On 14 September, experts from Customs Department and Europol visited Nature Research Centre. The visit was part of the Silver Axe XI international meeting programme.
In her welcome address, NRC Director Prof. Edita Sužiedėlienė emphasized the importance of science and inter-institutional cooperation: “Nature conservation knows no national borders, which is why cooperation among different institutions and professionals from various fields is particularly important. The implementation of the CITES Convention is one example of how scientists’ expert knowledge significantly contributes to international efforts to protect endangered species from illegal trade. Such meetings are important for sharing experiences and strengthening cooperation among specialists in different fields.”
About 50 customs and Europol experts got familiar with the activities of Nature Research Centre, its ongoing scientific research, and its modern infrastructure. The guests visited the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Laboratory of Genetics, and Laboratory of Molecular Ecology, where they were introduced to the main areas of research and laboratories’ activities.
The opportunities related to the identification of biological specimens, invasive species, and other issues relevant to environmental protection and international trade were also discussed.
At the end of the visit, the guests visited the Museum of Minerals, where they toured the museum’s exhibits and viewed its valuable mineral collections.
This visit provided an opportunity for international partners to gain a closer understanding of Nature Research Centre’s scientific expertise, research infrastructure and activities.
