The International Conference on Humid Tropical Ecosystems: Changes, Challenges and Opportunities will review the current status of the humid tropics and identify changes, challenges and cutting edge opportunities  in terms of research, conservation and capacity building to ensure the future survival of the rich humid tropical ecosystems. 

The conference is jointly organized by Sri Lanka’s  National MAB Committee and  the National Science Foundation, in collaboration with the International MAB Secretariat, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, UNESCO.

The Conference will be held in Kandy, Sri Lanka from 4-9 December 2006. The opening session will take place in the evening of December 4th 2006. The technical sessions will begin on the following day and end on Saturday December 9th 2006.

The conference organizers are seeking to invite interested parties who will contribute to the success of our Conference by exhibiting materials from there organization in keeping with the main conference themes to reflect current status and changes, and the challenges and opportunities in the humid tropics.
 
If you are interested in exhibiting materials at our Conference, please contact Ms Anusha Amerasinghe (anuama@nsf.ac.lk)/ or Dr Channa Bambaradeniya (cnb@iucnsl.org ) by 7th November 2006.  If your application is accepted by the Technical Advisory Committee, you will be notified on or before 15th November 2006. You could then enroll as a exhibitor by paying the exhibiter fees given below

Exhibitor's Fees:

Exhibition facilities will be free for a limited number of local nonprofit organizations based on the order of request and the contribution to theme of the conference.

There will be no half-table rates, but you could arrange shared table space with other exhibitors. Sale and exhibition of merchandise will be allowed only within the designated area and only by individuals registered (with registered fee paid) for the Conference under the exhibitor category.

Included in the exhibitor's fees are:

Please note that only two persons per registered exhibiter will be permitted within the exhibiter area.

The deadline for exhibitor registration and fees payment is 20thNovember 2006.
Exhibitor Fees are not refundable. All exhibitors must register by filling up the registration form and remitting the exhibiter fee.
Exhibitors will be assigned space at the conference venue within easy reach of the participants. Exhibitors will be acknowledged in the online Conference programme document and in the published proceedings. Information on the conference venue will soon be available at the Conference.

Foreign exhibitors: please enroll by completing the exhibitor registration form AND by paying the registration fee through bank transfer in favor of the National Science Foundation. The bank transfer should be to: RFC 2872732 to the account (Swift code: BCEYLKLX), Bank Name and address: Bank of Ceylon Torrington Square Branch, Independence Square, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. 

Local exhibitors: Please enroll by completing the registration form AND by either sending a money order or paying cash to the National Science Foundation. The money order should be sent to the Accountant, National Science Foundation, 47/5, Maitland Place, Colombo 07.

Faxing the PDF registration form to Ms Anusha Amarasinghe at 94 112694754 is also acceptable

Equipment rental: 
If you need a VCR, computer, monitor, phone line, internet connection, screen, power adapter, etc. please contact the Conference accommodation coordinator for specific information. Please note that there will be an extra charge on all equipment rentals. Also to guarantee that the equipment you want to rent is available, please contact the Conference accommodation coordinator as soon as you have registered to make your equipment reservations and arrangements. Please note that some requests may be difficult, or even impossible, to satisfy.

Logistics:
Once you have registered by filling the registration form and paying the exhibiter fee please contact the Conference accommodation coordinator who will help you on logistic arrangements. You will have to set up your display on December 4th, 2006 by 15 00 hours.  Displays must be completely dismantled on Saturday 9th December 2006 by 18 00 hours. The exhibition area will be secure, but exhibitors will be responsible for their materials and for sale of their materials.  It would not be advisable to leave any valuable equipment after you leave the exhibition area.
Transportation /storage:
Please note that non-Sri Lankan exhibitors will have to ship or airlift their materials to Sri Lanka, and therefore must deal directly with the requirements of the Sri Lankan Customs. Please remember that due to the prevailing security situation stringent customs requirements are necessary for your safety as well as that of others.
The payment for transportation for exhibit materials is the sole responsibility of the exhibitor. However, the Conference accommodation coordinator could help with information on shipping (including duration) and customs requirements and on any other queries on logistics at the conference venue if contacted directly

Taxes and fees
Please note that you will have to pay the stipulated taxes and fees for any material brought into the country. The conference exhibit organizer can provide assistance regarding this regime and fees schedule, but these payments will not the responsibility of the conference organizers.
Accommodation
Information on accommodation can be accessed on the conference website. We strongly advise non-Sri Lankan  participants arriving at the airport to book your accommodation and transport to the conference venue early through the designated Conference Accommodation Coordinator who will organize accommodation and travel to the conference venue upon request. 
We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible !

Security checks
Please note that there will be stringent security checks in the event of large consignments of material being bought into the conference venue.