24 February 2011- The Hilton Grosvenor Hotel, Edinburgh.
Speakers included senior figures from the global research community, government representatives and wetland managers.
The symposium was hosted by the Scottish Government and Wetlands International and was organised by the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Wetlands International.
09.00 Arrival
09.20 Welcome and Introduction
09.25 Welcome from Wetlands International
Jane Madgwick, CEO, Wetlands International
09.35 Introduction to Session 1
Symposium Convenor: Professor Colin Galbraith
Session 1: Understanding the importance of wetland ecosystem services in a changing climate – overview and practical examples
09.40 Horizon scanning and environmental change - are we getting the priorities right, or is this the holy grail which will never be found?
Professor William Sutherland- Miriam Rothschild Professor of Conservation Biology, University of Cambridge
10.10 UK Overview – Wetland ecosystem services and biodiversity in a changing climate
Professor Chris Spray, UNESCO Centre, University of Dundee
10.40 Case example – China: Ruoergai peatlands
Dr Gu Haijun, Deputy Division Chief of Sichuan Forestry Department, supported by Chen Kelin, Director of Wetlands International, China
11.10 Introduction to the work of the Scottish Government
Mike Neilson, Interim Director General, Enterprise and Environment, Scottish Government
11.25 Break - tea/coffee
11.45 Recognising the value of Wetlands for disaster risk reduction. Case example: Netherlands Room for the River programme
Frank Alberts, Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Water Management.
12.15 The economic value of wetland management
Ina Porras, International Institute for Environmental Development
12.45 Panel Discussion
13.15 Lunch
14.30 Introduction to Session 2
Symposium Convenor: Professor Colin Galbraith
Session 2: Effective governance for wetland management
14.40 Case example – Mali, Africa: Inner Niger Delta
Dr Leo Zwarts, Eddy Wymenga, Altenburg and Wymenga Consultants, and Bakary Kone Director of Wetlands International, Mali
15.10 Case example –Wetland protection and governance in Scotland
Johan Schutten, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Andrew McBride, Scottish Natural Heritage
15.40 Break - tea/coffee
16.00 Case example – Chilika Lake/Mahanadi Basin, India: Governance mechanisms for wetland management
Dr Ajit Pattnaik, Government of Orissa, Ritesh Kumar, Wetlands International, South Asia Office
16.30 Panel Discussion and review draft Communiqué
Panel and audience to consider the draft Communiqué and discuss key questions and to summarise the outcomes from the symposium including:
- Key Issues, Challenges, Recommendations
- Next Steps
17.30 Close
