Soils - Delivering ecosystem services 2009 conference papers
Organised by SCI’s Agriculture and Environment Group in association with the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists (IPSS), Soils – Delivering ecosystem services was held on 08 October at SCI HQ, London and had over 70 delegates in attendance.
The conference explored how the ecosystem services approach is being applied to soil. Delegates learnt about the principles of the ecosystem service approach and how it is being applied in practice across a number of specific fields.
What used to be regarded solely as a rooting medium for crops is now recognised as a vital multi-functional natural resource capable of providing a wide range of ecosystem services when managed properly. The ecosystem services approach is now firmly established in Government thinking as the way forward for the sustainable management of our planet. It requires that the environment is seen and managed as an integrated system; no longer can one element (soil, water, biota) be managed in isolation. All our speakers are at the forefront of knowledge and actively involved in developing and applying the ecosystem service approach. From carbon store to urban heat buffer, from waste recycling site to water filtration medium, soil performs a wide range of functions.
Conference Papers:
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Programme
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The ecosystem services approach
Dr Peter Costigan, Defra
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Service based approaches to soil protection
Ms Helen Taylor, Soil Policy Advisor, Environment Agency
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Valuation of soil ecosystem services
Professor Joe Morris, Cranfield University
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Soil and the carbon economy
Professor David Manning, Newcastle University
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Land use planning
Professor Phil Haygarth, Lancaster University and
Professor Karl Ritz, Cranfield University
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Regenerating brownfield sites for biomass
Dr Eric Evans, Bio Recycling Solutions
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Forestry
Prof Andy Moffat, Forest Research Farnham
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Sports turf and ecosystem services
Dr Mark Bartlett, Cranfield University
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