Guidelines for organizers of IAVS excursions

Excursions are one of the activities most appreciated by IAVS members. They may be short, mid-symposium excursions, or longer excursions either preceding or following the IAVS symposium. Such excursions are anticipated to provide deep knowledge and understanding of the visited country or area, primarily through the expertise of local colleagues. The main interest of participants is to learn about the flora, vegetation, environmental conditions, vegetation-environment relationships, and ecological processes of the visited area. This sort of information is not easy to obtain through normal travel because it is extremely time‐consuming or impossible to accumulate in advance knowledge of the local flora, the key sites to visit, and the critical ecological processes in play. Frequently participants take numerous photographs, which gives the casual observer the impression that their focus is on rare or unusual plants and nice landscapes. However, most are equally interested in exposure to interpretation and explanation of ecological processes, vegetation history, human influence, and similar topics. Discussion of such topics in a field setting can make the excursion a much richer experience. Excursions provide an excellent opportunity to make personal contacts and to hold scientific discussions between colleagues from different countries. Such events often serve to initiate or establish collaborative research projects and to start or strengthen personal and professional links between our members. Keep in mind that excursions are a valuable mechanism to reinforce the network of links between us and give cohesion to our Association. To assume commitment to reach a high scientific standard in the selection of sites, presentation of information, and discussion of scientific issues is to provide a great service to our colleagues and potentially catalyze unanticipated advances in our field.