Workshop QR modelling

The workshop was targeted to the scientific research community, to the national and local authorities and to other stakeholders interested in wetlands management and education. About 30 persons (participants and invited guests) attended the event, including governmental officials and experts in Wetland Management and Conservation, Office of Biodiversity Protection (Ministry of Environment and Waters of the Republic of Bulgaria).

The main topics of the workshop were as follows:

• Concepts of wetlands as ecological systems: unity and diversity;
• Specific problems and needs: managing protected areas and/or water bodies;
• Human pressures and impacts on wetlands: concept mapping and causal modeling;
• QR modeling of wetlands: potentials and prospectives;
• Research needs and strategies for further collaboration.

Within the workshop program, 20 reports have been presented to the audience. Part of the time was spent for introductory practical work in QR-modeling. Experienced participants made an introduction in modeling software and assisted the beginners to develop their own models. The last half day of the program was given up to the general discussion in main topics of interest of the participants. The workshop concluded its work with the conviction that the QR-modelling and relevant software specially developed is an excellent way both for (self)education using “learning by doing” approach and the wetlands management providing tools for description and prognosis of the wetland ecosystem behavior under human pressures and impacts.

Some photos from the event are available here.