Abstract
Biodiversity is essential for multiple aspects of human life and well-being, but many current assessments of the functioning of biodiversity and ecosystems, understanding of risks posed by environmental change and the best practice of their management of ecosystems are lacking a unified scientific and conceptual basis. Methods such as scenario analysis, and terms such as ecosystem services, are widely used, but their meaning is understood in many different ways depending on context, user needs and experience of researchers. In order to advance the conceptual basis for ecosystem analysis and management in a rapidly changing world, as well as the ability of young scientists to reflect upon these concepts, we have organised five 2-week-long summer schools in Peyresq, a remote village in the Southern French Alps. In total 173 participants have worked intensively with 69 experienced researchers and a team of conveners and tutors in order to discuss a broad range of views on topics on ecosystem analysis and functioning. Topics ranged from conditions of and threats to various ecosystems due to environmental change, models and scenarios for assessment, stakeholder perceptions and needs for information, to the social and economic contexts for biodiversity. We report our experience from these schools, present the training concept which has emerged from them and suggest lines of further development.
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Notes
For coordinates of involved EU-Projects, see Appendix 2
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Acknowledgments
The Peyresq summer schools would not have been possible without the generous support of the private charity foundation “Peyresq Foyer d’Humanisme”, owner of the buildings used in Peyresq and provider of all local services, based in Bruxelles (Belgium) and directed by a board under the leadership of Mme Mady Smets, Bruxelles. On behalf of the foundation, we also received generous and never-failing support by Dr. Monique Lejoly and Mr. Jean Vancompernolle. Several local staff members have provided enormous help in Peyresq—we particularly want to mention Mme Sylviane Garcia and Mme Sylviane Illy. The excursion was developed together with Dr. Fabien Quétier (Córdoba, Argentina) and supported by the Parc naturel régional du Verdon (Ilias Zinsstag and Gwenaël Barreteau). The summer schools were supported financially by the EU FP5 Concerted Action AVEC (Integrated Assessment of Vulnerable Ecosystems under Global Change, EVK2-CT-2001-20010), the EU FP6 Network of Excellence ALTER-Net (A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Awareness Research Network, http://www.alter-net.info, GOCE-CT-2003-505298), the START programme, the Inter-American Institute, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. On behalf of ALTER-Net, a “school board” assisted in developing the summer school, under the leadership of Mr. Karl Baadsvik (Trondheim, Norway). We once again want to thank all participants and speakers for their personal contributions. We dedicate this paper to the memory of two summer school participants, Marco Hille and Juan Peña, who died terribly early in their promising careers.
