Ecosystem Services for the Common Good
The Coastal Society's 23rd International Conference
Hyatt Regency, Miami, Florida
Abstracts Due October 24, 2011
The Coastal Society invites submissions for presentations, panels and posters that:
• Provide information, knowledge, actions and activities relevant to solving contemporary coastal problems;
• Integrate science, management, policy and decision-making; and
• Present questions, ideas or case studies that encourage dialogue and the sharing of solutions.
Preference will be given to presentations, panels and posters that complement the conference's theme of the importance of ecosystem needs and services in comprehensive ocean and coastal management and fit within one of the five conference tracks. Ideally, presentations and posters should provide case studies or offer innovative solutions in order to spark interactive discussion among conference attendees during the sessions.
Submissions may take the form of an individual presentation or poster or three-person to four-person Panel Session. Submissions should provide case studies or offer solutions to issues that will encourage interactive discussion among the conference attendees. Proposals for Panel Sessions are encouraged to incorporate presentations from different disciplines and regions and to offer a diverse set of solutions and opportunity for richer dialogue.
TCS 23 has limited space to host full-day and half-day workshops. Submissions for workshops are invited and should be relevant to one of the five conference tracks.
For further guidance on abstract submission and to read the full Call for Abstracts, please visit
Abstract submission is online only.
Abstracts are due by October 24, 2011.
Abstract acceptance will be provided by December 18, 2011.
For more information about the 23rd Conference of The Coastal Society, please visit
To complement the TCS 23 theme of Our Coasts, Our Heritage: Ecosystem Services for the Common Good, TCS invites submissions for the following tracks:
1. Defining and Measuring Ecosystem Services in the Context of Ecosystem Based Management
What are ecosystem services and how do we define and measure them? This track will provide an overview for the measurement of ecosystem services, particularly in the context of ecosystem based management (EBM). EBM is a management approach which integrates ecological, social and economic goals, recognizing the role of humans as an important part of the ecosystem. One of the fundamental challenges to developing EBM approaches is moving beyond conceptualizing the connections among ecosystem structure, function and services to operationalizing (defining and measuring) these linkages as well as their relative relationships within the ecosystem. New and innovative approaches to tackling EBM challenges have been developed through the design and use of models. This session will explore how ecosystems and their services are being considered within EBM approaches as well as discussing modeling efforts designed to assess and evaluate ecosystem performance for use in management. Abstracts may focus on:
- Interactive sessions on defining ecosystems services;
- How government officials, policy professionals, academics/researchers, businesses, and non-profits can accurately measure and define ecosystem services;
- How professionals can illuminate linkages within and between ecosystems for effective coastal management; and
- What tools are available for professionals to utilize models and data for effective EBM?
2. Planning for Emerging Coastal Issues and Threats
Sea level rise, climate change, invasive species and algal blooms exemplify an increasing number of pressures on our coastal ecosystem. This track will examine our current level of knowledge about emerging coastal issues that threaten our ecosystem services, and consider strategies for anticipating and responding to these threats. Abstracts may focus on:
- Coastal hazards: storm prediction capability, changes in storm frequency and intensity and pre- and post-storm planning;
- Sea level rise: trends, property and infrastructure impacts, habitat loss and barrier island and inlet changes;
- Physical and chemical changes to the ocean: carbon sequestration, ocean acidification and ocean warming trends and impacts;
- Estuarine and marine ecosystem biodiversity: species distribution and estuarine, wetland and ocean habitat changes;
- Water resource and quality issues; and
- Response strategies: information needs, science and risk communication, mitigation and adaptation planning, and local-scale decision support tools.
3. Valuing Coastal Goods and Services
How do coastal/marine ecosystem goods and services influence the well being of society? This track will explore ways in which social sciences define and measure the connections between ecosystem goods & services and human well being. Topics in this track may include studies investigating ways coastal residents and visitors value the direct or indirect use of a resource, the option for future use of a resource, the desire to bequeath resources to future generations, the existence of a resource, as well as human dimensions of ecosystem services valuation and alternative value constructs. Abstracts may focus on:
- Working waterways and waterfronts;
- Ports, harbors and coastal industries;
- Community development;
- New approaches for tourism and recreation;
- Energy production; and
- Sustainable economic development strategies.
4. A Social Approach to Examining our Coasts
Our coasts serve as our homes, our places of business, our playgrounds, and as areas of natural beauty. Coastal communities are diverse places, and our coastal heritage must be shared by and managed for all. With finite financial resources, it is important that we manage for those things we care for most. The concept of social, or non-economic value is multifaceted and complicated. An interdisciplinary team consisting of scientists, planners, community organizers and advocates, policy-makers, non-profit managers, academics, managers of the travel and tourism industry, and coastal developers must lead this charge. The members of this team must also reflect and act on behalf of all who share a common interest in the ecosystem services provided by our coasts, including native and environmental justice communities. This track will challenge participants to examine how the forces of human values, beliefs, and attitudes shape coastal decision making and how such information can serve to explore and advance solutions to larger environmental coastal issues. Abstracts may focus on:
- Exploring the link between society and the environment - diverse perceptions, values, and attitudes;
- Managing diverse coastal communities;
- Balancing societal values of ecosystem services;
- Examining our coastal heritage as an ecosystem service;
- Encouraging social and environmental justice and ecosystem services;
- Ecosystem values and a just sustainable future; and
- Effectively creating and implementing an interdisciplinary approach – who is on your team?
5. Ecosystem Services in the Real World – Policy and Management Trends
Identifying and measuring ecosystem services and communicating the importance of the functions provided by coastal and marine systems to various stakeholders presents a genuine challenge. However, ensuring those services are addressed by existing policy and management frameworks, which are often fragmented and stove-piped, present an even higher burden. How are policy frameworks and management practices evolving to address protection, restoration and/or management of coastal and marine resources based on the functions they provide as a system? How can we get from the buzz word to real world implementation?
This track will explore policy and management trends for the roles of (1) coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP), (2) restoration, and (3) coastal resilience work, within the provision of ecosystem services context. Abstracts may focus on:
- How have federal, state and/or local agencies adjusted mandates to respond to diverse ecosystem services?
- Do we have the federal, state and/or local enabling policies to direct management at the ecosystem services level? What barriers still exist?
- How are coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) processes allocating ocean space and assessing tradeoffs within an ecosystem services context?
- Are restoration projects assisting resource managers in meeting ecosystem services targets for benefits like water filtration and habitat, among others?
- How has the coastal resilience community considered ecosystem service values in work related to shoreline stabilization, flood control, etc.?
Please note that all speakers will be required to pay the registration fee and associated travel expenses to the conference.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment