Edinburgh Networks Conference goes down (despite) a storm
13 October 2009
The sixteenth ialeUK annual conference, “Ecological Networks: Science and Practice” was held in Edinburgh on 1-3rd September. Scotland was chosen as the conference venue, as it is recognised that ecological networks have been embraced by policy and practice by the Scottish Government. ELFHNP assisted with the organisation of the event including co-ordinating a field excursion to the South East Wedge Core Development Area and Roslin Glen.
Presentations on the first day were about the empirical foundations for the design and implementation of ecological networks. Sessions focused on measuring connectivity and landscape genetics, introduced with keynote presentations by Santiago Saura (Polytechnic University of Madrid) and Phil Watts (University of Liverpool). Delegates then caught a bus to the centre of Edinburgh City Chambers where the Lord Provost kindly hosted a Civic Reception and formally welcomed participants to the city.
The second day looked at how ecological networks have been developed in practice. The scene was set for hot topics on spatial planning, network implementation, and ecosystem services by keynote presentations from Duncan Stone (Scottish Natural Heritage), Rob Jongman (Alterra) and Paula Harrison (Environmental Change Institute, Oxford). Papers addressed the entire range of scales from local (two adjacent forests) and national (Estonia) to international and from Scotland to as far afield as Egypt and Ohio. Some lively discussion followed.
Next day, despite driving rain and gale force winds, most were up bright and early for field trips. Some went to Loch Katrine to see how landscape-scale planning helps watershed management and biodiversity objectives. Others visited the South East Wedge with ELFHNP to explore how ecological networks can guide planning where infrastructure development is a critical factor. The poor weather conditions did little to dampen the enthusiasm of delegates who enjoyed bracing views of Shawfair from the lofty heights of Woolmet Bing near Danderhall.
Richard Smithers, the chair of iale(UK), said, "The conference was inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable with lots of friendly debate. There were great talks on a wide variety of fronts. Some demonstrated technical strides forward with models and the evidence underpinning them. Others shed light on how landscape ecology is exploring ecosystem services and the need to consider the future in a fast-changing world”.
Copies of the conference proceedings are available from publications@iale.org.uk, price £22 (members), £33 non-members. Next year's conference is already being arranged. The theme is likely to focus on new directions in landscape ecology.
For further information, please contact:
Ian Whitehead
Edinburgh & Lothians Forest Habitat Network Officer
Tel: 0131 654 1933
Email: ian@lfgnp.org.uk
Lothians and Fife will have attractive, biodiverse networks of woodlands, greenspaces and semi natural habitats.
"Managing and expanding green infrastructure will help to create more attractive urban and rural landscapes where people want to live & work..."
Michael Russell MSP