The final goal of the EUROWET project is to integrate the substantial multidisciplinary European research in wetlands to help attain the sustainable management of the water cycle. This will be achieved by the translation of state-of-the art science developed at both national and European levels, into practical guidance for end-users. This will be achieved by a comprehensive review, expert assessment and a focussed dissemination strategy. There is considerable scientific knowledge and technical experience gained in diverse aspects of wetland science and management including hydrology, biogeochemistry, ecology restoration, socio-economic and policy analysis. However the results of research and management experience are still too fragmentary and not sufficiently orientated to problem-solving or simply inadequately framed to be effectively transferred to, or used by, stakeholders and policy-makers. Simultaneously the general outcome of the scientific research has been increased awareness of the significance of wetlands in delivering goods and services important for human welfare including quality of life, biodiversity conservation and maintenance or enhancement of environment quality. Despite this wetlands continue to be degraded and lost throughout Europe without adequate consideration of the wider benefits to be achieved from this management. The new Water Framework Directive (WFD) promotes a unique opportunity to redress this problem by means of the holistic, integrated approach to water management. There is currently in preparation horizontal guidance on Wetlands as part of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) process. There is however work still to be done on providing more specific scientific and technical guidance on the effective implementation of the Directive with respect to wetlands. This is particularly the case in relation to Integrated River Management, the CIS cluster within which wetlands are being considered in the WFD.
Evidence is compelling for a positive correlation between urbanisation and increment of allergic sensitisation and diseases. The reason for this association is not clear to date. Some data point to a pro-allergic effect of anthropogenic factors on susceptible individuals. Data analysing the impact of environmental - natural and anthropogenic - factors on the allergenicity of allergen carriers such as pollen grains are scarce, and if applicable only taken from in vitro experimental designs. This study will analyse one of the most common allergy inducers in northern Europe - the birch pollen. Under natural exposure conditions, birch pollen will be analysed with respect to their allergenicity. Within an interdisciplinary research team this study will evaluate the effect of natural (e.g. soil, climate, genetic background) and anthropogenic (e.g. traffic pollutants) factors on birch pollen in a holistic approach including analysis of allergen bioavailability, release of pollen associated lipid mediators from birch pollen grains, in vitro immunostimulatory activity and in vivo allergenic potential. These data collected in the time course of three years will significantly add to our understanding how urbanisation and climate change influence the allergenicity of birch pollen and will help us in the future to set up primary prevention studies.
Pilze sind eine der am diversesten, jedoch am wenigsten untersuchten mikrobiellen Gruppen in marinen Gewässern. Eine Untergruppe der Pilze, kurz als Chytridien bekannt, umfasst häufig auftretende Parasiten auf Phytoplankton, welche eine starke Belastung für das Phytoplanktonwachstum, die Entwicklung von Algenblüten und deren Populationsdynamiken darstellen. Parasitäre Chytridien befallen alle Hauptgruppen von Phytoplankton und treten bevorzugt in Küstenregionen mit hoher Phytoplanktonbiomasse und Produktivität auf. Die Auswirkungen von parasitären Pilzen auf Stoffkreisläufe und die Funktion von Ökosystemen sind jedoch kaum bekannt bzw. quantifiziert. Die Emmy Noether-Nachwuchsgruppe wird die funktionelle und quantitative Rolle parasitärer Pilze für die Phytoplanktonproduktivität und den Stoffkreislauf in Brack- und Meerwasser untersuchen. Unsere Ziele sind (1) Betrachtung der Wechselwirkungen zwischen Phytoplankton und Chytridien auf Einzelzell-Ebene, (2) Untersuchungen der integrativen Rolle von Chytridien in aquatischen Nahrungsnetzen und (3) Aufklärung der Auswirkungen von parasitären Pilzen auf Remineralisierungs- und Sedimentationsprozesse. Unser umfassender Ansatz beinhaltet experimentelle Studien mit Phytoplanktonâ€ÌPilz Co-Kulturen sowie mit natürlichen Planktongemeinschaften, mittels Analysen auf Zell- und Mikoskalen-Ebene bis hin zu mesoskaligen Stoffflüssen entlang der Wassersäule. Im Wesentlichen werden wir den Transfer von Kohlenstoff und Stickstoff vom Phytoplankton durch das pelagische Nahrungsnetz innerhalb der photischen Zone bis hin zum Absinken als Detritus in die Tiefe verfolgen. Das Projektergebnis soll ein ganzheitliches Verständnis der Rolle von Chytridien an der Basis aquatischer Nahrungsnetze und Produktivität fördern, einschließlich der zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen und Größenordnungen. Angesichts der potenziellen Signifikanz parasitärer Pilze für die Abschwächung von Produktivität, Sinkstoffflüssen aber auch von toxischen Algenblüten in Küstengebieten, sollen die gewonnenen Daten mit lokalen und globalen Stoffkreisläufen verknüpft und in zukünftige Entscheidungen zum Küstenmanagement implementiert werden.
