course spring 2006 overview

Course 2.1.1: Basics of Ecosystem Analysis

Benjamin Burkhard Central Department UKEC Tel. 880-1230 mail: [email protected]

Felix Müller Central Department UKEC Tel. 880-3251 mail: [email protected]

Wilhelm Windhorst Central Department UKEC Tel. 880-4386 mail: [email protected]

Klaus Schnack Web Page Software (Info-Net Umwelt)Tel. 880-4029mail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]




Caspar David Friedrich: Einsamer Baum (Dorflandschaft bei Morgenbeleuchtung, Harzlandschaft), 1822, Öl auf Leinwand, 55 × 71 cm, Berlin, Alte Nationalgalerie, Romantik.

Ecological systems are very, very complex


Unfriendly characteristics of ecological systems:

• Many components• Many differences between the components• Many interactions between the components• Many different interactions between the components• Very complicated to describe• Long time necessary to explain• Long computer programmes necessary

to imitate the behaviour• Hard … impossible to make prognoses

of the future behaviour


There are methods to cope with complexity


Objectives of the course:

-To learn theoretical fundamentals for thecomprehension of ecological structures, processes, and systems

-To learn how to analyze and order complexinterrelations, to understand ecological interactions, to make systems-based abstractions and to distinguishbetween important and unimportant relations

-To learn basic methods of systems analysis for a bettermanagement strategy



Basic textbooks:CHAPIN, F.S., P.A. MATSON, H.A. MOONEY (2002):

Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology , Springer Publishers, New YorkJOERGENSEN, S.E. (1997):

Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A pattern. Kluwer Publishers Dortrecht, Boston, London

JOERGENSEN, S.E. and F. MÜLLER (2000): Handbook of Ecosystem Theories. CRC Publishers, Boca Raton

MARTEN, G.G. (2004): Human Ecology. Earthscan, LondonMILLENIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMET (2003). Ecosystems and Human

Well-Being. Island Press, WashingtonSAMSON, F.B., KNOPF, F.L. (1996): Ecosystem Management.

Springer Publishers, New YorkVOGT, K.A. et al. (1997): Ecosystems – Balancing Science with Management.

Springer Publishers, New YorkLiterature lists:

http://www.ecology.uni-kiel.de/~fmueller/updates.htmlhttp://www.ecology.uni-kiel.de/%7Ebenjamin/seminar/literat.html

http://www.ecology.uni-kiel.de/~fmueller/updates.html

http://www.ecology.uni-kiel.de/%7Ebenjamin/seminar/literat.html

Internet sources

Basic literature


Modul homepage

http://www.ecology.uni-kiel.de/~fmueller/updates.htmlPoint 4.10

CBD homepage

http://www.ecology.uni-kiel.de/salzau_workshop2006/index.html






Student‘s work load

- power point presentation (15-20 min.)à provide file at the seminar homepageà 30 %

- web page creation (group works)à specific theme concerning ecosystem managementà 20 %

- homeworksà find correct answers to interesting questionsà 20 %

- examinationà write down all you know in 90 minà 30 %


Overall Outline

1. Systems and system features2. Ecosystems and ecosystem features3. Ecosystem management4. Ecosystem approach of the CBD

A

B

April 5, 2006 Introduction and Organization

General Course Schedules and Tasks à F. Müller

- Teaching Plan

- Seminar Project Plan: CBD Ecosystem Approach

Introducing the Web Page Softwareà K. Schnack


A

B

April 12, 2006 General Systems Theory

Systems and Systems Analysisà F. Müller

- Elephants and Ecosystems- System Definition- Steps of Systems Analysis- System Structures- Systems Regulation

Human-Environmental Systemsà B. Burkhard

- Human-Environmental Interactions- Basic Systems Model- Ecosystem Services- Ecosystem Indicators


A

B

April 26, 2006

Systems and Ecosystems I.à F. Müller

- Ecosystem Definitionsà Pres. Gosia- Ecosystem Structuresà Pres. Basia- Ecosystem Functionsà Pres. NN

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approachà F. Müller

- Basic Principles of Sustainable Development à Pres. Yvonne- Ecosystem Comprehension of the CBD à Pres. Alyona- State of Implementation à Pres. Alyona

Basics of Systems Ecology I.


A

B

May 10, 2006

Systems and Ecosystems II.à B. Burkhard

- Ecosystem Dynamicsà Pres. Kristin- Ecosystem Successionà Pres. Anja- Disturbance and Resilienceà Pres. Kristina

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approach – Case Studiesà B. Burkhard

- German Wadden Sea à Pres. Kirsten

Basics of Systems Ecology II.


