International Workshop: Confronting Global Change with a Network of Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Sites at the South of the Americas.
Location: Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams (Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve), Chile Date: 9-13 June 2008 Background: A challenge for biocultural conservation and environmental decision-making is the need to integrate the ecological and social dimensions of the coupled human-nature systems that make up our biosphere. To confront this challenge, academics must develop new strategies to not only generate information, but also incoporate knowledge into social and political processes. To work towards achieving this goal, three complementary approaches are being developed by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity in Chile, in association with partner organizations both from within Chile and throughout the world. Objectives: In the context of the celebration of the third anniversary of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, this workshop will be held to create, implment and consolidate ongoing programs taking place from Bosque Fray Jorge National Park in north-central Chile to Senda Darwin Biological Station on Chiloé Island and all the way to the continent's at the Omora Park in the Cape Horn Archipelago. During this workshop, participants will participate in: 1. The creation of Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) Sites linked within Chile and with the world, whose mission is to integrate and transfer to society knowlege about the interdependent social and ecological patterns and processes of our biosphere. 2. The implementation of proactive models, such as biosphere reserves (UNESCO MaB) that seek to harmonize conservation and sustainable social development. 3. The consolidation of international and interdisciplinary field education programs, conducted by consortia of institutions. International Field Course: In parallel to the workshop, a two week course course entitled "Tracing Darwin's Path" with students from philosophy, science and conservation programs in the United States and Chile will take place with the aim of linking the humanities and sciences. This is the third such field course held in the Omora Park and provides an students a unique opportunity to learn about an interdisicplinary field experience on biocultural conservation in subantarctic ecosystems. Students in the June course will come from the Univeristy of La Serena, the Unviersity of North Texas, the University of Magallanes and the U.S. Embassy in Chile. The course is coordinated by the Omora Sub-Antarctic Research Alliance (www.osara.org). Invited Participants: Mary T. K. Arroyo (IEB), Martín Carmona (IEB), Ricardo Díaz-Delgado (CSIC & LTER Spain), Eric Graham (UCLA-USA), Robert Frodeman (UNT-USA), Aurora Gaxiola (IEB), Sergio Guevara (Ibero-American Biosphere Reserve Network), Carolina Henríquez (IEB), J. Britt Holbrook (UNT-USA), Ione Hunt Von Herbing (UNT-USA), James Kennedy (UNT-USA), Manuel Maass (México, UNAM & Red Mex-LTER), Andrés Mansilla (UMAG), Guillermo Martínez-Pastur (CADIC-Argentina), Eduard Mueller (UCI & IUCN-Costa Rica), Phil Rundel (UCLA-USA), Adrian Schiavini (CADIC-Argentina), Francisco Squeo (ULS-IEB), Bron Taylor (UF-Religion & Nature Network), Rodrigo Vásquez (IEB). Coordinated by: Christopher B. Anderson (IEB-OSARA-UMAG), Juan J. Armesto (IEB-PUC), Julio Gutiérrez (IEB-ULS), Francisca Massardo (Omora-UMAG) & Ricardo Rozzi (IEB-UNT-UMAG) Sponsored by: Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (www.ieb-chile.cl), University of North Texas (www.chile.unt.edu) & University of Magallanes (www.umag.cl/williams) Financed by: The Millennium Scientific Initiative - Chilean Ministry of Planning (P-05-002) and the Base Financing Program for Science and Technology Centers of Excellence - CONICYT (PFB-23) through grants to the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and a Hispanic Global Initaitive Award from the University of North Texas. Further information: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and www.chile.unt.edu/ltser/workshop-ltser.htm
