Sponsor: INTECOL
Co-Chairs:
Prof. Yongxing Yang
Laboratory of Wetland Environments
Changchun National Institute of Geography
16 Gongnong Road
Changchun, Jilin
P.R. China 130021
Phone: 0086-431-5665374/5651038
Fax: 0086-431-5652931
E-mail: yangyongxing@mail.ccig.ac.cn
currently:
c/o Duke Wetland Center
Nicholas School of the Environment
Duke University
P.O. Box 90333
Durham, North Carolina
USA 27708-0333
Phone: (919) 613-8064
Res phone: (919) 309-9037
Fax: (919) 684-8741
E-mail: yxyang@duke.edu or yand_yongxing@yahoo.com
and
Prof. Wei Deng
Director of Changchun Institute of Geography
Chinese Academy of Sciences
16 Gangnong Road
Deputy Director of Chinese Wetland Research Center
Changchun, Jilin
P.R. China 130021
Overview of Symposium:
The symposium will emphasize various succession and development processes occurring in different types of wetland and provide numerous opportunities to discuss up-to-date research from around the world. During the 20th century, there has been a massive loss and degradation of wetland throughout the world. We should know the process and mechanism of succession and development made by human activities and nature environment change in order to conserve wetlands.
The symposium will bring together scientists, experts and agencies from different field from around the world to identify options, to understand process of the succession and development of wetland, to discuss ideas and options to gain the action made by natural environment and human activities on succession and development of wetland to find the best way to integrate wetland conservation and sustainable development, to explore the new method and technology of succession and development of wetland.
We need to summarize what we do know about natural changes, and thus provide the basis for interpreting, and possibly directing, changes owing to global warming, possible drying or increasing moisture, CO2 changes and their possible influences on the wetlands. We also need to document man-caused water level manipulations, both drainage and flooding, changes in regimes of water level fluctuation, and changes in nutrient balances and cycling. These changes may cause succession or development changes owing to increased decomposition or sequestering, peat growth rates, and biodiversity. Thus far human impacts on wetlands have been largely negative and destructive. We would like case studies of not only devastation, but also successful restoration and creation, which indicate how the processes of succession can be directed to achieve management objectives.
The overall goal is to summarize the knowledge about processes and mechanisms of succession and development, both natural change and by human activities, in order to manage, sustainably use, and conserve wetlands effectively. We wish to find ways to integrate wetland conservation and sustainable development, and to explore new methods and technologies for research. This is desirable for both theoretical and applied research in the wetlands.
Assoc. Prof. Xuetian Leng and Prof. Shengzhong Wang, Peatmire Research Institute, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, P.R. China - Climate of peat-forming and development of oligotrophic bogs.
Some oligotrophic bogs dominated by Sphagnums are distributed in Northeast Mountains. Because of their higher requirement for humidity, they have more remarkable climate indicating significance than eutrophic peatlands, therefore, the oligotrophic peat is a suitable climatic fossil in paleoclimate, especially paleohumidity research. The ratio of humidity/heat is an important index for the oligotrophic peat forming climate. Based on the water-heat system index of peat forming, the relation between oligotrophic bog developing period and wet period in paleoclimate since Holocene in some regions of the Northern Hemisphere is discussed. The result shows a close interrelation. Some other ecological climate indices of oligotrophic bog forming are discussed. These discussions are helpful for the environmental protection and resources forecast and exploitation.
Symposium 55. Conservation and Protection of Species at Risk in Wetlands
Sponsor: SWS
Co-Chairs:
Mr. Simon Nadeau
Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife Program (RENEW)
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd.
Hull, Québec
Canada K1A 0H3
Phone: (819) 953-0242
Fax: (819) 953-6283
E-mail: simon.nadeau@ec.gc.ca
and
Ms. Laurie Maynard
Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region
Environment Canada
75 Farquhar Street
Guelph, Ontario
Canada N1H 3N4
Phone: (519) 826-2093
Fax: (519) 826-2113
E-mail: laurie.maynard@ec.gc.ca
Overview of Symposium:
The majority of species at risk of extinction nationally and remaining wetlands occur in settled landscapes of Canada. The number of wetland species currently listed by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) as threatened and endangered is increasing as demonstrated by the recent emergency listing of the Oregon spotted frog in British Columbia as endangered. Pressures on wetlands and their flora and fauna continue. Remaining wetlands are scarce and their inherent value increases while the overall area and quality of wetlands decreases. The most common cause of decline and limiting factor for the majority of endangered, threatened and vulnerable species is degradation and loss of habitat. This is particularly true for species at risk in wetlands such as the Whooping Crane, Prothonotary Warbler, King Rail, Yellow Rail, Least Bittern, Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Spiny Softshell Turtle, Swamp Rose Mallow, Thread-leaved Sundew, Northern Cricket Frog, Oregon spotted frog, Fowler's Toad and Banff Spring Snail. However, a variety of other threats are also impacting these species.
The purpose of this session is to present approaches to research on and management of species at risk in wetlands and other habitat types. The session will also address the human angle of the species at risk issue. Species conservation in wetlands in North America has traditionally focused on waterfowl rather than species at risk. The challenge to wetland managers is to achieve both conservation goals specific to wetlands as habitat and species at risk dependent on wetlands.
