TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS – DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY AND METHODOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

The purpose of the event is to move towards the development of an innovative framework for wetland ecosystem evaluation, protection, restoration and utilisation, and a solution-driven strategy that will result in community-led management of wetlands, which will contribute to more sustainable agri-food systems and improved water security. To achieve this, we believe that an interdisciplinary approach is required, co-produced with NGOs, farming communities and industry. The disciplines/sub-disciplines include hydrology, biogeochemistry, ecology, climate science and meteorology, social science, archaeology and ethnohistory, and engineering, as well as rural development and environmental management.

Over three afternoons, we will start to review the issues we are addressing and the impact we are trying to achieve, the methodologies and (if there is time) potential future funding sources. In March, we will continue our discussions with the 2^nd stage of the project (details to follow).

The geographical focus will be Peru and Argentina.

Wednesday 31^st January @ 2pm (Sorby Room, Wager Building) – environmental science

Following lunch at 1pm, Professor Nick Branch will provide an introduction the project, including the work of CROPP and PERUPEAT.

This will be followed by a presentation by Jen Grant (University of Buenos Aires) and Lorena Grana (University of Jujuy) on the geography of the Argentinian study areas, and myself on the Peruvian study areas.

Then a review of the environmental focus of our research, especially the questions and methodologies. This will be an open discussion with some presentation content.