Organisers
Gillian Davies, BSC Group, Inc.
Matt Simpson, 35percent and Cobra Collective
Description
Rights of Wetlands is a transformative approach to improving wetland preservation, conservation, restoration, and our relationship with wetlands, and is one example of a broader Rights of Nature movement that is occurring around the world in response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies. Wetland scientists and policy specialists have been collaborating for several years to develop approaches to operationalizing Rights of Wetlands, based on the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands (see https://www.rightsofwetlands.org/). In this symposium, speakers will discuss case studies from around the world (e.g. Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Kenya, New Zealand, Sri Lanka) where Rights of Wetlands are being implemented/operationalized both within legal frameworks and as cultural practices. Discussion will address how a Rights of Wetlands approach and mindset can shift our relationship with wetlands and Nature more broadly, with benefits for wetlands and the living beings that inhabit them including humans.
Organisers
Gillian Davies, BSC Group, Inc.
Jennifer Watts, Woodwell Climate Research Group
Description
Many policymakers at national and sub-national levels understand the well-documented value of wetlands for carbon storage and sequestration and are now beginning to grapple with converting this science into meaningful policies and regulations. This symposium will share insights into the specific data and technologies that are needed at the appropriate scale to support science-based policymaking that protects and restores existing wetland carbon stocks and fluxes and mitigates for impacts to wetland carbon. Discussion will include: wetland carbon flux and stock data needs; innovative wetland extent and carbon mapping approaches informed by machine learning; challenges and options for overcoming these challenges; community, stakeholder, and governance engagement; and development of software that allows tracking of wetland carbon losses and gains, as well as providing a user-friendly interface for stakeholders and the general public. The goal of this symposium is to provide participants with an understanding of how to develop science-based wetland carbon policy, including addressing scientific, technical, and stakeholder issues that arise so that successful outcomes are achieved.
Organisers
Kimberli J. Ponzio, M.Sc., Senior Professional Wetland Scientist
Dean R. Dobberfuhl, Ph.D.
Description
This 2025 INTECOL SWS Session proposal focuses on the theme: Going Back to the Future: Making Strides to Restore and Rehabilitate Wetland Ecosystems Around the Globe. It aims to bring together experts to discuss strategies and tools for wetland restoration and ecological rehabilitation using a diverse set of case studies. Presentations will touch on common restoration challenges among systems and unique challenges within systems.
Organisers
Luca Marazzi
Matt Simpson
Rob McInnes
Description
The overarching goal of this session is to demonstrate the role and importance of citizen science and stakeholder engagement in wetland conservation and restoration projects in Europe through a series of case studies. Citizen science can help collect data and engage volunteers in research and action. Stakeholder engagement can help practitioners learn from or empower local people, businesses, and policy makers on how to protect and sustainably manage wetland resources. Wetlands can be conserved and restored best through holistic approaches. Citizen science can improve knowledge, assist with data collection, and engage volunteers in research and action. Community-based activities can further enhance understanding and empower local people to protect and sustainably manage vital natural resources. Drawing on examples from Europe, this session will present and discuss a variety of citizen science and/or stakeholder engagement approaches that contribute to the sustainable use of wetlands. Traditional science conducted by academically and/or professionally qualified experts can be complemented by citizen science and traditional knowledge to generate a more holistic understanding of environmental problems and solutions and to inform decision making.
Organisers
Dr. Parvez Rana, Senior Remote Sensing Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Description
Session Goals: This session aims to enhance the practical application of remote sensing in monitoring wetland ecosystems and evaluating restoration efforts. It will establish a structured framework for practitioners, focusing on identifying key indicators like vegetation cover, hydrological changes, carbon flux, and soil moisture, which can reliably signify restoration progress. Participants will explore data integration techniques, leveraging multi-scale remote sensing from UAVs to satellite data to support comprehensive, large-scale wetland monitoring. The session will also assess the current capabilities of remote sensing technologies, such as LiDAR, multispectral, and hyperspectral imaging, and address the technical and logistical challenges in applying these tools effectively.