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This report was written by W. Cramer, while visiting the Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement (CEREGE), Aix en Provence, France.
Appendices
Appendix 1
List of all participants in the AVEC/ALTER-Net Summer Schools (in brackets year(s) of participation, if no role is indicated, as participant—cities of residence according to our latest information in July 2008)
Aavik, Tsipe, Tartu, EE (2006)
Ahern, Mike, London, UK (speaker 2003)
Alcamo, Joseph, Kassel, DE (speaker 2005, 2007)
Allombert, Sylvain, Poligny, FR (2006)
Arets, Eric, Wageningen, NL (2006)
Baadsvik, Karl, Trondheim NO (chair of board 2006–2008, speaker 2006)
Baca, Andrej, Nitra, SK (2005)
Baxter, Bob, Durham, UK (tutor 2003, 2005)
Bealey, William, Edinburgh, UK (2005, tutor 2006, 2007, 2008)
Beier, Claus, Roskilde, DK (speaker 2005, 2006)
Berkhoff, Karin, Frankfurt/Main, DE (2005)
Bertzky, Monika, Greifswald, DE (2005)
Bianchin, Sylvi, Freiberg, DE (2005)
Biewald, Anne, Potsdam, DE (2003)
Bindi, Marco, Firenze, IT (speaker 2005)
Bodin, Per, Kalmar, SE (2003)
Bohn, Kristin, Jena, DE (2008)
Bomhard, Bastian, Gland, CH (2005)
Bondeau, Alberte, Potsdam, DE (speaker 2005)
Bormann, Helge, Oldenburg, DE (2003)
Boucnikova, Eva, České Budějovice, CZ (2006)
Boven, Liesbet, Leuven, BE (2005)
Bredemeier, Michael, Göttingen, DE (speaker 2006, 2008)
Brittain, Claire, Reading, UK (2006)
Bugmann, Harald, Zürich, CH (speaker 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Cahill, Kimberly Nicholas, Stanford, US (2005)
Callo-Concha, Daniel, Bonn, DE (2007)
Carter, Timothy, Helsinki, FI (speaker all years)
Cavalieri, Sandra, Berlin, DE (2007)
Chen, Youmin, Jena, DE (2003)
Cobben, Marleen, Wageningen, NL (2008)
Colls, Alison, Norwich, UK (2003)
Conti, Georgina, Córdoba, AR (2007)
Coreau, Audrey, Montpellier, FR (2007)
Cormont, Anouk, Wageningen, NL (2008)
Cosor, Georgia, Bucharest, RO (2008)
Costa, Luis, Potsdam, DE (2008)
Costache, Andra, Târgovişte, RO (2003)
Cramer, Wolfgang, Potsdam, DE (convener all years, board member 2006–2008)
Czúcz, Bálint, Vácrátót, HU (2006)
Datcu, Sabina, Bucharest, RO (2006)
De Boeck, Hans, Wilrijk, BE (2006)
De Chazal, Jacqueline, Louvain-la-Neuve, BE (speaker and tutor 2003)
De Dato, Giovanbattista, Viterbo, IT (2003)
De la Vega-Leinert, Anne, Berlin, DE (speaker and tutor 2003, 2005)
Dendoncker, Nicolas, Edinburgh, UK (2005)
Den Uyl, Roos, Utrecht, NL (2008)
Denyer, Joanne, St. Ives, UK (2006)
Didderen, Karin, Wageningen, NL (2007)
Didion, Markus, Zürich, CH (2008)
Dirnböck, Thomas, Wien, AT (2005)
Domptail, Stephanie, Gießen, DE (2008)
Dragne, Dana, Bucharest, RO (2003)
Ekschmitt, Klemens, Gießen, DE (speaker 2003)
Essl, Franz, Wien, AT (2007)
Everaars, Jeroen, Leipzig, DE (2007)
Feehan, Jane, Luxemburg, LU (speaker 2007)
Fischer, Anke, Aberdeen, UK (speaker 2006, 2008)
Fischer-Kowalski, Marina, Wien, AT (speaker 2007, 2008)
Fletcher, Penny, Harpenden, UK (2007)
Frapa, Pierre, Entrevennes, FR (speaker 2003)
Fritsch, Uta, Bolzano, IT (organizer and convener 2003, tutor 2005, 2006, 2007, convener 2008)
Fronzek, Stefan, Helsinki, FI (2003)
Fyllas, Nikolaos, Mytilini, EL (2005)
Gallai, Nicola, Avignon, FR (2006)
Garcia Llorente, Marina, Madrid, ES (2008)
Gaube, Veronika, Wien, AT (2006)
Geiger, Flavia, Wageningen, NL (2007)
Gerbens-Leenes, Winnie, Groningen, NL (2003)
