The Conference
This is the first conference of this kind, in which two major international
research programs get together to convene the largest conference ever organized
on the effects of global change on the terrestrial biosphere. The Global Change
and Terrestrial Ecosystems Program (GCTE) and the Land-Use/Cover Change Program
(LUCC) are core projects of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
(IGBP). IGBP is an interdisciplinary scientific activity established and
sponsored by the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU).
GCTE studies the effects of changes in climate, atmospheric composition, land use on terrestrial ecosystems, and the consequent feedback to climate and atmosphere. LUCC aims to document and understand global land-use and land-cover change, the forces that drive it, its relationship to climate and biogeochemistry, and the links between sustainability and land use.
Objectives
The objectives of this conference are to present the latest experimental and
theoretical findings on the effects of "global changes" on the environment. What
are global changes? The main changes that are currently under way on the Earth,
as a result of human activities, are global in their nature and threaten the
planet as a whole, thus deserving the name of global changes. These include:
Climate change ("global warming"), changes in the composition of the atmosphere
(e.g. increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases),
changes in land-use cover under increasing human pressure and policy changes,
and changes (often reduction) in biological diversity.
Here are some of the key questions that the scientific community will re-examine:
- What will be the consequences of climate and atmospheric composition changes on the functioning of natural ecosystems and on the planet as a whole?
- Can the absorption of carbon by plants slow down the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the associated global warming?
- How will changes in climate and land transformation affect food and fiber production, and the biodiversity of species and landscapes?
- How will the disappearance of animal and plant species affect the functioning of natural and agricultural systems?
- How can we use our knowledge of land use changes to move toward more sustainable land use practices?
- How do socio-economic factors ultimately affect the quality of our production and natural systems?
Several formats will be used during these meetings, ranging from formal plenary session talks, to poster presentations and round table discussions. Many concrete examples and local case studies will be presented, such as the impact of land use policy on the environment in several regions of the world.
More detailed information and the conference program can be found on the Conference homepage: http://jasper.stanford.edu/GCTE/LUCC/Conference98.html
Press Activities
The organization is putting together a set of press releases (15 -20) from the
most outstanding contributions to be presented at the conference. These press
releases will be made available to you within the next month and will also be
placed on the Conference homepage.
A Press Room will be available at the Conference facility to be used by all journalists who wish to attend the Conference. The room will be equipped with a few computers with Internet access, and a fax machine. The organization is planning to hold press conferences during the conference on the most exciting and surprising results presented at the Conference. I will be happy to assist you and arrange meetings with scientists you might be interested in meeting.
We are confident that our efforts to improve the knowledge on these timely environmental issues are critical for the well being of humanity. For this reason, we would very much like to have you join us at the Conference and share some of the most exciting scientific breakthroughs presented at the Conference to the people in your country. We extend to you, a special invitation and look forward to seeing you in Barcelona.
Sincerely,
Organizing Committee
GCTE-LUCC Open Science Conference
BARCELONA, SPAIN 14-18 March 1998