Technical Issues in Focus: Key technical issues will include spectral and spatial resolution, focusing on the compatibility of different remote sensing technologies with wetland environments and ensuring data accuracy under diverse conditions. Challenges in determining optimal temporal and spatial resolutions will be addressed to ensure that small-scale wetland changes are detectable and measurable. Additionally, the session will cover establishing standardized metrics and thresholds that define restoration success in wetland ecosystems. Finally, participants will discuss strategies for scaling local observations to broader assessments and technological demands of remote sensing solutions.
Organisers
Boris Tupek, researcher at Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), DSc
Raisa Mäkipää, professor at LUKE, Research Professor, DSc
Tuula Larmola, senior researcher at LUKE, Adjunct Professor, PhD
Qian Li, postdoc researcher at LUKE, PhD
Martínez García Eduardo,postdoc researcher at LUKE, PhD
Description
Forested peatlands serve as substantial carbon sinks, yet they also act as sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs), releasing CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O. Understanding the drivers and processes behind these emissions is essential for predicting how climate and land-use changes will affect GHG balances and the role of forested peatlands in mitigating climate change. This session seeks to unite empirical and modeling studies focused on the mechanisms influencing GHG emissions from forested peatlands. We invite contributions that investigate the factors driving these emissions, including environmental drivers, disturbance effects, management methods, biogeochemical processes and microbial contributions.
Organisers
Siyuan Ye, Qingdao institute of marine geology, China Geological Survey, China
Nianzhi Jiao, Xiameng University, Xiameng, China
Hans Brix, Aarhus university, Denmark
Matthew E Andersen, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, The U.S.
Description
Proactive stimulation of carbon uptake by the ocean is considered to be a promising way to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2.0°C or perhaps even 1.5°C compared with preindustrial levels by the end of this century. Increasing ocean carbon sequestration by anthropogenic processes has the potential to contribute to carbon neutrality if the mechanisms and processes involved are understood. Coastal wetlands are the ecosystems with the highest carbon density in the ocean. However, climate change and human activities have created many uncertainties in the function of carbon sequestration. This session will bring together researchers from multiple disciplines such as ecology, geology, geography, and biology to jointly explore the theoretical basis and corresponding carbon sink enhancement strategies that must be considered when evaluating carbon sink resource services in coastal wetlands. The session will focus on hot topics that affect the carbon sequestration function of wetlands, such as climate change, sea level rise, warming effects, nutrient loads, hydrological connections, sedimentations, plant invasions, and microbial communities. The aim is to enhance the basic theoretical and methodological research on the protection of carbon sink resources in coastal wetlands, promote the practice of ONCE based on coastal wetlands, and comprehensively improve the level of carbon sink resource protection and restoration in coastal wetlands. Furthermore, to build an academic exchange platform for scientists and managers engaged in theoretical research on carbon sequestration processes in coastal wetlands and practical work on ONCE (or CDR-Carbon dioxide removal), providing scientific support for the government and carbon trading management institutions.
Organisers
Wei-Ta Fang, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)
Hsing-Juh Lin, Department of Life Sciences at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU)
Description
The session on Blue Carbon in Tropical Wetlands aims to highlight the critical role of coastal wetlands, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon. These ecosystems are often referred to as blue carbon ecosystems because they can store three to five times more carbon per unit than tropical forests.Goals:1. Climate Change Mitigation: Emphasize the importance of blue carbon ecosystems in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.2. Adaptation Benefits: Highlight how these ecosystems help communities adapt to climate change by providing storm surge and flood protection.3. Conservation and Restoration: Promote efforts to conserve and restore these vital ecosystems.4. Policy Development: Advocate for simplified policy frameworks and gender equality in the development and implementation of commitments.Technical Issues:1. Knowledge Gaps: Identify and address gaps in understanding the carbon sequestration potential of these ecosystems.2. Data Sharing: Clarify data sharing arrangements and institutional management of coastal wetlands.3. Public Engagement: Engage the public and involve local partners in the design and implementation of projects.4. Ecosystem Services: Measure and map carbon stocks and fluxes, and assess ecosystem services and livelihood opportunities.5. Policy Frameworks: Simplify policy frameworks to better protect and restore these ecosystems. This session will address these goals and technical issues to promote the conservation and sustainable management of tropical wetlands for their climate mitigation and adaptation value, and will bring together experts to discuss these goals and technical issues, aiming to enhance the ambition of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and promote sustainable management of coastal wetlands.