In order to understand the interlinked problems in the Nexus (Latin = connection, linkage, interrelation) of water, energy and food security, close cooperation between scientists and practitioners from different fields is necessary. The present and future challenge of a reliable supply with water, energy and food is an example, where isolated considerations do not lead to viable solutions. Sustainable action and meaningful research in these highly interconnected fields require a holistic and comprehensive perspective and a new approach. In this sense, a collaborative research structure with a holistic view on the Nexus of Water, Energy and Food security was established in 2013 at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences. The project bundles some of the research efforts of 11 professors from different faculties and institutes. The researchers jointly work on initiating new cooperation projects with partners from industry, academia and civil society. Together they aim at exploring new technologies and applying new approaches to solve major issues of efficiency and sustainability in resource use.
The main goal of this project is to analyse how policy instruments can support greening of the markets and stimulate more sustainable consumption patterns by individuals and households. From the extensive insight of SERI, Lund University IIIEE and TNO with other projects on Integrated Product Policy, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Sustainable Transitions, it is crystal clear that simple policy approaches will not work. Consumers are often not as sovereign as thought, since their behaviour is shaped by a multitude of factors they cannot influence. Many sustainable business initiatives have died out in silence due to a lack of reward in the market or lack of consumer acceptance. And where simple, direct interventions like regulation or financial instruments sometimes are successful, they can also appear to be too crude, or even inadequate, when the sustainability problem is caused by 'lock-in' problems or other market failures. We therefore propose the following division in WPs so that the project looks at policy instruments and business initiatives from a systemic, holistic perspective: 1. Inventory and assessment of policy instruments, 2. Inventory and assessment of business initiatives, 3. Analysis of theories on innovation, governance and change of consumer behaviour for SCP, 4. Analysis of gaps and barriers for implementation (e.g. geographical and sectoral: where are proven instruments not yet applied? Or systemic/holistic: how should instruments be used in a more coherent way, or which new types of instruments should be applied, to realise the type of long term and significant changes that are related to the SCP agenda? Etc.), 5. Developing guidelines and recommendations on SCP policy. The consortium is already involved in most major SCP projects at national, European and global level and hence can create excellent leverage and connections with e.g. the UN 10 Year framework of Programs on SCP, etc. Prime Contractor: The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO); Delft; Netherlands.
