Representatives of governments, civil society and research centres from all regions of the world will gather to discuss the values and contributions of wetland ecosystems to climate change and innovative approaches to sustainable development.
The symposium is connected to the triennial members meeting of Wetlands International. During this Members Meeting, Governmental and NGO members from all over the world will gather to decide about the 10 year strategy of the organisation. The Members Meeting will be opened by the Minister for the Environment and Climate Change in Scotland, Ms. Roseanna Cunningham.
The theme of the symposium, Wetlands in a Changing Climate links to the increasing attention for wetlands to reduce climate change impacts and emissions. Increasingly, it is understood that the loss of wetlands cause very large greenhouse gas emissions. Many wetland types also play a key role in reducing the impacts of climate related extreme weather events like floods and droughts. Finally, wetlands themselves suffer from climate change impacts such as increasing droughts. The symposium tries to find answers for all these very critical challenges.
Jane Madgwick
CEO of Wetlands International
Details of the Symposium
Date: 24th February
Time: 9:00am
Location: Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor Hotel, Grosvenor Street Edinburgh, EH12 5EF
Attending the symposium are registered guests only. Members of the press are most welcome to attend specific sessions or to interview speakers.
Media Opportunity
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roseanna Cunningham will be speaking at the opening of the Wetlands International Members Meeting at 9:00 am on Tuesday 22nd of February and will be available for media interviews before she departs at 9:30 am. To arrange please contact Karen MacKinnon on 0131 244 2018 or 07771 555 604.
For more information
Content of the symposium and the strategic priorities of Wetlands International for the coming year
Wetlands International
Alex Kaat (Communications Manager)
+31 (0)6 5060 1917
alex.kaat@wetlands.org
For details of Scottish involvement:
The Scottish Government
Karen MacKinnon
0131 244 2018 or 07771 555 604
Information on the Symposium and on the programme can be found at: www.wetlands.org/symposium2011.
A separate press release will be provided on the 25th of February, after the symposium and the approval of the new strategy of Wetlands International. All presentations will be presented on the Wetlands International webpage in the week after the symposium.
