IDC2027 13th International Dormouse Conference

Edifici les Àligues
12-17 July 2027, Girona (Catalonia, Spain)

Internacional Dormouse Conference

The International Dormouse Conference (IDC) is a triennial scientific meeting dedicated to the study and conservation of dormice. The conference brings together researchers, students, and conservationists from across Europe and beyond to discuss a wide range of topics, including dormouse ecology, genetics, behaviour, physiology, morphology, palaeontology, and conservation. Through keynote talks, oral presentations, posters, and discussions, the IDC promotes international collaboration and helps develop strategies to better understand and protect dormouse species. As a whole, it plays a vital role in advancing scientific knowledge and promoting effective conservation of dormice worldwide.

Girona: Nature and History

Girona, located in northeastern Catalonia, offers an inspiring setting for a scientific meeting. The city is known for its rich history, well-preserved medieval architecture, and vibrant cultural atmosphere. Its historic old town, narrow streets, and ancient walls reflect centuries of Mediterranean and European heritage. Girona is also renowned for its excellent gastronomy, from traditional Catalan cuisine to internationally acclaimed restaurants. The city lies only about 40 km from the Pyrenees and 30 km from the Costa Brava, offering easy access to both mountain and coastal ecosystems. Nearby natural areas (such as Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà or Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa), forests, and Mediterranean habitats support a wide range of wildlife, including dormice and other small mammal species. These environments provide valuable opportunities for both field trips and historical tours during the conference.

Host institution: BiBio Research Group

As biodiversity is becoming increasingly threatened by global change, robust methods for measuring current trends of wildlife populations are urgently needed. Monitoring programmes based on citizen science have become a central part of the conservation of biodiversity worldwide.

The BiBio Research Group (www.bibio.org) has a long tradition of coordinating successful biodiversity monitoring programmes. We coordinate four monitoring programmes based on citizen science, covering a wide range of taxa, including dormice (Dormouse Project), among other small mammals species (semice.org). More particularly, we investigate population trends of common and endangered species and how they are affected by the global change.

In particular, the Dormouse Project has focused on the long-term monitoring of the Edible Dormouse (Glis glis) since 2004, as Catalonia hosts some populations located at the edge of the species’ distribution range. In recent years, progress are also been made in the study of the Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus), the other dormouse species present in the region, due to the limited knowledge about this species in Catalonia.