7th International SedNet conference on 6-9 April 2011, Venice, Italy

Sediments and Biodiversity:
bridging the gap between science and policy

Hosted and co-organised by: Thetis SpA

Background
Sediment is an integral part of the ecosystem and directly affects biodiversity through hydromorphology, habitat formation and associated pollutants. Using Water Framework Directive definitions, it can be said that sediment affects good ecological and chemical status of water bodies: impacts can be both positive and negative. These impacts are particularly evident in shallow water bodies such as rivers, lagoons and coastal areas. Sediment Management is therefore much more than dealing with more or less contaminated sediment that needs to be dredged for navigation or construction but is more a way of working with nature, finding self-sustaining solutions for the evolution of water bodies in a highly dynamic environment.

The integration of sediment management into river basin management plans, thus supporting the joint implementation of the Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive, is a perfect context to put this holistic approach into practice.

The Mediterranean Sea and its coastal areas present unique challenges for sediment management as compared with other EU eco regions; this is coupled with the need for a whole-basin view, involving both the EU countries and the non-EU neighbours of the southern and eastern coastline.

In most cases the targets for sediment management are strongly connected with different uses of water bodies and with interventions to promote socio-economic development and competitiveness, such as port dredging and beach nourishment. In such contexts, the need for good science to inform decisions and policy is crucial in order to promote sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions.

Against this background SedNet is organising an event on 6-9 April 2011 in Venice, which represents a paradigm for all Mediterranean coastal areas due to its cultural heritage, its precious lagoon and its challenges toward climate change adaptation.

For the event format see the flyer (pdf).

Call for Abstracts
SedNet would be pleased to receive abstracts for platform presentations and posters for the Open Conference. Abstracts related to the main issues of the Conference with a special focus on the Mediterranean area will be particularly welcomed.

Issues to be addressed are:
• Biodiversity and sediment management (sediments, hydromorphology, habitats)
• Sediment management measures and cost-benefit analysis
• Climate change and sediment: effects on bioavailability and contaminant biogeochemical cycles
• Sediment in coastal zone management and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (e.g. sediment reuse for coastal protection and restoration)
• Sediment Environmental Quality Standards and monitoring
• Sediment and contaminant transport modelling
• Ecological risk assessment of contaminated sediment
• Mine tailings (historical contamination, soil erosion)

Submission of abstracts
Please find the template for abstracts here. Abstracts can be sent to the SedNet Secretariat: marjan.euser@deltares.nl.

Deadline for abstract submission: 15 September 2010.

Conference fee
• € 250 for students
• € 400 for others

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