170 likes | 301 Views
GEST G lobal E xperiment on S avanna T ree seedlings. Workshop 11-14 July 2008 South Africa. WELCOME!. Sustainable Use of Wild Living Resources. The Sustainable Use Pyramid. Defining principles, criteria and indicators for Sustainable Use of Wild Natural Resources. Research programme.
E N D
GESTGlobal Experiment on Savanna Tree seedlings Workshop 11-14 July 2008 South Africa
The Sustainable Use Pyramid Defining principles, criteria and indicators for Sustainable Use of Wild Natural Resources
Research programme • Need for knowledge on composition, functioning and dynamics of each cornerstone, in order to maintain the biodiversity and ecological integrity across a landscape • Natural Resources: focus on savannas
Savanna dynamics Not a stable environment but shift in regimes
The Savanna Dilemma • Understanding the relationship between trees and grasses: what mechanisms make what we call a savanna staying a savanna? • Niche separation vs Demographic bottleneck theory • Non-equilibrium vs dis-equilibrium models
Gap to fill • Tree seedling stage • But: which environmental resources and conditions are involved at the tree seedling stage that co-shape the outcome: the co-existence of trees and grasses
Projects • Field experiments by Eduardo Barbosa • But: is extrapolation to other than South African savannas justified, what is the global validity? • Birth of the Global Experiment: GEST ? ? ? ?
The results • More high quality scientific knowledge, that helps to solve the ‘savanna dilemma’ But also: • Better understanding of the impacts of livestock grazing and agriculture • Better understanding of the impact of invasive species (biofuel feedstock) • And ultimately leading to a more sustainable use of the savannas!
Program Day 1 • Who is who? • Programme overview, logistics • Worldwide experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results • Greenhouse experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results
Program Day 1 (cont.) • Presentations per continent: food for synthesis paper? • Africa • Australia • South America (2) • Asia (2) • 30-45 min + 10 min discussion
Program Day 2 • Visit African dry site at South African Wildlife College, by Eduardo Barbosa
Program Day 2 (cont.) • Discussion experiment per continent Given the basic layout… • what is the additional scientific/applied problem? • what are the hypotheses? • which experimental layout? what additional treatments? • prepare short presentation • Plenary feedback on “experiment per continent” • Concluding remarks
Program Day 3 • Visit Kruger National Park discuss science in a different setting
Products of workshop • Learning (from) each other • Focusing on one experimental design: all noses in one direction • Preparing synthesis paper “Evolution and ecology of savannas around the world: differences and similarities”
Let us start! • Who is who? • Logistical remarks • Worldwide experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results • Greenhouse experiment background, aim, questions, hypotheses, expected results