REGION

SOUTHERN REGION

The PAOC is held in any one of the above listed regions of Africa and preference is given to alternating the regions and no region can host a Congress consecutively. To date, fourteen Congresses have been held with the maiden one held in 1957 in Livingstone, Zambia. The Fifteenth Pan-African Ornithological Congress (PAOC15) will be held in 2022 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in the Southern African region.

WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PAOC COMMITTEE

Dear Ornithologists, Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of the Congress Committee, we warmly welcome you to the 15th Pan-African Ornithological Congress (PAOC), which will be hosted by BirdLife Zimbabwe in 2022 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The theme of the Congress is URBANISING AFRICA AND ITS EFFECTS ON BIRDS and we look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful Republic of Zimbabwe.

Over the last five decades and since the first congress that was held in Livingstone (Zambia) in 1957, the PAOC has made tremendous contributions to research and capacities, especially for early African career scientists and students, resulting in impacts in many bird conservation stories and achievements.

The host and sponsors of the 15th Pan-African Ornithological Congress are committed to enabling as many African and non-African biologists and ornithologists to attend the congress and present their research and conservation results.

The PAOC meets every 4 years and aims to further the study of African birds, to promote the preservation of African birds and their habitats as an integral part of African heritage and ecosystems, to foster the appreciation of birds and discussion of African birds in relation to humans, and to disseminate information on African birds through appropriate international meetings (Congresses) and publications (Proceedings of the Congresses).

An exciting programme is being developed for this congress that will allow attendees to reflect upon and celebrate our past accomplishments, renew friendships and extend our networks and jointly explore current and future research directions. We hope that you will have a productive and fun‐filled time at this very special congress

To put a congress of this magnitude together is not a small task. To that end, special thanks to:

the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Zimbabwe for their support
the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe for taking on the role of Chair of PAOC15,

and the PAOC Local Organizing Committee, the PAOC Secretariat and the PAOC Scientific Committee.

Further information about the congress is available at https://www.paoc15.org/

Pr. Sidi Imad Cherkaoui
Associate Professor
Ecole Supérieure de Technologie de Khénifra
(University of Soltane Moulay Slimane)
BP 170 Khénifra 54000
Morocco

Chair PAOC Committee

Draft Programme

Find the Draft programme for PAOC15 here