Sessions
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 Spontaneous
secondary succession in drained and not managed wetlands
- information from spatial analyses, rate of changes in
time and management solutions.
3.2 The impact of land
use changes and management on the trophic status and
biodiversity of wetlands.
3.3 Ecohydrological
investigations of Flemish river valleys. Basis for
development of ecosystem visions.
3.4 Water management,
nature conservation and restoration attempts in Dutch
lowland polder areas.
Part 2
3.5 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.
3.6 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.