A knowledge exchange workshop for research scientists and practitioners from Europe and Southern Africa

This meeting was held to provide a forum for an international exchange of views on the subject of the functionality and value of wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, in Europe and Southern Africa. The format of the meeting included a selection of 15 minute presentations, interspersed with expert panel discussions. Through this approach, a comparison was made of how common challenges for management of these systems are being dealt with, under different governance and biophysical regimes.

Papers were presented by key scientists and practitioners from Southern Africa and Europe, and meeting space was provided to allow time for discussion of potential collaborative research themes. Donors were invited to attend. The meeting was organised by the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, and sponsorship was provided by the EU, the Global Water Systems Project (GWSP), the NeWater Project, and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Papers included work from the UK, Hungary, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho and the Amudarya region of central Europe. It is hoped that a useful publication will be generated from this workshop.