From the Ramsar Forum

Wetland hydrology and management workshops set for EGS, Nice, 2001

(posted to the Ramsar Forum, 26 September 2000)

Dear Forum Members,

At the European Geophysical Society meeting in Nice, France, March 2001, two workshops will be held on wetlands: Hydrology of wetlands and wetland management. Please send abstracts to the convenors detailed at the foot of the E-mail.

HSA7.1: Hydrology of Wetlands

During the past few decades, conservation bodies have promoted the protection and restoration of wetlands because of important functions they perform, including flood reduction, groundwater recharge pollutant removal, low flow maintainance and biodiversity support. More recently, emphasis has focused on defining water requirements of wetlands and economic valuation of hydrological functions. However, many fundamental questions remain unanswered concerning the hydrological behaviour of these ecosystems. Some research has failed to demonstrate expected hydrological functions or has produced contrary evidence.

This workshop invites recent studies of hydrological process within wetlands which may elucide the functions at work. In particular, studies that deal with the following subjects are welcome:

1. technical aspects of hydrological measurements in wetlands;
2 hydrological modelling of wetlands (saturated/unsaturated modelling, relationship with surface water and groundwater...);
3 water budget in wetlands;
4 typological approach of hydrologic behaviour of wetlands.
5 functional analysis methods

HSB4: Wetland management

As a result of ignorance of their value, many wetlands have been destroyed by conversion, drainage, water abstraction or river engineering, such as dam construction. The area of wetlands worldwide has decreased dramatically and wetlands have become threatened environments. However, more recent promotion of the positive aspects of wetlands (including their biodiversity and hydrological functions) by conservation bodies has begun to change attitudes. Many countries have signed the Convention of Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971) and have established national legislation to protect wetlands. This has led to conservation and restoration of some wetlands, whilst degradation continues in other cases.

This symposium focuses on weltand management. In particular, studies are welcome that demonstrate restoration or degradation of natural functioning due to human action, either within the wetland itelf or within its catchment upstream. Interdisciplinary research project, where collaborative work of ecology, biochemistry, hydrology etc has led to better management are especially encouraged.

convener: Dr. Ph. Weng (p.weng@brgm.fr); BRGM/ Service Eau, 1039, rue de Pinville, 34000 Montpellier; France, Phone: +33-467-157968, Fax: +33-467-157975

co-convener: Dr. M. Acreman (man@ceh.ac.uk); Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom Phone: +44-1491-692443 Fax: +44-1491-692424

Best regards, Mike Acreman.

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To join the Ramsar Forum, send this message: <join ramsar-forum>, without the < >, to ramsar-mgr@indaba.iucn.org. For more information on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 7 October 2000, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.