Biodiversity Seminar: Towards a better understanding of natural river systems in an age of restoration
Data:
Luogo:
WSL Birmensdorf, Hörsaal
Organizzato da:
Biodiversity Center, WSL
Relatore/relatrice:
Annegret Larsen, Wageningen University
Moderatore/moderatrice:
Valentin Moser, WSL
Lingua:
English
Tipo di evento:
Presentazioni e colloqui
Pubblico principale:
Anyone interested in the topics
Abstract ¶
In the face of climate change and fast biodiversity loss society demands actions from governments. The European Union has set out to lead global effort in nature restoration to halt biodiversity loss and mitigate the effects of climate change through creating the globally leading natural protection law, which amongst others includes the challenging goal to restore 25’000 km of rivers by 2030 (European Commission, 2021). Resilient river ecosystems with high biodiversity exhibit a reciprocal relationships between physical processes and living organisms, which ‘engineer’ physical processes and are considered ‘Nature-based Solutions’ (NbS). However, very little is known about the presence and environmental feedbacks associated with ecosystem engineers prior to their eradication/decimation in Europe’s heavily human modified rivers. This significantly impedes river restoration projects, as they are based on assumptions about natural river dynamics and ecosystems. In this presentation, I provide examples of how interdisciplinary research into the natural dynamics of past and present landscapes can reveal natural processes and support restoration efforts. This research agenda seeks to quantify environmental dynamics across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. To do this, we employ a variety of methods, including historical analysis, sedimentology, environmental monitoring, and modeling. I will present examples from diverse regions, such as Northern and Central Europe, Asia, and South America, including the (ecosystem) engineers beavers, degus, tigers, and, of course, humans. Additionally, this presentation discusses how advances in high-resolution surface monitoring are enhancing our ability to measure the roles of animals and shares how breakthroughs in genetic sequencing allow us to establish functional connections between biotic and abiotic processes in landscape systems.
European Commission, 2021. Biodiversity Strategy 2030 - Barrier Removal for River Restoration. doi:10.2779/181512.
About the speaker ¶
Dr. Larsen’s research focusses on human-landscape interaction, abiotic-biotic environmental feedbacks, rewilding, and ecosystem services. Her research has implications for conservation, land-use planning, and nature-based solutions. In her research she pays particular attention to better understanding the processes within sustainably managed and resilient landscapes, and how to create and manage them. This is where all of her research lines (human-landscape interaction, abiotic-biotic interactions, rewilding) and many spatiotemporal scales (millennial to minute, landscape to plot) come together, as a successful restoration/regeneration of a landscape is only possible when past human modifications, and their effects on the environment can be matched with an understanding of the present environmental processes initiated e.g. by conservation techniques like rewilding. Dr. Larsen is an integrative scientist, and has a keen interest in involving practitioners and the general public in her research. She is running several citizen science projects, and lead conferences dedicated to practitioners and managers in the field of catchment management and conservation with the goal of translating the results of her research into practice. She is also part of several science for policy groups to bridge the science-policy divide in the field of river biodiversity. She is also actively promoting on an European and national level the field of Biogeomorphology, by leading special issues in the field, running conference sessions, and workshops in this new, and exciting field of research.
How to join ¶
Our public seminars are hybrid, with the option to attend in-person or online.
Zoom webinar: link (ID: 650 3334 2319, Password: 348826)
Biodiversity Seminars ¶
The Biodiversity Seminar Series are organized by the WSL Biodiversity Center. Every two weeks, we aim to host a seminar speaker who presents research or outreach on topics relevant to the biodiversity community at WSL. The seminars are public and are usually broadcast online.
To find out more about the WSL Biodiversity Center and a complete list of events, please visit our website.
Please send an email to events-biodiversity(at)wsl.ch if you would like to be updated on the activities of the WSL Biodiversity Center.
Contact ¶
How to get here ¶
Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf
By public transport ¶
Bus stop Birmensdorf ZH, Sternen/WSL
Accessible by bus lines 220 and 350 via Wiedikon/Triemli or via Birmensdorf station with S-Bahn lines 5 and 14.
By car ¶
See map on map.search.ch or Google Maps
You'll find guest parking spaces (for a fee) behind the main building after passing the main entrance.