1:. Introduction: Water-soil-vegetation relationships in the natural Biebrza wetlands

This session shall introduce the issue of interrelations in the water-soil-vegetation system in Biebrza valley. The focus will be on the natural character of the Biebrza wetlands as a background and reference for study of more or less transformed wetlands elsewhere.

1.1 Wetlands in the hydrological systems.

1.2 Water-related physical attributes of organic soils of natural wetlands - basic, retention and hydraulic properties.

1.3 Wetland vegetation - background concepts (influence of habitat and management, natural vs. seminatural wetlands, zonation, structure of phytosociological and ecological classifications).

1.4 Characterisation of major vegetation types in undrained wetland habitats (examples from the Biebrza Valley), understanding natural zonation.

2:. Hydrology and soil properties of organic wetlands: Biebrza as an example of relationships in wetlands - transition from natural to transformed

This session shall present, based on the examples from the Biebrza valley, different wetland sites differing in the degree of human domination. The characteristic features and relations are described and analysed, especially in the water and soil aspects.

2.1 Hydrology of the Biebrza Upper Basin.

2.2 Flooding and Inundation in the Lower Biebrza Basin.

2.3 Water-related physical attributes of organic soils of transformed wetlands.

2.4 Water quality aspects in the hydrology of wetlands.

3:. Management and restoration of wetlands differing in the degree of human disturbance

This session presents different case studies in which different wetland types will be presented also differing in the degree of human disturbance. The extent, dominant processes, consequences of human use, changes in vegetation patterns and ecosystem functioning, management issues and restoration efforts will be discussed.
This session will go deeply in promising new management practices and policies for effective restoration of wetlands.

Part 1

3.1 Characterisation of major vegetation types in drained wetland habitats (examples from the Biebrza Valley), changes in vegetation patterns after drainage, role of management in suboptimal hydrological conditions.

3.2 Spontaneous secondary succession in drained and not managed wetlands - information from spatial analyses, rate of changes in time and management solutions.

3.3 The impact of land use changes and management on the trophic status and biodiversity of wetlands.

3.4 Ecohydrological investigations of Flemish river valleys. Basis for development of ecosystem visions.

Part 2

3.5 Water management, nature conservation and restoration attempts in Dutch lowland polder areas.

3.6 Water management and nature restoration in the Schelde estuary: an example of conservation in multi stakeholder settings.

3.7 Wetlands as water users in Integrated River Basin Management Plans.