Adaptive Strategies to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change on European Freshwater Ecosystems

DAY 2: REGIONAL STAKEHOLDER SYMPOSIUM
(JZ Young Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1 7th November - from 11.00am )

FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING WORLD

Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise until at least the middle of this century. Climate modelling studies suggest that even if emissions were stabilised at present levels future climate change is inevitable. These changes are likely to have significant effects on freshwater ecosystems and therefore the way they are managed. The EU Framework 7 project REFRESH (Adaptive strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on European Freshwater ecosystems - http://www.refresh.ucl.ac.uk/) addresses the question 'How can the way we manage our freshwater ecosystems today be adapted so that the effects of future global changes (e.g. climate, land use) can be anticipated and incorporated into management strategies to protect our water resources and conserve freshwater biology?'

REFRESH has two main goals. The first is to increase our understanding of how freshwater ecosystems will respond to the environmental changes driven, for example by climate and land use over the next 50-60 years. The second goal is to translate this knowledge into a form that can be used by water managers.

PROGRAMME FOR DAY 2

The importance of science for policy. Christos Fragakis (European Commission)

REFRESH – rationale and purpose of this meeting. Martin Kernan (UCL) and Julia Martin Ortega (James Hutton Institute)

Managing lakes in a changing world

• Results from REFRESH: Peeter Noges (EMU - Estonian University of Life Sciences)
• Stakeholder response: Ruth Hall (Natural England) tbc

Managing streams in a changing world

• Results from REFRESH: Piet Verdonschot (Alterra - Wageningen University and Research Centre, Germany)
• Stakeholder response: Bas Van der Wal (STOWA - Netherlands) tbc

Managing wetlands in a changing world

• Results from REFRESH: Klement Tockner (IGB - The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Germany)
• Stakeholder response: Jane Madgewick (Wetlands International) tbc

Can modelling support integrated catchment management – Dee Case study.

• Results from REFRESH: Bill Slee (James Hutton Institute)
• Stakeholder response: Eilidh Johnston (SEPA) tbc             

Social and economic effects of improving water quality: sharing scientific and local knowledge and views-Thame case study

• Results from REFRESH: Julia Martin Ortega (James Hutton Institute)
• Stakeholder response: Katherine Moore (Environment Agency)

Speeding up the transfer of scientific research to water management institutions - Water Diss 2.0

Panel discussion