Symposium: Long-term Observation of dryland ecosystems: theory and practice

Observation of change has been identified as a major goal by global change programs including GNDRI, DNI, ILTER and GEOSS. While a number of conceptual papers aiming towards a Dryland Observation System have been published already, there is still the need for methodological progress to come to an adequate and harmonized Observation System. This symposium offers space for contributions leading towards a Dryland Observation System. Contributions may include conceptual papers discussing the scope for products and services needed by various user groups. It may also encompass talks on the definition of essential variables to be measured in order to describe and understand processes and mechanisms of change. It should further allow technical papers on methodological progress, e.g. linking earth observation based on remote sensing with ground truthing. Finally, desert research institutes are invited to report on the results of monitoring programs established by their institute. All participants of this symposium are asked to point out how their contribution could possibly become a building block within a future Dryland Observation System.

Although the official deadline for abstracts is closed, the conference organisers still welcome abstracts for talks at this symposium. Please see the conference website (link below) for details. Please also copy your abstract to Prof Norbert Juergens (contact@gndri.net), Head Research Unit Biodiversity, Evolution &  Ecology (BEE) of Plants, Director Herbarium Hamburgense  Biocentre Klein Flottbek and Botanical Garden, University of Hamburg, Germany.

The local conveners of the symposium are Elli Groner and Moshe Shachak.