Organisers
Ming Jiang, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Xianguo Lv, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Marinus L. Otte, North Dakota State University, USA
Marian Tudor, Danube Delta National Institute for Research & Development, Romania
Description
Wetland has a variety of ecological functions, such as wild animal shelter, regional climate regulator, carbon sequestration, water purification, biodiversity maintenance, and economic resource, playing an irreplaceable important role in providing economic, social, and ecological benefits for human well-being. However, about 3.4 million km2 of inland wetlands have been lost since 1700 (net loss of 21%), primarily for conversion to croplands. Wetland loss has been concentrated in Europe, the United States and China, and rapidly expanded during the mid-twentieth century. Therefore, it is urgent to pay more attention to wetland restoration, including restoration pathways and technology, projects and case studies on restoration, evaluation of wetland restoration effect, biogeochemical evolution during wetland restoration, effects of plant, microorganism, and hydrology on wetland restoration.
Organisers
Dr. Emmi Haltia, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finland. Senior Scientist, leading WP5 ’Economic & social impacts of wetland restoration’ in ALFAwetlands project.
Dr. Annika Tienhaara, . Dr, Researcher, co-leader of WP5 ’Economic & social impacts of wetland restoration’ in ALFAwetlands project.
Description
The main goal of the session is to discuss the valuation of non-market ecosystem service benefits in a case of wetland restoration. The focus will be on applications of valuation methods to different types of wetlands and wetland restoration projects. The special interest will be in the specification of the restoration scenarios and description of the biodiversity and ecosystem service attributes, which is complicated in the case of rather poorly known ecosystems among the citizens and current uncertainties in the scientific knowledge. Also, in the session, we will discuss the possibilities to broaden the understanding of the societal benefits of wetland restoration from single-site ecosystem service studies to larger areas with a variety of ecosystem services.
Organisers
Dr. Zhongli Chen, Associate Professor at the College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, P.R. China
Dr. Paweł Jarosiewicz, Assistant Professor at the European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Description
The session on Ecohydrology and Wetland Ecosystem Succession and Application aims to examine the intricate interactions between hydrological processes and wetland ecosystems, with a particular focus on how these dynamics drive ecological succession and impact ecosystem services. A central objective is to enhance our understanding of ecohydrological feedback mechanisms that regulate wetland resilience, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC). Specifically, the session will explore the critical role of hydrological dynamics in shaping SOC stocks and carbon cycling throughout different stages of wetland ecosystem succession. In addition, the session will address the influence of climate change, land-use alterations, and anthropogenic activities on wetland sustainability and SOC sequestration potential. Technical issues to be discussed include the quantification of hydrological dynamics, the assessment of biotic and abiotic factors in succession phases, and the relationship between SOC dynamics and strategies for wetland restoration and conservation. The session will also emphasize the application of ecohydrological principles in the management and restoration of degraded wetlands, integrating SOC management strategies and interdisciplinary approaches to promote adaptive management practices. As a follow-up to the session, a Special Issue will be announced in the journal Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology to increase the impact of the presented topics and stimulate further scientific discussion.
