REPORT

  EcoEng Newsletter 3, December 2000 
 

IEES Conference 2001 "Ecological Engineering for Landscape Services and Products", 25-29 November 2001
 
 An update

by Andrew Dakers, New Zealand

E-mail: dakers@paradise.net.nz

Conference info : http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/pdg/iees/
 

Scope
 
The theme of this conference is stated as: Ecological Engineering for Landscape Services and Products. What does this really mean?

The original thought that gave rise to this theme was that all regions have their own unique land and marine environments, each with the potential to provide a diverse range of services and products for the benefit of human wellbeing. The issue becomes how we plan and design our human settlements and economic activities to recognise and sustain these unique regional attributes for the benefit of both the local human community and the ecosystems within which they are embedded. In particular, what can the discipline of ecological engineering offer regional development that is more integrated with the local social, cultural and ecological conditions?
 

Conference Themes
  At a recent workshop for organising the details of the conference the conference theme was discussed at some length. It was agreed that:
  • The conference should also include marine services and products
  • That the conference sub-themes should be further developed to explain the content and context of the conference. Further discussion will be forthcoming on these sub-themes, however the agreed sub-themes are:
    • 1. Ecologically engineering for services and infrastructure such as, water supply, waste and wastewater, waterways and stormwater, marine and coastal projects, energy production and supply systems, transport systems, production of building materials, natural hazards mitigation
    • 2. Economics and markets for land and marine-scape services and products. How good ecological processes can enhance marketing – niche opportunities.
    • 3. Decision making and implementation strategies to achieve integrated development
    • 4. Education and training in ecological engineering
 

Integrating the Practice
 
I recently attended a conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that was about integrating the sciences to solve environmental problems. As a consequence of the different scientific disciplines sharing their experiences and knowledge, some powerful insights and outcomes were achieved.

The process of integration of effort must include many more players in addition to the scientific community. While institutional and policy frameworks for more sustainable use of ecosystem services is important, if "frontline” obstacles arise at the implementation stage, the credibility of the goals (and the goal setters) may suffer a significant setback. It is therefore important to support innovative engineered projects that demonstrate what is technologically and physically possible (and not possible) in achieving more sustainable interactions with the local ecosystems.

Such designed projects can provide very effective feedback to both the policy makers and the scientific community to assist with policy design and research priorities respectively. The critical importance of the interdependence between ecosystems and human development has very significant implications for the criteria engineers and others should use in designing and building a civil society.

 

Focus on Integrating the Applied Professions
  It is anticipated that this conference will have a strong focus on integrating the applied professions, to achieve a more sustainable relationship with the ecosystems within which we live and of which we are an integral part.

These applied professions will include, for example, ecological engineers, engineers, ecologists, landscape and urban designers and planners, architects, other applied scientists and professionals, applied social scientists, resource managers and economics, and relevant educators. Of course at this level of interaction and engagement with the human and nonhuman communities, the skills and techniques to effectively communicate, negotiate and consult with the different ecosystem players and stakeholders is crucial to achieve effective integration.

We are expecting that this conference will have a strong focus on the frontline application of responsible and appropriate fitting of science, engineering, design and innovative technology to the vibrant, dynamic and complex interface of ecosystems and the social/cultural world of human endeavour.

 

Working Groups
  The actual working group themes are to be decided early in 2001 after we have received some of the paper titles. However it is likely Working Group themes will be similar to the four conference sub-themes listed above. Each Working Groups will be encouraged to relate some of their questions and outcomes to the Banks Peninsula Case Study.

 

Banks Peninsula Case Study
  The Banks Peninsula is a land mass on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand that formed over 7 millions years ago by two massive volcanoes, the first being the Lyttleton Harbour volcano, followed by the massive Akaroa eruption.

This diverse and fascinating peninsula is poised for rapid development of its land and marine scape services and products. It is a question of whether this development will "happen” as a consequence of ad-hoc, non-strategic growth or within the context of a planned, managed and sustainable framework designed and supported by the key stakeholders in the community.

The Banks Peninsula case study will span all working groups. The purpose of the Monday (26th) Peninsula tour is to introduce delegates to the region. It is hoped that we will be able to frame appropriate questions for each Working Group to encourage some focusing on the Peninsula issues in relation to the Working Group themes.

 

Situation on Banks Peninsula
  Historically, the economic development of the Banks Peninsula region has been based on timber production and agriculture (dairy farming, grass seed and sheep and beef). Since the 1970s the timber industry is no longer active as it was based on extraction of native timbers rather than plantation forestry. Agriculture is still practiced although in some areas with increasing economic difficulty. Partly for this reason, and also because of a wider diversity of people settling in the region, landowners are looking for a wider range of possible land and marine economic activities.

The Banks Peninsula is an interesting region with a diverse range of economic initiatives and activities. Examples of these activities include:

  • Wineries and vineyards
  • Growing of olives
  • Tree crops
  • Specialist nurseries - eg native plants
  • Growing of herbs
  • Marine aquaculture and fishing
  • Conservation farming
  • Arts, craft and cottage industries
  • Outdoor tourist activities - camping, tramping, mountain biking, hang-gliding, sailing, kayaking
  • Eco-tourism – e.g. dolphin spotting, walkways
  • Tourism

In certain situations some of these activities will be in conflict over the use of and impact on natural resources. There is already some conflict between those who want to set up marine farms and those who want to develop the same marine ecosystem for eco-tourism. As more people move to the region there is increasing pressure placed on the sensitive local ecosystems and regional resources in terms of water and energy supply, transport and roading systems, sanitation and stormwater services and solid waste management.

 

Programme
  The preliminary programme follows:

24rd Saturday
  Various pre-conference tours will be organised for those interested.
25th Sunday
Evening:
 Registration and opening.
26th Monday
Morn:
 Plenary with keynote speakers.
Afternoon:
 Banks Peninsula conference tour.
Evening:
 Sampling local food and wine, Banks Peninsula
27th Tuesday
Morning:
 Oral presentation of selected over-arching papers
Afternoon:
 Working group sessions.
Late afternoon:
 Poster paper session 1
Evening:
 Conference dinner and concert.
28th Wednesday
All day:
 Working group sessions.
Late afternoon:
 Poster paper session 2. Wine and cheese.
29th Thursday
Morning:
 Working group final report plenary
Afternoon:
 Conference tours

 
© 2000, International Ecological Engineering Society, Wolhusen, Switzerland