The Centre for Wetland Ecology: a scientific network

The extremely important role of water resources management in The Netherlands and Flanders is a logical consequence of the location of this European region in the delta of the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. Water resources management is a prerequisite for protecting these densely populated and economically active areas against flooding and for ensuring sanitation and a healthy water quality for agriculture, nature and recreation. Research in water and wetlands in this area therefore has a long tradition of integrating fields such as hydraulics, ecology, microbiology, biogeochemistry and environmental economics. Fundamental research is being carried out in numerous research groups covering a wide range of disciplines in universities and academic research institutes. This research has a very strong academic output and is well-known internationally because of its quality and quantity. At the same time, there are many researchers working on applied issues of water resources management in research institutes, government agencies, water authorities and consulting firms. This applied sector of water and wetland research is also well-known worldwide and is involved in many projects where wetlands and water bodies are (re)constructed in terms of geomorphology, hydrological flows and hydroperiod, as well as biota.

Good, fundamental knowledge on the mechanisms behind the ecological functioning of wetlands and water bodies is especially indispensible in the current era of climate change, especially because land and water management may have to undergo drastic modifications to mitigate the consequences of higher temperatures, more frequent peak events in rainfall and river discharge, more intense and longer droughts and higher sea level flood peaks. To tackle the current and predicted problems, it is of vital importance that the worlds of fundamental scientific research on wetlands and water bodies and of water and wetland resource management and policy work together in a two-way exchange of ideas and information as closely as possible. The Center for Wetland Ecology (CWE) wants to contribute actively to this interaction.

The CWE is a network of fundamental science groups in universities and academic research institutes working on the ecology, biogeochemistry, microbiology and hydrology of wetlands and water bodies. The network was established in 2000 and has developed active collaborations by carrying out joint research projects bridging at least two participating research groups. A list of projects is provided at the end of this document. For the period 2010-2015, the CWE aims at enhancing the interaction between the worlds of fundamental research and management implementation regarding wetlands and water bodies (freshwater, brackish-water and coastal) in The Netherlands and Flanders. To achieve this, the CWE will provide a scientific platform by organizing two symposia per year, each oriented around a well-delineated scientific theme, for a combined audience of scientists (the CWE itself) and practitioners active in the water sector (i.e., representatives of water authorities, consulting firms, government agencies, applied knowledge institutes). It is envisioned that these activities will give practitioners a continuing opportunity to follow the latest developments in science and to get to know the researchers who are active in this field, while the scientists are exposed to the applied world of practice. At the same time, the CWE can act as a partner representing the science community in initiatives from the applied water sector to tackle scientific questions arising from new water-related policies or new plans to modify water resources management in response to mitigation and adaptation programs. The ‘Water Mosaic’ initiative of STOWA is an example where the CWE is a natural partner to articulate questions together with stake holders into problem descriptions that can be tackled by scientific research.

The CWE intends to form a network of research groups of the following academic institutions:
• Utrecht University
• Radboud University Nijmegen
• Netherlands Institute of Ecology (KNAW)
• University of Amsterdam
• Wageningen University and Research Centre
• University of Antwerpen
• University of Gent
• University of Leuven

The CWE has a small board with four representatives of the academic institutions and three representatives of the applied sector. The board develops initiatives for collaborative research between CWE partners and the applied water sector and organizes a yearly symposium.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Ph.D. projects programmed by the CWE (2005-2010)