Godbold, Jasmin, Aberdeen, UK (2007)
Goidts, Esther, Louvain-la-Neuve, BE (2005)
Goldin, Sarah Raphaél, Canberra, AU (2008)
Gonzales, Carla, Caparica, PT (2007)
Grabherr, Georg, Wien, AT (speaker 2008)
Graef, Frieder, Müncheberg, DE (2003)
Grossmann, Iris, Geesthacht, DE (2003)
Habeck, Anja, Potsdam, DE (2003)
Haberl, Helmut, Wien, AT (speaker 2006)
Hahn, Katrine, København, DK (2006)
Hájek, Jan, České Budějovice, CZ (2007)
Hájková, Libuše, České Budějovice, CZ (2007)
Hallstan, Simon, Uppsala, SE (2007)
Hanspach, Jan, Halle, DE (2008)
Heinrichs, Steffi, Göttingen, DE (2007)
Hille, Marco, Hopsten, DE (2003)
Hippler, Dorothee, Bern, CH (2003)
Hirschnitz, Martin, Greifswald, DE (2007)
Holcová, Veronika, České Budějovice, CZ (2007)
Hudek, Csilla, Budapest, HU (2008)
Imrichová, Zuzana, Aberdeen, UK (board member 2006, participant 2005, tutor 2006)
Jačková, Kateřina, Praha, CZ (2008)
Jaeger, Carlo, Potsdam, DE (speaker 2003)
James, Marianne, Aberdeen, UK (2006)
Jedrzejczak, Marcin, Firenze, IT (2003)
Jones, Laurence, Bangor, UK (2003)
Jung, Martin, Jena, DE (2005)
Jurasinski, Gerald, Bayreuth, DE (2003)
Juszczak, Radek, Poznan, PL (2003)
Kahmen, Ansgar, Berkeley CA, US (2003)
Kallache, Malaak, Paris, FR (2007)
Keskitalo, Carina, Umeå, SE (speaker 2006)
Kivimäki, Sanna, Edinburgh, UK (2008)
Klok, Chris, Wageningen, NL (speaker 2007)
Knohl, Alexander, Zürich, CH (2003)
Knorn, Jan, Berlin, DE (2007)
Koca, Deniz, Lund, SE (2003)
Koch, Katja, Marburg, DE (2003)
Koetz, Thomas, Barcelona, ES (2005)
Körner, Christian, Basel, CH (speaker 2003, 2008)
Kröel-Dulay, György, Vácrátót, HU (2005)
Krukenberg, Brigitta, Potsdam, DE (organizer 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Kujawa, Krzysztof, Poznan, PL (2003)
Kundzewicz, Zbigniew, Poznan, PL (speaker 2003)
Küster, Eva, Halle, DE (2007)
Kyparissis, Asterios, Mytilini, EL (2006)
Langerwisch, Fanny, Potsdam, DE (2008)
Lavorel, Sandra, Grenoble, FR (speaker 2006, 2007)
Lazzarotto, Patrick, Zürich, CH (2005)
Lee, Peter, Canberra, AU (2008)
Leemans, Rik, Wageningen, NL (convener all years)
Leitinger, Georg, Bolzano, IT (2005)
Lellei-Kovács, Eszter, Vácrátót, HU (2007)
Leuzinger, Sebastian, Basel, CH (2005)
Liira, Jaan, Tartu, EE (2005)
Linard, Catherine, Louvain-la-Neuve, BE (2006)
Liswanti, Sudaryati Nining, Bogor, ID (2007)
Loritz, Holger, Halle, DE (2006)
Lotze-Campen, Hermann, Potsdam. DE (speaker 2008)
Lucht, Petra, Berlin, DE (speaker 2006)
Lucht, Wolfgang, Potsdam, DE (speaker 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Lundin, Lars, Uppsala, SE (board member 2006–2008, speaker 2005)
Lütkemeier, Sabine, Potsdam, DE (organizer 2003, convener 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Lütz, Michael, Dresden, DE (2005)
Maceviciute, Ausra, Kalmar, SE (2003)
Machado, Elia Axinia, Worcester MA, US (2005)
Manning, Adrian, Canberra, AU (2006)
Marazzi, Luca, Milano, IT (2008)
Maxim, Laura, Guyancourt, FR (2005)
Meffert, Peter, Berlin, DE (2008)
Meier, Elle, Tartu, EE (2008)
Metzger, Marc, Edinburgh, UK (speaker 2003, speaker and tutor 2005)
Meybeck, Michel, Paris, FR (speaker 2005)
Mölder, Andreas, Göttingen, DE (2006)
Mooney, Harold A, Stanford CA, US (speaker 2008)
Morales, Pablo, Lund, DE (2003)
Munro, Nicola, Canberra, AU (2007)
Mustin, Karen, Aberdeen, UK (2007)
