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INI Workshop - Nitrogen Deposition, Critical Loads and Biodiversity

The main site for this workshop is at the INI website. The registration process is carried out under the COST729 website (where you are now!)

Registration

16-18th November, 2009
George Hotel
Edinburgh, UK

Workshop Goals:

  • Assess N deposition estimates at regional to global scales;
  • Evaluate N critical loads and their exceedances as suitable tools/indicators;
  • Consider options for the assessment of ecosystem responses to N addition in different regions of the world;
  • Integrate global scientific knowledge and promote policy and management actions.

Increases in nitrogen (N) deposition in broad areas of Europe and North America, and parts of Asia, over the last 50 years have resulted in losses of plant diversity, shifts in plant communities, changes in ecosystem services and food webs, and other adverse environmental effects. Recent modelling projects increased rates of atmospheric N deposition over the next decades in most regions of the globe. Some parts of the world, such as Europe and Canada, have adopted an effects threshold approach for assessing the impacts of N deposition, known as Critical Loads. N deposition is above or approaching critical loads in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, shortcomings in several areas currently hamper adoption of the approach and general assessment of nitrogen impacts.

Key issues:

  • Significant uncertainty in total deposition estimates around the globe;
  • Uncertainty about the relation between biodiversity loss, N (dynamics) and critical loads;
  • Lack of field-based evidence for biodiversity effects;
  • Indicators of biodiversity loss in areas that have exceeded critical N loads;
  • Accounting for impacts of N addition on ecosystem services and climate change interactions.

Overarching themes will include the exchange of information between different regions and disciplines and how measurements and approaches for assessing N deposition and biodiversity loss can be harmonized at a global scale.

To register please complete the form below and 'Submit'. Field marked * are mandatory.

Contact Details

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Workshop Participation

Workshop Topics:
The Workshop will address these needs by considering five key topic areas in plenary and breakout sessions. Key topic areas:
1. Progress in monitoring and modelling estimates of N deposition at local, regional and global scales.
2. Factors affecting N deposition impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem biodiversity
3. Development of the critical loads concept and its application to different regions of the world.
4. Importance of N deposition effects on ecosystem services and interactions with other pollutants (e.g. ozone) and climate change
5. Implications of current knowledge on N deposition and impacts for policy, management and capacity building needs. (Plenary Only)

Please indicate in order of preference your Top 3 working groups you would like to be part of.

(Enter 1,2, or 3 in each box to show order of preference:
1 = top preference and 3 = lowest preference)

Progress in monitoring and modelling estimates of N deposition at local, regional and global scales.
Factors affecting N deposition impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem biodiversity
Development of the critical loads concept and its application to different regions of the world.
Importance of N deposition effects on ecosystem services and interactions with other pollutants (e.g. ozone) and climate change

select above if you would like to give a short informal presentation during one of the working group topics or display a poster

please supply a short abstract above. PLEASE include Title, Authors, Affiliations and the Abstract.

Workshop Extras

Please indicate now if you have any special dietary requirements (e.g. Vegan, Vegetarian, any food intolerances)

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