Vor dem Hintergrund des starken Wachstums afrikanischer Großstädte und damit zusammenhängender Versorgungs- und Umweltprobleme gewinnt die sich dort besonders stark entwickelnde urbane und peri-urbane Landwirtschaft zunehmend an wissenschaftlichem Interesse. Im Gegensatz zu den auf äußerst nährstoffarmen, erosionsgefährdeten Böden des Hinterlandes vorherrschenden subsistenzorientierten Landnutzungssystemen ist die UPL durch hohe Inputintensitäten gekennzeichnet. Allerdings gibt es derzeit kaum grundlagenorientierte Untersuchungen zu Produktivität, Stoffumsätzen und umweltrelevanten Externalitäten der UPL, die tierische und pflanzenbauliche Produktionssysteme vereint. In diesen Forschungsprojekt sollen am Beispiel der nigrischen Hauptstadt Niamey Stoffflüsse in der UPL in exemplarisch ausgewählten Haushalten gemessen und in ihren wesentlichen Kenngrößen modelliert werden. Diese Untersuchungen werden anschließend zur Prüfung von Vorschlägen zur Steigerung der Ressourceneffizienz herangezogen. Zu diesem Zweck werden in einem ersten Schritt in 20 nach dem Grad ihrer Integration von Tierhaltung und Ackerbau ausgewählten Beispielbetrieben die horizontalen Einträge und Verluste von Stickstoff (N), Phosphor (p) und Kalium (k) an den Schnittstellen Boden-Pflanze-Tier im Jahresverlauf erfasst. Auf einigen dieser Betriebe sollen zu repräsentativen Zeitpunkten atmosphärische Emissionen (Denitrifikations- und Ammoniakverluste) mit einem photoakustischen Spurenglasanalysator ermittelt und sickerungsbedingte Nährstoffverluste (N, P, und K) durch den Einbau von Si-Carbid-Saugplatten gemessen werden. In einem zweiten Schritt wird der Einfluss gezielter Verbesserungsmaßnahmen im Stoffmanagement (Einsatz einer Einstreu von Stroh und Rohphosphat in der stationären Haltung von Tieren, kontrollierte Kompostierung des Tierdungs) auf die atmosphärischen N-Verluste und Dungqualität geprüft. Im dritten Schritt soll der Einfluss verschiedener Intensitäts- und Integrationsstufen der UPL auf die erfassten Stoffflüsse im Kontinuum Boden-Pflanze-Tier-Umwelt mittels eines bio-physikalischen Models abgebildet werden.
Both baobab and tamarind are plant species with high potential for arid and semi-arid areas in the developing world: they can provide food, medicine, wood and a number of secondary processed products for income generation that can help to meet basic needs of an increasing number of people in a context of decreasing land availability. The project aims at developing sustainable production systems of baobab and tamarind in four West-African countries based on characterisation, conservation and use of local genetic resources. This is expected to have a positive impact on food security and income generation in the countries included in the project. Issues of new crop/niche development are addressed through a holistic research approach and multidisciplinary research activities. The strategic overall objectives of the project that will be addressed are: evaluation and characterisation of germplasm collected in different ecological zones in Benin, Ghana, Mali and Senegal; eco-physiological characterisation of field and greenhouse-grown material; domestication of superior germplasm material; development of adapted cropping techniques; development of adapted plant material for introduction into (traditional and improved) agroforestry systems; evaluation of nutritional/medicinal composition of different plant parts; improvement of processing/transformation of the species products; and development of (inter-)national marketing strategy. The project combines activities of research, capacity building and transfer to bridge the gap between knowledge to successful application of the results by the end users. The work plan is divided into 6 work packages and a documentation and information dissemination work package.
In the South-Indian city of Chennai (formerly called Madras), disastrous tropical monsoon linked with excessive precipitation frequently lead to wide-flat floods in the coastal plains. Caused by rapid urbanisation, the population in urban and periurban areas is more and more affected by these events. Besides the marginalised population living in disfavoured areas, increasingly also the more wealthy population that settles in flood prone areas is affected. Interdisciplinary assessments are needed to explain the complex causes of floods. The project analysed environmental aspects of risk exposure as well as socioeconomic aspects of risk perceptions and response strategies. By combining natural-scientific with socio-scientific approaches, a holistic perspective of the complex reasons and impacts of flooding could be covered. The project consisted of the following steps: 1. Analysis of flood risk exposure: Physio-geographic, hydrological and meteorological realities in risk areas were assessed using remote sensing (RS) data and geographical information systems (GIS). 2. Analysis of risk perception and management: Affected marginalised poor segments of the population, affected middle class groups as well as local planning authorities were interviewed to analyse local perceptions of floods and dominant management strategies. 3. Development of a flood risk map: The results of the risk assessment were integrated in an interactive flood risk map. The map - using several different layers - functions as a flood risk management tool including often neglected socioeconomic and socio-cultural parameters which reflect local vulnerability. 4. Holding of two workshops: A policy workshop with different stakeholders involved in flood management and affected by floods was held in Chennai in August 2007. This workshop was to foster communication and dialogue between different stakeholders and to create awareness on the current situation and problems in the area. A roundtable with the partners from India and organisations dealing with flood management and flood relief measures took place in October 2007 in Freiburg in order to present and discuss the findings and to strengthen future co-operation, communication and networks.