This session will provide a basis for discussion to address the following questions :What is the portrait of wetland dependent species at risk in Canada? What can be learned from experience with different species in various contexts? What is different about wetlands? Do we need different approaches? How to deal with species which cross international borders ? How to involve people in habitat and species recovery? How to deal with non-charismatic species? How to keep interest and momentum up when results take a long time to come?
Robert W. Butler, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Delta, British Columbia - Nowhere to hide: climate change and human impact on the World's shorebirds.
New evidence indicates that the winter quarters and migratory routes of many of the world's 212 species of shorebirds are closely associated with zones of high ocean productivity. The degree of productivity, and hence the density of shorebirds in coastal regions of the world is dependant on the strength of winds that generate ocean upwelling. It is hypothesized that the seasonal occurrence of winds triggers the food webs that provide food for fuel by shorebirds departing the tropical regions of the world. A computer model of the migration of the Western Sandpiper reveals that the force of the tail winds is the most significant factor in the success of migration. Habitat degradation on the winter quarters and migration staging sites coupled with climate change is a bad mix for long distance migrant shorebirds.
Symposium 69. Wetland Monitoring and Assessment
Sponsor: SWS
Co-Chairs:
Ms. Laurie Maynard
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada, Ontario Region
75 Farquhar Street
Guelph, Ontario
Canada N1H 3N4
Phone: (519) 826-2093
Fax: (519) 826-2113
E-mail: laurie.maynard@ec.gc.ca
and
Mr. Luc Bélanger
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada, Québec Region
1141, route de l'Eglise
C.P. 10,100
Ste-Foy, Quebec
Canada G1V 4H5
Phone: (418) 649-6130
Fax: (418) 649-6475
E-mail: luc.belanger@ec.gc.ca
and
Mr. David Ingstrup
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada, Prairie and Northern Region
Suite 200, 4999-98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6B 2X3
Phone: (780) 951-8850
Fax: (780) 495-2615
E-mail: david.ingstrup@ec.gc.ca
Overview of Symposium:
Over the last century, wetland habitat across Canada has experienced a significant decline. More than 20 million hectares of wetland (i.e. 70%) have been converted to other land uses. Losses have been most apparent in the settled landscapes of Canada where land use is more intensive. Understanding the status of wetlands on the changing landscape is an essential component of developing policy and legislation that addresses wetland loss, as well as to develop other conservation mechanisms across Canada. Since intensification of Agriculture and landscape fragmentation are increasing over new areas ant this could be more important with climate changes. Recognizing the importance of wetland conservation, a federal policy on wetland conservation was approved in December 1991. The objective of The Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation is: "to promote the conservation of Canada's wetlands to sustain the ecological and socio-economic functions, now and in the future".
In the new Millennium, the challenge for wetland scientists and managers is to improve upon wetland monitoring and assessment information across broader landscapes. This will be essential to support scientifically valid decision making and future wetland policies as well as conservation efforts throughout stewardship programs. Enhancement and rehabilitation of wetland areas needs to be planned, monitored, and evaluated on a regional scale.
The science of monitoring and assessing wetlands at the landscape scale is still developing. In entering the new Millennium, there is still an information gap on wetland monitoring throughout many regions of Canada. This session will have papers that highlight wetland status, wetland monitoring and assessment, and the incorporation of new technologies into the decision making on wetland policy and conservation initiatives.
Objectives:
This session will promote discussion on monitoring and assessment across landscapes. Specifically, the session will document attempts, progress, and future directions in wetland monitoring and assessment of the status of wetlands in Canada and discuss the merits of a national monitoring programs; integrate new technological advances with habitat management needs in order to develop an adaptive resource management approach to wetland conservation; highlight innovative approaches to wetland monitoring; present approaches to integration of wetland data with other disciplines; profile strategies that link wetland monitoring and assessment with modeling and decision making.
A special working session may also be held the following day or evening to discuss the merits and approaches to a national habitat monitoring system for Canada. It is our hope that the Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Symposium will provide a foundation for open discussion.
Linda Mortsch, Adapation and Impacts Research Group, Atmospheric Environment Service, Environment Canada, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and Laurie Maynard, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region, Environment Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada - Wetland monitoring, assessment and conservation: vulnerability of wetlands to climate variability and change.
Wetlands in the lower Great Lakes basin are at risk because of urban and agricultural development; and additional stress may be climate change. Climate change could significantly alter the hydrology of the Great Lakes basin and require adjustment to a new pattern of water level fluctuations. Two impacts of critical significance to Great Lakes shoreline wetlands are: an increased frequency and duration of low water levels and a changed distribution and amplitude of seasonal water levels.
