Martin Welp

The Use of Decision Support Tools in Participatory River Basin Management

Abstract There are growing demands for effective public participation in river basin management. These are posed among others by the proposed EU Water Framework Directive as well as international conventions and policy documents. The demands will raise a need for guidance on exactly how the public is to be involved. In public participation ‘decision support tools’ (DST) and integrated modelling can have a role to play. Many computer tools not only can serve as tools for analysis for experts, but also as vehicles for communication, training, forecasting and experimentation. Illustrated by selected examples of software a range of tools and their potential applications are presented. Essential for the added-value of computer tools in stakeholder participation, in comparison to other methods like expert presentations, fact sheets, etc., is the way they are used. Lessons can be drawn from projects where computer tools were used in other policy areas. Within an European research project on energy and climate policy (ULYSSES) integrated models on global climate change were used in integrated assessment (IA) focus groups. A web-based tutorial for the use of computer models was developed. It gives guidelines for the design and setup of participatory arrangements in conjunction with computer models. Besides procedural recommendations lessons can be drawn concerning the kind of output the tools should provide and the early involvement of users is modelling and software development.

Climate change adaptation and sustainable regional development: a case study for the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany

Located in a relatively dry region and characterized by mainly sandy soils, the German Federal State of Brandenburg (surrounding the capital city of Berlin) is especially vulnerable to climate change impacts (e.g., summer droughts) and cascading effects on ecological systems (e.g., decreasing ground water tables, water stress, fire risk, productivity losses) with socioeconomic implications. Furthermore, a complex interplay of unemployment, rural exodus, and an aging population challenges this structurally weak region. We discuss adaptation measures that are either implemented or planned, as well as research into adaptation strategies to climate change for the sectors forestry, agriculture, and water management as well as in nature conservation in light of socioeconomic and ecological challenges and benefits. In doing so, we adopt a systemic view of Brandenburg where the sectors discussed are seen as subsystems embedded in a larger regional system. This at least partially holarchical approach enables the identification of conflicts between adaptation measures, but also of synergies among the sectors that pertain to successful adaptation to climate change. The insights gained ultimately highlight the need for cross-sectoral, adaptive management practices that jointly target a sustainable regional development.

Stakeholder Dialogues in Natural Resources Management

CONCEPTULAIZATION ACTIVE EXPERIMENTATION CONCRETE EXPERIENCE

Defining Integrated Coastal Management for the Baltic Sea Region

Coasts around the world are subject to intense and increasing pressures, with environmental and economic implications for present and future generations. Housing, tourism, industry, marine transport, fishing and aquaculture are some examples of competing coastal resource uses. In the Baltic Sea region environmental problems related to these human activities include water pollution, loss of biodiversity and negative impacts on the aesthetic qualities of coastal landscapes. The deterioration of the quality of the environment and natural resources in many coastal regions has been recently noted e.g. by the European Commission (1995: 5).

Providing Urban Ecosystem Services for Human Well-Being: A Comparison of Exemplary Institutional Arrangements in China and Germany

Urbanization is a worldwide phenomenon and a major driver of global environmental change. For example, 75 % of the annual CO2 emissions are produced in cities and towns. Currently, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2050, this proportion is predicted to increase to 66 % (UN World Urbanization Prospects 2014).

Forest-Related Climate Mitigation Options: Dialogues for Exploring Opportunities and Threats

Climate change mitigation will require substantial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and, subsequently, considerable changes in the global energy system. When, how, and at what costs (or benefits) a transition to carbon–reduced or carbon-free economies can be achieved is subject to heated debates. Forest protection is, besides increased energy efficiency and different technologies for producing climate-friendly energy, a way to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Recent estimates published in the IPCC WGI Summary for policy makers (IPCC 2007) indicate that land use change contributes to greenhouse gas emissions to a considerable extent. Of the annual CO2 emissions of eight GtC (gigatons of carbon), about 1.6 GtC (20%) are associated with land use change, although the estimates are quite uncertain.1 This is more than what the entire transport sector emits annually. Part of this land use change is associated with global deforestation and forest degradation.

Ein Realitätscheck durch interdisziplinäre Dialoge

Klimaforscher(innen) sind verstarkt um einen Dialog mit verschiedenen Akteuren bemuht. Insbesondere wenn es um Fragen des Energiesystems, der Klimapolitik oder des Klimawandels geht, ist das Wissen gesellschaftlicher Akteure von Bedeutung. Ein Dialog im Wissenschaftsbereich bedeutet wechselseitiges Lernen.