Workshops

Workshops will be interactive sessions. An introductory perspective and case studies from invited speakers will lead into a structured discussion of relevant issues, facilitated by the conference organisers.

• Workshop 1: Data collection and data strategy

Good information and reliable data sources are central to adequately monitor and interpret trends and effects in relation to environmental variables. But how can you define the data need and collect data strategically to support regulatory purposes? What are the potential synergies, and what are the challenges when collecting data for multiple purposes? Or – alternatively – combining datasets obtained in different projects? What is the uncertainty related to the methods used for collecting data? In Denmark the state is the primary partner in the national monitoring, however the municipalities also take initiatives in terms of monitoring e.g. with the purpose of providing data for biodiversity targets. Furthermore there is a need for evidence based nature management. The basis for the decisions taken in the municipalities – outside the National monitoring programme – in many cases needs qualification.

All over EU, citizen observatory is playing an increasing role in public monitoring strategies, but how does this affect the quality and uncertainty of the data? What are the implications for the scientific and regulatory use of the data? What is an optimal strategy for monitoring? How can the monitoring activities be standardised, e.g. in terms of methods? – and to what extent is this necessary?

In this workshop you will get a good insight on important do’s and dont’s if you are planning new data collection.  It will also give good background knowledge for people working with management tools based on only a few measurements.

• Workshop 2: Evidence based nature management

For many years it has been clear that a gap exists between research and nature management.  On one hand, findings of research studies are rarely translated into actual management practice. On the other hand, large restoration projects have been implemented without a proper monitoring program that could have been used to provide new insights into what works, how well and at what cost. There is no doubt that this has resulted in a suboptimal treatment of many areas and that the limited funds for nature management could have been used better and more effectively.

Danish habitats and species are protected and managed under national as well as EU-legislation. The Habitats Directive, for example, consists of the Natura 2000 network of protected sites and a system for the protection of species and habitat types.  In total the Directive protects more than 1.000 animal and plant species and 200 types of forests, meadows, wetlands, etc., which are of European importance and of special interest.  The actual implementation of the Directive and interaction with national legislation, however, is not straightforward and should be based on the best possible knowledge and know-how. This workshop aims at bridging the gap between research and practice and a number of relevant issues could be discussed such as: How do we define favorable conservation status and minimum viable population size? How do we ensure that restoration projects provide data for scientific research? How do we prioritize funding for nature conservation and resolve conflicts between the different Directives, national legislation and various stakeholder interests?

This workshop is for anybody interested in science-based nature conservation and the link between basic research, applied research and management. Discussions will be based on concrete nature restoration projects presented at the workshop.

• Workshop 3: Nature management in a climate perspective 

Predicted climate change, land subsidence through drainage of organic soils and rehabilitation of an increased land-water connectivity will all cause increased flooding of riparian areas and floodplains. This raises a number of questions:

• Are vulnerable nature types in the floodplain endangered by the increased flooding of often nutrient rich stream water and how can these potentially negative impacts be mitigated?
• Would the increased flooding increase nutrient retention or is erosion likely to outweigh the positive effects of deposition?
• How should we address the risk of increased flooding to human safety and livelihood of local farming communities?  

This workshop is for managers tackling complex wetland management problems where there are potential conflicts between water and nature management.

• Workshop 4: The battle for land - managing for multiple outputs: conflicting frameworks, conflicting requirements?

Land is a scarce resource. Land use and land management decisions must therefore be considered carefully it they are to deliver the best set of outcomes. River valleys, for example, produce a wide variety of different outputs from different types of land uses – wetlands, buffer zones for rainwater filtration, river restoration, nature reserves for endangered species, agricultural production, bio energy production etc. Some of these interests make conflicting demand on land management priorities. How should you decide which land management and land use to recommend for any particular location? You are faced with these challenging decisions in your everyday work.

This workshop will provide an insight into practical application of cost benefit analysis and the ecosystem services approach – two frameworks which can be used to inform policy and decision making regarding tradeoffs between alternative land uses. What potentials do these approaches offer currently and what challenges could arise from their broader application? Cost benefit analysis (CBA) will be required for the next water planning cycle under the Water Framework Directive. Which potential benefits can CBA evaluate currently and which benefits are still missing? The ecosystem services approach aims to extend CBA to cover the full suite of outputs. How is the ecosystem services approach being used currently to inform policy making and land management decisions? Is this approach feasible in practice at national, regional and local scales?

This workshop aims to inform about these issues and provide a forum for debate and discussion amongst land management practitioners and academics

• Workshop 5: Tools for managers – new developments and future directions

This workshop will focus on how to bring the right information to decision-makers, introducing a number of new tools and discuss their applicability in future management scenarios. These tools will include risk mapping of nutrient loss from catchments, a decision support system (DSS) used in water management of the Nile basin and a DSS including climate change scenarios in water management. The tools will be demonstrated on specific cases to illustrate their capabilities and participants are encouraged to bring and introduce any tools or methods that might be relevant in the context of the workshop. In addition to the knowledge exchange on tools and methods, the outcome will also be an identification of end-user needs and an outline of possible future directions.

This workshop will give inspiration and hands-on experience on new tools for environmental managers and practitioners as well as an opportunity to influence the scientific development of future tools.