A conceptual framework has been developed to ascertain wetland response to stresses including climate change. It incorporates various scales of assessment ranging from landscape (Great Lakes basin), Great Lake watershed, sub-watershed, and wetland site. At the landscape scale, a pilot 'Wetland Vulnerability Index' was developed for Lakes Erie and St. Clair shoreline wetlands. The goal is to identify which wetlands are sensitive to climate change as reflected by an increased frequency and duration of low water levels. Attributes (wetland type, geomorphic form/site type, level of disturbance) associated with the wetland from the Ontario Coastal Wetland Atlas archived by the Natural Heritage Information Centre (Ministry of Natural Resources) were used to derive digital thematic maps. Preliminary analysis suggests that highly disturbed, palustrine swamps on the eastern shoreline of Lake Erie are most vulnerable. Current wetland conservation, restoration and securement programs should incorporate climate variability and change.
Symposium 71. Ecology and Hydrology of Tropical Wetlands with Remotely Sensed Data
Sponsor: SWS
Co-chairs
Dr. John Melack
Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
University of California
Santa Barbara, California
USA 93106
Phone: (805) 893-3879
Fax: (805) 893-2578
E-mail: melack@lifesci.ucsb.edu
and
Dr. Laura Hess
Institute for Computational Earth System Science
University of California
Santa Barbara, California
USA 93106
Phone: (805) 893-8339
Fax: (805) 893-2578
E-mail:lola@icess.ucsb.edu
Overview of Symposium:
Our understanding of biogeochemical and hydrologic processes in tropical wetlands has until recently been based on studies of relatively few, small areas. Techniques for characterizing wetland properties on a regional basis using optical and microwave sensors have been developed and tested over the past decade, and spatially comprehensive, multi-temporal data sets have been compiled for most tropical wetland regions. In this symposium we will present applications of remote sensing techniques over tropical regions in order to quantify wetland processes. Examples will include inundation extent and dynamics, aquatic macrophyte biomass and phenology, sediment inputs to floodplains, methane emissions, and regional mapping of vegetation structure.
J.M. Melack, Institute for Computational Earth System Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California; L.L. Hess, L. Mertes, Institute for Computational Earth System Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California and E.M. Novo, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Brazil - Regional estimates of methane emission derived from remote sensing and field measurements for the central Amazon.
Floodplains are important components of the biogeochemistry of the Amazon basin. Along the Amazon River the floodplain is a mosaic of flooded forests, open water and floating macrophytes; the areas covered by these habitats change seasonally as the river level rises and falls. In concert with the varying inundation and habitats, emission of gases such as methane fluctuate. Recent analyses of remotely sensed imagery from active and passive microwave and optical sensors have made it possible to estimate the phenology and spatial variations in floodplain areas and to improve significantly calculations of methane emission for the central Amazon. Based on passive microwave data, average maximum inundated area (excluding the Amazon River proper) for the period 1979 to 1987 was 67,900 km2 for the 2600 km reach from 52.5 W to 70.5 W. Based on side-looking airborne radar imagery, the area of open water, when inundation is extensive, was about 10,000 km2. Vegetated habitats were partitioned into flooded forests and herbaceous macrophytes using Landsat thematic mapper imagery, synthetic aperture radar data acquired from the space shuttle and satellites, and aerial vigeography. Average maximum area occupied seasonally by flooded forest was estimated to be about 28,000 km2 and by herbaceous macrophytes to be about 29,000 km2. On-going analyses of new imagery will permit improvements in these estimates. Methane is produced in anoxic environments associated with flooded habitats, and emission rates have been measured from a wide variety of sites in all three major habitats. Combining these measurements with average periods of inundation and areas of each major habitat, derived from remote sensing, permits estimation of total regional methane emission from the central Amazon of about 1.8 Tg C /yr, or 1 to 2% of total global methane flux from wetlands to the troposphere.
Symposium 76. Round Table on Tropical Peatlands - Pressing Issues
Sponsor: IPS
Convenor:
Dr. Jack Riley
Centre for Environmental Management
School of Geography
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham NG7 2RD
United Kingdom
Phone: 44-115-9515449
Fax: 44-115-9515249
E-mail: jack.rieley@lineone.net
Cooperating Agencies:
KALTROP
DARTROP
EUTROP
TROPEG
IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (IUCN-CEM)
International Peat Society (IPS)
Global environment Network (GEN)
International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG)
Overview of Round Table:
Tropical peatland is one of the major vast ecosystems remaining in the world. Owing to the location of much of this resource near to sea level it has become the focus for major land development programs. Most of these are ill conceived and result in devastation of the ecosystem with consequent impacts upon global, regional and local environments. There is a major need for further detailed investigation of this ecosystem and implementation of wise use guidelines for its environmentally sustainable management.
The object of this Round Table Discussion is to bring together experts in tropical peatlands in order to highlight these pressing issues and to formulate solutions to them with courses of action. A statement will be formulated pressing tropical zone governments in countries with peatland resources and international aid donor agencies and NGOs to recognize the environmental and socio-economic importance of this ecosystem. The discussion will also consider the difficult and complex task of rehabilitating the large areas of tropical peatland that have been deforested and drained but cannot support economically sustainable use.
Dr. Harri Vasander, University of Helsinki, Finland - Carbon dioxide and methane emissions from peatland in Central Kalimantan.
Abstract is unavailable.