Organisers
Tamara Bińczak, Principal Expert - ESG Innovation - ING Bank Śląski S.A. (ING Poland)
Description
Wetland restoration requires significant funding, which can be obtained both from grants and private investors. In the case of grants, the private sector may act as a provider of matching funds, thereby complementing public financing sources. Moreover, experts from the private sector possess valuable knowledge and skills that can be instrumental in mobilizing social capital for wetland projects. These competencies include a deep understanding of European legislation, particularly the EU Taxonomy, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which can be leveraged by NGOs and scientists to secure funding and increase awareness of the challenges associated with wetland restoration.In addition to regulatory expertise, the private sector brings relevant soft skills to the table, such as pitching ideas and crafting engaging narratives, which can significantly improve the success rate of securing corporate funding. During this session, I aim to share my insights as an economist and ESG expert with practical experience in wetlands restoration, including a case study of wetland projects partially funded by ING Poland.
Organisers
PhD. Liisa Ukonmaanaho, coordinator of the Horizon Europe project related wetland restoration, long term expericence of the peatlands
PhD. Vanessa Ferreira de Almeida, coordinator of the Horizon Europe project related wetland restoration
PhD. Ana Lillebø, long term experience especially coastal wetlands, coordinator of the Horizon Europe project related wetland restoration
Ass. Prof, Shubiao Wu, specialized biogeochemistry of wetlands, coordinator of the Horizon Europe project related wetland restoration
PhD. Tuula Larmola, deputy coordinator of Horizon Europe project, is a wetland ecologist who has focused on GHG emissions and their mitigation from managed peat soils
Description
The restoration of wetlands stands as a pivotal element within climate change mitigation strategies. Their multifaceted roles, encompassing carbon sequestration, GHG regulation, resilience against extreme weather events, and biodiversity support, collectively contribute to fostering a more sustainable and climate-resilient future. Recognising the urgent need to safeguard wetland ecosystems, four EU-funded projects—REWET, RESTORE4Cs, WET HORIZONS, and ALFAwetlands—have forged collaborative partnerships involving over 40 entities across Europe. Together, they are dedicated to the restoration of wetlands and enhancing their medium to long-term mitigation capabilities. In this special session, these 4 EU projects will present their initiatives aimed at accelerating wetland restoration encompassing natural wetlands, peatlands, mineral coastal wetlands, and floodplains. We invite this session also other presentations from different aspects of wetland restoration relating to carbon sequestration, GHG emissions, biodiversity and water protection.
Organisers
Shelby Petro, PWS
Description
The session will include presentations that focus on applied wetland science and policy, highlighting interdisciplinary planning, permitting, and management of projects from the perspective of wetland professionals and practitioners. Project examples will be given from regions of the world across the globe. The session will end with a panel of all presenters for a for targeted questions about challenges as practioners, the need for research in each region, current and future environmental policy, etc, and a Q&A with the audience. The overarching goal is to share applied wetland science, highlight global work being done, and discuss challenges due to policy and/or research needs.
Organisers
Professor Samantha Capon, BSc Hons (1st class), PhD (Ecology), GCHE, Master Arts
Professor Jamie Pittock, BSc, PhD, FHEA
Description
Nature markets are increasingly being touted around the world as an innovative and optimistic avenue for financing nature conservation and restoration activities, especially given commitments to achieving Global Biodiversity Framework targets for inland waters. Approaches to describing and evaluating 'nature' and its response to conservation actions, are critical components of these markets and need to be consistent, defensible, equitable and pragmatic. Assessment of wetlands poses particular challenges given their dynamic character, key functional role in the landscape and the often-contested nature of their value. This session will explore these challenges and identify key choices and trade-offs facing market designers to enable robust, defensible and equitable assessment of wetlands and the benefits of conservation actions.
Organisers
Dr Kate Brandis, PhD University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Description
This session will deal with a form of river flow management whereby a component of water in dams is specifically allocated for achieving environmental and ecological outcomes. It is often referred to as water for the environment. This session will deal with the ways in which different countries approach this management technique and the outcomes that have been achieved. Achievements may include government policy, water management decision making, or ecological outcomes.
