Biodiversity Seminar: Working between disciplines and with government offices “Stopping biodiversity loss in waterbodies – despite climate change”
Date:
Location:
WSL Birmensdorf, Hörsaal
Organised by:
Nadia Castro Izaguirre, WSL
Speakers:
Natascha Zinn & Bernhard Wegscheider (Eawag & University of Bern)
Moderators:
Rea Pärli, WSL
Languages:
English
Type of event:
Presentations and colloquia
Audience:
Anyone interested in the topics
Abstract ¶
Lessons learnt from an inter- and transdisciplinary project
Our project aims to aid the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in waterbodies and strengthen their resilience to climate change through integrated restoration.
The biodiversity of inland waters is even more threatened than the biodiversity of terrestrial habitats. Waterbodies are negatively impacted by a variety of use-related interventions including canalization, eutrophication, and hydropower generation. A compounding factor is climate change, which causes higher water temperatures and changes in runoff. Restoration of waterbodies is a long-term challenge, with a need for baseline ecological data, as well as stakeholder integration and coordination.
[Environmental-social science approach] Relevant stakeholders are identified in the beginning of the project, and first key interviews are held. A survey is conducted to present the stakeholder information exchange network in the Lower Emme Region in Canton Bern, as well as the stakeholders perceptions on biodiversity and climate change. A participatory process is launched with diverse stakeholders in order to jointly identify challenges, the need for action, prioritize corresponding measures and implement them in pilot projects. By incorporating stakeholders administration and practice, a shared understanding of solutions to challenges is composed.
[Natural science approach] In parallel, ecologist form the University of Bern assess the diversity of fish species in Switzerland. National observations of fishes are combined with high-resolution environmental data to model changes in species distributions under climate and land use change scenarios. These models will be used to identify important drivers of biodiversity change and prioritize conservation and restoration actions in rivers.
We will present the process of our first project phase, where baseline data is compiled. Thereafter we will focus on lessons learned and recommendations for people working in 1) interdisciplinary – different disciplines, such as social science and natural science and 2) transdisciplinary projects – working together with government offices.
About the speaker ¶
Natascha Zinn
I am an environmental scientist with interest in water governance, biodiversity and climate change. Currently I am working in the Policy Analysis and Environmental Governance group (PEGO), which is interdisciplinary and bridges the University of Bern and Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Before joining PEGO, I did my master's degree in environmental science at ETH Zurich with a focus on environmental policy and water management and a master's thesis with the University of Tokyo on water challenges in the Jinzu River Basin in Japan focusing on climate change and a participatory approach.
Since two years now, I am working on stakeholder networks and clusters in the Wyss Academy Project LANAT-3 on biodiversity loss and climate change.
Bernhard Wegscheider
I am an aquatic ecologist with research interest in systematic conservation planning and species distribution modelling. Currently, I am a Postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Bern and Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. My doctoral research at the Canadian Rivers Institute, focused on assessing potential impacts of dam removal, hydropower’s proposed environmental flows and climate change on fish habitat in the Wolastoq | Saint John River in New Brunswick, Canada.
In my current role in LANAT-3, I am investigating impacts of land-use and climate change on aquatic biodiversity in Switzerland. My research involves integrating spatial conservation planning tools, such as species distribution and habitat connectivity models, to prioritize conservation and restoration actions in rivers.
Biodiversity Seminars ¶
Our seminars are hybrid. Please send an email to events-biodiversity(at)wsl.ch if you would like to get access to the live stream.
The Biodiversity Seminar Series are organized by the WSL Biodiversity Center. Every two weeks, we aim to host a seminar speaker that presents research or outreach on topics relevant to the biodiversity community at WSL. The seminars are public and are usually broadcasted online.
To find out more about the WSL Biodiversity Center and a complete list of events, please visit our website.
Please send an email to events-biodiversity(at)wsl.ch if you would like to be updated on the activities of the WSL Biodiversity Center.
Contact ¶
How to get here ¶
Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf
By public transport ¶
Bus stop Birmensdorf ZH, Sternen/WSL
Accessible by bus lines 220 and 350 via Wiedikon/Triemli or via Birmensdorf station with S-Bahn lines 5 and 14.
By car ¶
See map on map.search.ch or Google Maps
You'll find guest parking spaces (for a fee) behind the main building after passing the main entrance.