From the temperate forests of southern South-America to the deserts of Mexico, going through tropical ecosystems and the islands of the Caribbean, the subcontinent “Latin America and the Caribbean” has a slice of everything for vegetation scientists! However, it remains under-represented in international publications regarding vegetation science, and it is often easier for researchers to collaborate with European and US researchers than with local ones. The creation of the regional section of the IAVS: IAVS-LAC aims at structuring and providing access to a large network of international researchers (local and international) who are interested in studying the vegetation of this vast region and sharing this interest worldwide!

The IAVS regional section “Latin America and the Caribbean” was created to promote local, regional and international collaborations between vegetation researchers who are interested in Latin America and the Caribbean. In particular, our objectives are:

• Promoting national and international programs of vegetation survey across Latin America and the Caribbean;
• The production of an overview of research in vegetation science in Latin America and the Caribbean;
• The organization of scientific meetings;
• The encouragement of collaborative international research in Latin-American and Caribbean vegetation survey;
• Promoting technical and theoretical competence and knowledge in the Latin-American and Caribbean vegetation scientist community.
• Contributing novel methods and approaches in vegetation research