Ness, Barry, Lund, SE (2006)
Nicholls, Robert, Southampton, UK (speaker 2003)
Nilsson, Carin, Lund, SE (2005)
Nghiêm, Sr. Tù, Loubès-Bernac, FR (speaker 2005)
Nghiêm, Sr. Mãn, Loubès-Bernac, FR (speaker 2005)
Nur, Muhammad Syukri, Bogor, ID (2003)
Ohlberger, Jan, Berlin, DE (2007)
Ónodi, Gábor, Vácrátót, HU (2008)
Ostapowicz, Katarzyna Anna, Kraków, PL (2005)
Padmanaba, Michael, Bogor, ID (2008)
Parr, Terry, Lancaster, UK (speaker 2007)
Patt, Anthony G., Laxenburg, AT (speaker 2007)
Peh, Kelvin, Leeds, UK (2006)
Peña, Juan, Alicante, ES (2006)
Piquer-Rodriguez, Maria, Sydney, AU (2006)
Pompe, Sven, Halle, DE (2007)
Popp, Alexander, Potsdam, DE (2006, tutor 2007)
Portillo, Carlos, Edmonton, CA (2007)
Post, Joachim, Oberpfaffenhofen, DE (2003)
Poulsen, Signe, Aarhus, DK (2005)
Prior, Gina, Aberdeen, UK (2008)
Proença, Vânia, Lisboa, PT (2008)
Quétier, Fabien, Córdoba, AR (2003)
Qvenild, Marte, Lillehammer, NO (2008)
Rahmstorf, Stefan, Potsdam, DE (speaker 2005, 2006)
Reckien, Diana, Potsdam, DE (2005, tutor 2006, 2008)
Reidsma, Pytrik, Wageningen, NL (2003, tutor 2005)
Reu, Björn, Jena, DE (2007)
Reusswig, Fritz, Potsdam, DE (speaker 2007)
Rickebusch, Sophie, Edinburgh, UK (2003)
Rienks, Willem, Wageningen, NL (2005)
Rounsevell, Mark, Edinburgh, UK (speaker 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Rüger, Nadja, Leipzig, DE (2006)
Russo, Danilo, Napoli, IT (speaker 2005)
Sabellek, Katharina, Bonn, DE (2008)
Sandlund, Odd Terje, Trondheim, NO (speaker 2006)
Santoso, Levania, Bogor, ID (2006)
Saudyte, Silvija, Girionys, LT (2003)
Schäfer-Guignier, Otto, Langerwisch, DE (speaker 2003)
Schinninger, Ingeborg, Zürich, ZH (2006)
Schröter, Dagmar, Wien, AT (speaker and tutor 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, convener 2006, 2007, 2008)
Schulze, Roland, Scottsville, ZA (speaker 2005)
Schüttler, Elke, Leipzig, DE (2006)
Semeraro, Teodoro, Lecce, IT (2008)
Settele, Josef, Halle, DE (speaker 2008)
Sharman, Martin, Bruxelles, BE (speaker 2006, 2007, 2008)
Siepel, Henk, Wageningen, NL (board member 2006–2008, speaker 2007)
Sillence, Gordon, Monchique, PT (speaker 2003)
Singh, Simron Jit, Wien, AT (speaker 2008)
Sitch, Stephen, Wallingford, UK (speaker 2003)
Slábová, Markéta, České Budějovice, CZ (2005)
Smith, Pete, Aberdeen, UK (speaker 2003)
Sowerby, Alwyn, Bangor, UK (2003)
Špulerová, Jana, Bratislava, SK (board member 2007–2008, participant 2007)
Stagl, Sigrid, Brighton, UK (speaker 2006, 2007)
Steffen, Will, Canberra, AU (speaker 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Sterk, Marjolein, Wageningen, NL (2008)
Straskrabova, Viera, České Budějovice, CZ (speaker 2006, 2007)
Sutton, Mark, Edinburgh, UK (speaker 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Svarstad, Hanne, Oslo, NO (speaker 2007, 2008)
Szablowska-Midor, Aneta, Kraków, PL (2005)
Szabó, Rebeka, Vácrátót, HU (2006)
Talkner, Ulrike, Göttingen, DE (2006)
Tapella, Esteban, Rivadavia, AR (2008)
Tarnavsky, Elena, London, UK (2005)
Thapa, Shova, Brighton, UK (2006)
Thibon, Maxime, Montpellier, FR (2006)
Thomson, Bruce, Oxford, UK (2006)
Tietjen, Britta, Potsdam, DE (2005)
Timonen, Jonna, Jyväskylä, FI (2008)
Trnka, Miroslav, Brno, CZ (2005)
Vancompernolle, Jean, Wemmel, BE (speaker and guide all years)
Van Delden, Hedwig, Maastricht, NL (2003)
