Swamp Stomp
Volume 14, Issue 20
Wetlands 2014
Wetlands programs and jobs are not limited to the United States. This year an important conference on wetlands is being held in Spain. It is entitled Wetlands 2014: Wetlands Biodiversity and Services: Tools for Socio-Ecological Development.
The Conference will take place at the Huesca Congress Palace (Palacio de Congresos de Huesca) in the city of Huesca, Huesca Province, one of the three provinces of the Aragón Autonomous Community, in Spain (in northeast Spain). The Conference Venue is close to a number of hotels. A short walk of 10-15 minutes is required for reaching the Conference Venue from any hotel in Huesca and a walk of 20-25 minutes from the most distant places of Huesca.
Wetlands 2014 will be a forum for meeting farmers, managers, decision makers, GOs and NGOs, scientists, professionals, etc., to present experiences, prospects, and expectations on the integration of land, water, biodiversity and other resources for contributing to a wise socio-ecological development.
The agenda includes speakers from all around the world and some pretty amazing field trips. Particular emphasis will be given to topics dealing with wetlands restoration and creation and the integration of wetlands with socio-ecological issues: the contribution of wetlands as part of the landscape in order to use the benefits and services provided by wetlands; restoring and creating wetlands as key points for ecotourism and development of rural areas; use and valuation of wetlands for providing natural resources and alleviating poverty, strategies and practical solutions for environmental conflicts related to wetlands, the contribution of wetlands to mitigate global change.
The conference committee has issued a first call for papers and they are also looking for sponsors.
More information about this conference can be found on their website: http://www.wetlands2014.eu/
I now many of you will be constrained by budgets and travel restrictions. However, this conference is worth keeping an eye on. Even if you can only access it by way of the website there are a couple of important economic issues that serve as a focus.
Wetlands have become a major boom and bust to many economies. A recent Forbes Magazine article entitled, “How Private Capital is Restoring US Wetlands” focused its attention of the economic benefits of wetlands. Not to mention the numbers of jobs associated with this industry. Wetlands have become a major jobs and environmental recovery point of interest. This is both in the US and internationally.
So if you can find some to time to hop over the pond to Spain in September it may be worth your time.
Have a great week!
Marc