The role of restoration ecology in mitigation of climate change and loss of biodiversity07-01-09 12:57 Age: 2 yrs
7th January 2009
On 27th November 2008 the Linnean was pleased to host a meeting, in association with the World Land Trust, exploring "The role of restoration ecology in mitigation of climate change and loss of biodiversity".
Many terrestrial and marine ecosystems, which are being eroded by human activities, are central to climate regulation and the damage is exacerbated by positive feedback from the changing climate. Along with the resultant loss of habitat and changing environmental conditions, species extinctions are occurring at alarmingly high rates.
This meeting addressed the extent to which restoration of damaged or lost biologically diverse ecosystems could contribute to mitigation of climate change globally or regionally. It discussed some current field work that aims to mitigate both climate change and loss of biodiversity, looking at the technical, social and economic aspects of implementation. This was augmented by a poster session that presented a range of projects and related activities around the world.
Finally, an expert panel debated priorities for conservation practitioners, for government and institutional support and for private sector action.
IMAGE: Burning forest, Esmeraldas, Ecuador © Renton Righelato
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Speakers' Presentations:
Chris Jones, Met Office Hadley Centre, UK
Andy Purvis, Imperial College London Hotspots of diversity and extinction: identifying future battlegrounds of mammalian conservation
John Lanchbery, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Reducing emissions from deforestation (and degradation) in developing countries
Renton Righelato, World Land Trust Competition for land: food/climate mitigation/conservation
Pieter van Eijk, Wetlands International Peatlands loss and restoration
Dominick Spracklen and Roger Wilson, University of Leeds and World Land Trust Forest loss and restoration - a case study of tropical montane forest
Alastair Driver, Evnironment Agency Managing floods and biodiversity on a crowded and shrinking island
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