International Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Sciences Addresses Future Environmental Challenges

Posted on: 04 September 2009

An international conference organised by the Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association (ECSA) and hosted by the School of Natural Sciences’ Department of Zoology took place on August 30th last in TCD.  The conference featured American ecological economist, Professor Robert Costanza from the University of Maryland, who emphasised in his talk, ‘Understanding, modelling and valuing estuarine goods and services’, the value of the world’s ecosystems and how they contribute directly and indirectly to global wealth.

The most valuable environmental networks, such as our estuaries, coastal waters and wetlands, are also those which are under the most intense pressure from increased human settlement and pollution, from resource exploitation and global climate change.  The ecosystems contribution to global prosperity was calculated at US$33 trillion in 1997 by Professor Costanza and his team – almost twice the annual global GNP.  The aim of this conference, attended by students, biologists, engineers, economists, chemists, mathematical modellers and managers from a wide variety of backgrounds, was to develop the scientific understanding necessary for the successful management and sustainable development of these precious assets. 

Talks throughout the day covered the topics of ecology, conservation and management; sediments, morphology and their drivers, and water quality.  Speakers used examples from studies on tourism, fisheries, eutrophication and pollution which were drawn from projects in Europe, Africa and the USA.

The ECSA is a scientific association whose principal aim is the promotion of the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge and understanding to assist in the prevention of environmental deterioration and the encouragement of resource management for the public benefit.  The Department of Zoology, a constituent part of the School of Natural Sciences, is a major contributor to research in TCD’s Centre for the Environment.