Today noise still belongs to the most concerned environmental pollutants. This is an essential societal problem, and-transportation is seen as the primary source. Accepting mobility as a basic human need and as an essential precondition for maintaining economic prosperity and wealth in an enlarging Europe, it is clear that the adverse effects of noise must be reduced while facing a continued increase in freight and passenger transport. CALM II aims at the synchronisation and encouragement of European transport noise research through an holistic system approach involving all related research areas. It is designed to facilitate the networking of organisations, the co-ordination of activities and the exchange and dissemination of knowledge. CALM II w ill -optimise research efforts -identify synergies between noise research objectives -identify remaining research needs -check the actual state-of-the-art of noise abatement technologies and support their industrial implementation. By involving the most relevant stakeholders from European and national activities from road, rail, aeronautic and maritime transport as well as complementary research issues such as health and socio-economic aspect, the European Noise Working Groups and the respective European Research Advisory Councils, CALM II will support the European Commission in setting up the agenda for future transport noise research and development. The outcome will be published in the form of 'Community Noise Research Strategy Plans' and the CALM II Consortium will use all modes of modern communication, electronically as well as brochures, papers, presentations and discussions at events to disseminate the results and enhance the Coordination of European noise research. Altogether CALM II will essentially contribute to the vision for 2020 'to avoid harmful effects of noise from all sources and preserve quiet areas.
In pedology, soilscapes are characterised by a typical spatial and taxonomic relation between the soils, as well as by the relation between the soils and other landform and landscape characteristics. These landscape characteristics as driving forces for soil formation show local, regional and supra-regional components. It is therefore important to gather and incorporate information about the soil forming factors not only from a specific sampling point, but also from its larger spatial surroundings for reasonable descriptions of the complex soil-landscape relations. Therefore, multi- or hyper-scale approaches are required, which however, are rarely reported in literature. Moreover, most studies are lacking any interpretations and concepts for the description of soil formation, although these are most crucial for describing and understanding the complex environmental processes and interactions of landscapes and soils.The aim of this project is to develop a new hyper-scale mapping approach as well as a new theoretical concept for its pedologic interpretation. Under the overarching goal of a new spatially contextualized soil formation theory the objective of the project is to achieve more holistic descriptions of soil and environmental formation but also the optimization of spatial prediction models for estimating soil properties functions and threats. This is urgently needed in order to meet the increasing global demand for accurate and high-resolution soil information to estimate and handle the impacts of global climate change, population growth, food security, and bio energy.The framework, which will be developed, applied, tested and validated for several landscapes around the world in this project, focuses on determining the influence of local, regional and supra-regional landscape surface shape on soil formation in terms of hyper-scale digital terrain analysis and tries to reveal the interactions of relief with other environmental covariates on different spatial scales. The objectives are (i) to develop a new hyper-scale terrain analysis method, (ii) to apply, develop and/or adapt specific data analysis and data mining approaches to derive the information required for pedological interpretations and as an integrative part (iii) to develop a new theoretical framework for soil formation analysis. This will provide a) information on the specific influence of local to supra-regional parts of environmental covariates on soil formation, b) approaches to visualize the geomorphic systems interacting with other covariates and jointly influence soil formation, c) approaches to derive information on the interactions between different geomorphic features and scales, as well as d) information on the complex interactions between geomorphic and other environmental covariates at different scales to derive better knowledge about the spatial distribution as well as the genesis of one of our most important environmental resources - soil.
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