Symposium cum Workshop "Protection and Utilization of Ecosystems in Arid and Semi- Arid Regions"
Organized by:
- Prof. Dr. Seyyed Mostafa Razavi, Dean of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship University of Tehran/Iran Amir-Abad/ Tehran
- Prof. Dr. Houman Liaghati, Director of Environmental Sciences Institute (ESRI) Shahid Beheshti University Tehran/Iran
- Section for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Forestry (SeTSAF), Georg-August-Universität Göttingen / Consortium of the Universities Göttingen, Kassel and Marburg (CGKM)
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Date and Venue: October 2 - 6, 2010 , Faculty of Agriculture
Environmental Sciences;Research Institute ESRI; Shahid Beheshti University Teheran / Iran
Contents:
Given the ecologically and socioecologically questionable developments which are taking place on our planet, and having regard also to the global knowledge that has been gained about the imbalances in resource, economic, social and environmental sectors, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, the current symposium and workshop is an attempt to make an exchange of knowledge and experiences among German Alumni and interested scientists, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers possible, and so far try to develop effective and sustainable strategic plans to face these problems. The meetings in 2010 and 2011 are intended to focus on two regions, namely dry areas with vegetation and rainfall by +/- 450 mm and desert border areas by less than 150 mm. In 2010, the meeting will cover three main topics. These are: 1. Forest and nature conservation and sustainable utilization, subdivided into three sub-topic, biological corridors, wild-life protection and utilization and restoration of degraded/affected ecosystems. 2. Sustainable land use systems, subdivided into two sub-topics critical aspects of traditional and modern land use systems and impact of those systems on biodiversity. 3. Water management, again the traditional and modern water use systems and their ecological impacts. The main topic refers to the evolutionary process of man-nature relations and the critical aspects of the coevolutionary process of protection and utilization of three main sectors of forest, land and water. Hereby, the role of man in the development of those resources is crucial. Specially in arid and semi-arid regions, man has developed modes of production to protect the areas where land, water and soil are the lifeline of their future. Traditional technologies for the utilization of land and water have kept over thousands of years the landscape cultivatable and have struggled against degradation of resources in a sustainable manner. However, the population growth and increased need for food and natural resources have led to the belief that firstly traditional modes of production and technology are not sufficient enough to face new challenges and secondly, the transformation of those technologies in modern technologies is not accountable or even impossible. Non-critical introduction of modern technologies have led to serious ecological disasters in arid and semi-arid regions. Due to intensive utilization of water by digging deep and semi-deep wells, the ground water has declined in many areas, cultivation of land has become almost impossible. People have migrated to the towns and cities and have left their villages. The desert has started to grow...(desertification). Forests have been declined because of the need for more energy and are not subject to reforestation, soils have been salinated and the number of wild and domestic animals has decreased. Moreover, the introduction of modern modes of production has hardly fulfilled the expectations for food security as much as dry regions are concerned. The GIAN sixth meeting opens a forum for controversial scientific and practical discussions to the above mentioned topic. Scientists in the field, practitioners and decision-makers and interested alumni are invited to the conference and workshops. Papers and posters to one of the sub-topics are base of active participation by covering the travel costs, food and accommodation. Sessions, however are open to a wider audience by covering costs of breaks or lunch during the symposium.
1. Forest and Nature Conservation and Sustainable Utilization
a. Biological Corridors
b. Wildlife Protection and Utilization
c. Restoration of Degraded / Affected Ecosystems
2. Sustainable Land Use Systems
a. Critical Aspects of Traditional and Modern Land Use Systems
b. Impacts on Biodiversity
3. Water Management