A

B

May 18, 2006

Ecosystem Protection I.àW. Windhorst- Ecosystem Health à Pres. Sarah- Ecosystem Assessment (Mill. Ass.) à Pres. Heike

Web Page Preparation (Homework)


Ecosystem Protection Concepts

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approach – Case StudiesàW. Windhorst- Alpine Ecosystems à Pres. Hauke

A

B

May 24, 2006

Ecosystem Protection II.àW. Windhorst- Ecosystem Integrity, the Conceptà Pres. Timo- Ecosystem Integrity, Applicationsà Pres. Timo


Ecosystem Protection Concepts

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approach – Case StudiesàW. Windhorst - Forest Ecosystems à Pres. Pawel

Ecosystem Theory.à F. Müller

- Network Theoryà Pres. NN- Thermodynamics 101 à Pres. Aiko- Hierarchy Theoryà Pres. Paweł- Gradient Principles à Pres. Lech

May 29 – 31, 2006

International Workshop

The Ecosystem Approach of the CBD Between Scientific Concepts and Practical Demands

Kulturzentrum Salzau


Nature is complex …

• Elements, subsystems, relations• Living and non-living compartments• Stuctures, functions, organization• Direct effects and indirect effects• Local and delocalized effects• Short term and long-term effects• Holistic systems approach and interdisciplinary

integration

… managing nature can not be simple

Principle 7

States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore

the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem.

In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common butdifferentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge theresponsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainabledevelopment in view of the pressures their societies place on the global

environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.

The Ecosystem Approach Principles, 1-3

(DECISION V/6 CBD, 2000)

1. The objectives of management of land, water and living resources

are a matter of societal choice.

2. Management should be decentralised to the lowest appropriate level.

3.Ecosystem managers should consider the effects (actual or potential)

of their activities on adjacent and other ecosystems.



4.Recognising potential gains from management, there is usually a needto understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context.

Any such ecosystem-management programme should: a) Reduce those market distortions that adversely affect biological

diversity;b) Align incentives to promote biodiversity conservation and

sustainable use; c) Internalise costs and benefits in the given ecosystem to the extent

feasible.

5.Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintainecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach.



6.Ecosystems must be managed within the limits of their functioning.

7. The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial

and temporal scales.

8.Recognising the varying temporal scales and lag-effects that characteriseecosystem processes, objectives for ecosystem management should be set

for the long term.

9.Management must recognise that change is inevitable.



10.The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between,

and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity.

11.The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant

information, includingscientific and indigenous and local knowledge,innovations and practices.

12.The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society

and scientific disciplines.

www.biodiv.org/ . information about the Convention, Programmes and issues etc..

http://www.biodiv.org/convention/articles.asp : all articles of the Convention.

www.oekosysansatz.de : website in German with specific information about the integration of CBD principles in conservation of woodlands.

http://www.bioplatform.info : a thematic network which aims to improve the effectiveness and relevance of European biodiversity research. Here you also find a lot of links concerning CBD and Biodiversity issues in general.

http://www.iisd.ca/process/biodiv_wildlife.htm : gives detailed information about CBD.http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cbdintro.html

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/cbd/assessment/: information about the implementation of CBD.

http://www.strategyguide.org/stra_cbd.html : approach to stop and reverse the degradation of biological and landscape diversity values in Europe.

http://www.biodiv.org/

http://www.biodiv.org/convention/articles.asp

http://www.oekosysansatz.de

http://www.bioplatform.info

http://www.iisd.ca/process/biodiv_wildlife.htm

http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cbdintro.html

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/cbd/assessment/

http://www.strategyguide.org/stra_cbd.html

- Which are the political demands of the ecosystem approach of the CBD?

- Which is the potential of ecosystem research and ecosystem theory to be applied in an ecosystem management approach?

- Is there a clear relationship between biodiversity and ecosystemfunctioning?

- Which concepts and methods are available for a holistic ecosystem evaluation?

- How can the transfer from science to application be improved in the field of ecosystem management?

- Which methodologies can be used to apply this knowledge at the landscape scale?

Preliminary Workshop Programme at the Web Page http://www.ecology.uni-kiel.de/salzau_workshop2006/index.html

Monday, May 29

9:00 Bus Transfer Kiel HBF -Salzau

10:00 Greetings and Workshop Start

10:30 The Political Demands of the Ecosystem Approach

14:00 Scientific Potentials of Ecoystem Research

18:00 Poster Session à Poster from this module?

