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Andrea Vaupen, scientific collaborator in the project GeneMig, discussing with a group of practitioners. Foto: Manuela Di Giulio |
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| The project leader Janine Bolliger and modul leader Felix Gugerli present a possible research plan to the participants of the work shop. Foto: Manuela Di Giulio |
A core element of the new CCES research project GeneMig is the exchange between research and practice. Together, practitioners and researcher develop a new research project.
Researchers at WSL are developing new research approaches relevant to practice. The application of such new methods and respective outcomes into the practitioners’ daily business requires close exchange between scientists and stakeholders. An example of a new research method which is of both practical and scientific relevance is landscape genetics. The method combines landscape ecology and population genetics and allows linking the dispersal and movement of animals and plants to landscape configuration. Landscape elements may facilitate or hinder movement and may subsequently be interpreted as corridors or barriers. How does landscape genetics benefit nature conservation practices? What advantages do genetic methods offer in comparison to conventional methods? These questions were discussed at a workshop in October, 2012, by nature conservation representatives from various cantonal and federal agencies, as well as private consultants and nature conservationists.
The workshop marked the start of a new research project launched by WSL as part of the Competence Center Environment and Sustainability (CCES) of the ETH Domain. The new project explores how range shifts – triggered by environmental changes – may affect genetic diversity, and identifies subsequent challenges which practical conservation management will have to face. To ensure that our scientific work targets a practical challenge of relevance, we integrated stakeholders by means of a workshop right at the beginning of the project. This approach allows us to take up their interests and needs and frame them within a scientific research project. The workshop showed that a direct exchange between practice and research is necessary in order for both scientists and practitioners to be able to contribute their skills and experience. The participants of the workshop drew the conclusion that genetic methods can indeed be an asset to their work if these methods are applied to relevant questions. For example, questions relating to setting priorities for the protection of marginal populations of endangered species, or examining the efficiency of connecting elements. A dedicated project is now being developed based on these discussions. Thus, the workshop helped elaborating overlap between interests and requirements relevant for the needs of both scientists and practitioners. The dialogue with stakeholders during the initial phase of the project has created a motivating start to developing a practice-oriented research project of conservation relevance.
For more information
Dossier on landscape genetics research
Competence Center Environment and Sustainability of the ETH Domain (CCES)