Van den Hove, Sybille, Valldoreix, ES (speaker 2005, 2006, 2008)
Van der Leeuw, Sander, Tempe AZ, US (speaker 2008)
Van Gelder, Arnold, Wageningen, NL (2007)
Vandewalle, Marie, Lund, SE (2005)
Vassolo, Sara, Hannover, DE (speaker 2003)
Vidal Legaz, Beatriz, Almería, ES (2007)
Vihervaara, Petteri, Turku, FI (2007)
Villamor, Grace, Los Baños, PH (2006)
Vohland, Katrin, Potsdam, DE (speaker 2008)
Vrba, Jaroslav, České Budějovice, CZ (board member 2006–2008, speaker 2008)
Watt, Allan, Edinburgh, UK (speaker 2007, convener 2008)
Westerberg, Vanja, Montpellier, FR (2008)
Wildenberg, Martin, Wien, AU (2006)
Wilhelm, Susann, Berlin, DE (2005)
Wilkerson, Brooke, Bergen, NO (2008)
Willaarts, Bárbara, Almería, ES (2006)
Wolters, Volkmar, Gießen, DE (speaker 2008)
Xie, Yun, Beijing, CN (2003)
Yohe, Gary, Middletown CT, US (speaker 2003)
Zaehle, Sönke, Paris, FR (tutor 2003)
Zaks, David, Madison WI, US (2005)
Zebisch, Marc, Bolzano, IT (speaker 2005)
Zemanova, Katerina, České Budějovice, CZ (2005)
Zimmermann, Patrick, Bolzano, IT (2008)
Zurek, Monika, Rome, IT (speaker 2003)
Appendix 2
Coordinates of EU Projects with relation to the Summer Schools
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ACCELERATES, Assessing Climate Change Effects on Land use and Ecosystems; from Regional Analysis to The European Scale, EU FP5, EVK2-CT-2000-00061, http://www.geo.ucl.ac.be/accelerates/
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ALARM, Assessing Large Scale Risks for Biodiversity with Tested Methods, EU FP6, GOCE-CT-2003-506675, http://www.alarmproject.net/alarm/
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ALTER-Net, A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Awareness Research Network, GOCE-CT-2003-505298, http://www.alter-net.info
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ATEAM, Advanced Terrestrial Ecosystem Analysis and Modelling, EVK2-2000-00075, http://www.pik-potsdam.de/ateam
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AVEC, Integrated Assessment of Vulnerable Ecosystems under Global Change, EVK2-CT-2001-20010, http://www.pik-potsdam.de/avec
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BioAssess, The Biodiversity Assessment Tools Project, EU FP5, EVK2-CT-2000-57122, http://www.nbu.ac.uk/bioassess/
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CarboEurope-IP, Assessment of the European Terrestrial Carbon Balance, EU FP6, GOCE-CT-2003-505572, http://www.carboeurope.org/
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ENSEMBLES, EU FP6, GOCE-CT-2003-505539, http://ensembles-eu.metoffice.com/
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NeWater, New Approaches to Adaptive Water Management under Uncertainty, EU FP 6, GOCE-CT2003-51179, http://www.newater.info/
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VISTA, Vulnerability of Ecosystem Services to Land Use Change in Traditional Agricultural Landscapes, EU FP6, EVK2-2001-000356
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Cramer, W., Fritsch, U., Leemans, R. et al. Training future experts in “biodiversity and ecosystem services”: a progress report. Reg Environ Change 8, 125–134 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-008-0054-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-008-0054-8