19:00 Dinner



Tuesday, May 30

9:00 Creating Working Groups

9:40 Unifying Approaches

14:00 Applications and Case Studies

16:00 Working Groups

19:00 Workshop Dinner



Wednesday, May 31

9:00 Working Groups

11:30 Working Group Reports

13:30 Final Discussion

15:15 Bus Transfer Salzau –Kiel HBF


Costs: Accomodation 30,00 €Meals 60,00 €Total 90,00 €

Transfer 90,00 € to the Following Account:

Bank: Sparkasse KielKontoinhaber: Verein zur Förderung der ÖkosystemforschungKennwort: Salzau2006BLZ: 210 501 70Konto-Nr.: 32 00 24 79

Reimbursement for Students: 60,00 €

Bus Transfer:(a) Use your Own Car(b) Monday 7:30 Departure ÖZK(c) Wednesday 16:45 Departure Salzau

Registration at:



Tasks for individual students or student groups:

Contribute to the Minutes (Protocols) of the SalzauWorkshop

Present a Poster at Salzau

Design of a web page on the Ecosystem Approach of the UN Convention on Biodiversity

The Following Pages Should be Constructed:

- What is the CBD?- Which are the basic ideas of the Ecosystem Approach?- What are the „Malawi Principles“?- Which is the state-of-implementation?- Case studies (a, b, c)- Principles of ecosystem development (a, b, c)- Ecosystem indicators- Ecosystem health- Ecosystem integrity- Ecosystem services- Human-environmental interactions- …..- Joint page: A road map for future implementation of the approach

A

June 20, 2006

Ecosystem Research and Ecosystem MonitoringàW. Windhorst

- German Ecosystem Projects à Pres. Henrike- International Ecosystem Projects à Pres. Henrike


Empirical Ecosystem Research

A

June 28, 2006

Ecosystem Management I.à B. Burkhard

- Ecosystem Indicators à Pres. Age- Ecosystem Monitoring à Pres. Olga


Ecosystem Monitoring

A

July 5, 2006

Ecosystem Management II.àW. Windhorst

- An Ecosystem Management Framework à Pres. Nathalie- Human-Environmental System Management à Pres. Alexandra- Case Studies à Pres. Jeanine- Ecosystem Thermodynamics à Pres. Aiko


Ecosystem Management Principles

Workshop AnalysisàW. WindhorstB

A Road Map to a Better Application of the Ecosystem Approach

A

July 12, 2006


Workshop Outreach

A Road Map to a Better Application of the Ecosystem Approach

à B. Burkhard, F. Müller

July 19, 2006


Examination

Examination

A

July 19, 2006


Examination

…decide now….

Systems and Ecosystems I.à F. Müller 26.4.

- Ecosystem Definitionsà Pres. Gosia- Ecosystem Structuresà Pres. Basia- Ecosystem Functionsà Pres. NN

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approachà F. Müller 26.4.

- Basic Principles of Sustainable Developmentà Pres. Yvonne- Ecosystem Comprehension of the CBD à Pres. Alyona- State of Implementationà Pres. Alyona

Systems and Ecosystems II.à B. Burkhard 10.5.

- Ecosystem Dynamicsà Pres. Kristin- Ecosystem Successionà Pres. Anja- Disturbance and Resilienceà Pres. Kristina

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approach – Case Studiesà B. Burkhard 10.5.

- German Wadden Seaà Pres. Kirsten

Ecosystem Protection I.àW. Windhorst 18.5.- Ecosystem Health à Pres. Sarah- Ecosystem Assessment (Mill. Ass.) à Pres. Heike

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approach – Case StudiesàW. Windhorst 18.5.- Alpine Ecosystems à Pres. Hauke

Ecosystem Protection II.àW. Windhorst 24.5.- Ecosystem Integrity, the Conceptà Pres. Timo- Ecosystem Integrity, Applicationsà Pres. Timo (one short appl.)

The UNCBD Ecosystem Approach – Case StudiesàW. Windhorst 24.5.- Forest Ecosystems à Pres. Pawel

Ecosystem Theory.à F. Müller 24.5.

- Network Theoryà Pres. NN- Thermodynamics 101 à Pres. Aiko- Hierarchy Theoryà Pres. Paweł- Gradient Principles à Pres. Lech

Ecosystem Research and Ecosystem MonitoringàW. Windhorst 20.6.

- German Ecosystem Projects à Pres. Henrike- International Ecosystem Projects à Pres. Henrike

Ecosystem Management I.à B. Burkhard 28.6.

- Ecosystem Indicators à Pres. Age- Ecosystem Monitoring à Pres. Olga

Ecosystem Management II.àW. Windhorst 5.7.

- An Ecosystem Management Framework à Pres. Nathalie- Human-Environmental System Management à Pres. Alexandra- Case Studies à Pres. Jeanine- Ecosystem Thermodynamics à Pres. Aiko

…decide now or next week….

- What is the CBD? Anja, Kristin- Which are the basic ideas of the Ecosystem Approach? Yvonne, Basia, Gosia- What are the „Malawi Principles“? Henrike,Jeanine, - Which is the state-of-implementation? Alyona- Case studies (a, b, c) Pawel, Kirsten- Principles of ecosystem development (a, b, c) Olga- Ecosystem indicators Åge, Heike- Ecosystem health Sarah- Ecosystem integrity Timo- Ecosystem services Aiko, Kristina- Human-environmental interactions Alexandra, Sarah- …..- Joint page: A road map for future implementation of the approach

course spring 2006 overview

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