Events 2011
Inception Workshop: "The Future of Rice in Wayanad"
February 16th - 18th, 2011
The BioDIVA Inception workshop presented the starting point of an inter- and transdisciplinary research endeavour on the social-ecological complexities of rice production systems in Wayanad district. The overall aim was to introduce the use of participatory approaches including tools of land use modelling. During this, the development of a ‘sustainable future for rice production’ in Wayanad has been discussed among all workshop participants in order to draw up action points for collaboration and identify criteria and special features that would impact on the study.
The workshop was organised in Kalpetta by our partner, the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (India) and BioDIVA International.
Functions and Services of Biodiversity
June 20th - 22nd, 2011
International Conference at the University of Göttingen with key note speeches and talks concerning three main topics: (1) Biodiversity and trophic interactions, (2) Biodiversity, carbon and productivity, (3) Biodiversity benefits and sustainability.
At the third day of the conference workshops to each topic were held. Lydia Betz attended the
third workshop (Biodiversity benefits and sustainability); four issues were given to discuss:
- Conserving rare species vs. conserving biodiversity for benefits and sustainability
- Linking results of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments with real world
agricultural and silvicultural activities - Spatial and temporal scales in biodiversity–ecosystem functioning research and the
ecosystem service approach. - Bridging divides between ecology, socio-economics and land-use governance
The results of the lively discussion will be condensed and sent to all participants and might
lead to a discussion paper.
Functions and Services of Biodiversity Conference Website
(De-)Constructing Biodiversity
September 23rd - 24th, 2011
International and multidisciplinary workshop at the University of Göttingen discussing different perspectives on biodiversity.
With their presentation titled Who cares? Biodiversity in Agriculture, Isabelle Kunze and Martina Padmanabhan contributed to the panel Power Relations, Stakeholders and the Negotiation of Biodiversity.
Scenario Workshop
November 18th, 2011
BioDIVA and its project partner MSSRF conducted a Scenario Workshop with local officials and land users. The goal of the workshop was to sensitise relevant policy actors to land use change and its contributing factors in Kalpetta district. Representatives of the local district administration, local CBOs, selected staff from MSSRF, local farmers and other land users attended. Highlights of the programme included a brief outline of BioDIVA's rationale, intermediate results form the research by the disciplinary tandems and stakeholder feedback workshops. Based on this, all participants were invited to identify different scenarios for land-use change, identify factors leading to certain scenarios and developing a vision for a sustainable and equitable future. The workshop closed with plans for the formation of a working group to develop the ideas raised at the workshop further.