#livinglakes2019

15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCEON LAKES AND WETLANDS

L’ALBUFERAHOST LAKE

In May, Valenciabecome the world capital of wetlands

15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LAKES AND WETLANDS

WELCOME TO LIVING LAKES 2019!

Living Lakes is an international network with more than 100 lakes active in five continents. The Members of this worldwide network meet every two years in one of the countries where a lake is associated to analyze the conservation and protection of water and wetlands.

In 2019, Living Lakes takes place for the first time in Valencia to celebrate the 15th International Conference on Lakes and Wetlands, with L’Albufera as host wetland and Fundación Global Nature as organizer.

Administrations, companies and NGOs are invited to participate in the event. Do you join the challenge of preserving water and its ecosystems?

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“A world without wetlands is a world without water”, is the motto of the Living Lakes 2019 Conference

PICTURE: LAKE SYNEVYR, CARPATHIANS, UCRANIA

WHY DOES THE WORLD NEED WETLANDS?

100 KWetlands are essential for many amphibians and reptiles, and for bird reproduction and migration. More than 100,000 known species depend on them.

40%The most commercially important fish species breed or spawn in coastal wetlands, and 40 % of all fish consumed worldwide comes from aquaculture.

80%Wetlands, in particular swamps, have a function key for purifying water. Evidence shows, that some wetlands can reduce nitrate concentrations by more than 80%.

30%Peatlands (acidic wetlands that accumulate large amounts of organic matter) contain 30% of the carbon stored on Earth, twice as much as forests around the world.

50%Inland wetlands are a main source of fresh water on the planet. It is estimated that aquifers, often recharged by these wetlands, meet the consumption needs of 50 % of the world’s population and account for 43 % of the total irrigation water used. (FAO, 2010)

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PARTICIPANT COUNTRIES

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AMERICA01. Canada02. Mexico03. Colombia04. Peru05. Paraguay06. Uruguay

EUROPA 07. Spain 08. Switzerland 09. Austria 10. United King-dom 11. Belgium 12. Netherlands

14. Poland 15. Hungary 16. Estonia 17. Russia

AFRICA18. Senegal19. Ivory Coast20. Ghana

21. Benin22. Nigeria23. Cameroon24. South Africa25. Botswana26. Malawi27. Burundi28. Rwanda29. DR Congo

30. Kenya31. Uganda

ASIA

32. Jordan33. India34. Sri Lanka35. Cambodia 36. China

37. Mongolia 38. Philippines 39. Japan

OCEANIA40. Australia41. New Zealand

> 200 delegates from 41 countries participate in the15th International Conference on Lakes and Wetlands

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AMERICA01. Canada02. Mexico03. Colombia04. Peru05. Paraguay06. Uruguay

EUROPA 07. Spain 08. Switzerland 09. Austria 10. UK 11. Belgium 12. Netherlands 13. Germany

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CLIMATE CHANGE, A FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE FOR WETLAND MANAGEMENT

The degradation and disappearance of wetlands is progressing faster than any other ecosystem. The latest report of the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment shows that climate change is accelerating this process, leading to the loss of many species and increasing water quantity and quality problems in many regions of the world. This same report reminds us that wetlands are an ally against climate change, as they improve our ability to respond to natural disasters.

THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

One of the greatest threats to coastal and inland wetlands has been (and continues to be) population growth and economic growth. Experience teaches us that wetland conservation projects will fail if they are not supported by strategic alliances that involve all stakeholders in the development of the region. The objective of the Living Lakes Conference 2019 is to involve companies, administrations, universities and NGOs in researching solutions to ensure a balance between the conservation of wetlands and their economic development, through tourism, agriculture or industry.

WETLANDS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPANIES

When we talk about nature conservation, we rarely consider the economic value of the habitats and species we want to protect. Wetlands generate innumerable vital goods and services and provide a stable framework for economic and social development.In a global world where the close connection between the economy and the environment is becoming more and more evident, we will not be able to solve the great challenges that our planet faces, without cooperation with the private sector. The Living Lakes Conference 2019 aims to convince businesses that their activity depends, to a large extent, on the services that ecosystems offer and that many future opportunities lie in biodiversity conservation.

MAIN CHALLENGES PROGRAMME

PARTNERSHIPS FOR LAKE AND WETLAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT

8.15–8.45 Conference registration

9.00–10.00 Opening of the 15th International Conference on Lake and WetlandsEduardo de Miguel Beascoechea, Director of Fundación Global Nature, SpainMarion Hammerl, President of Global Nature Fund, GermanyElena Cebrián Calvo, Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development, SpainHugo Morán Hernández, Secretary of State for the Environment, SpainJoan Ribó i Canut, Mayor of Valencia City, Spain

10.00–11.30 Keynote PresentationsLakes and wetlands in Spain: Protection under EU Water Framework Directive. Javier Cachón de Mesa, General Director for Biodiversity and Environmental Quality, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, SpainApproaches to protect lakes and wetlands: Successes and challenges for lake protection on global level. Francisco Rilla, Director of Science and Policy, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Switzerland

Living Lakes Partner City of Valencia: Planning, regulations and voluntary programs on local level to protect lakes and wetlands. Sergi Campillo Fernández, Delegated Councilor for the Conservation of Natural Areas and Devesa-Albufera, City of Valencia, SpainFloodplains and wetlands in Germany. Significance, threat and measures for protection and restoration. Bernd Neukirchen, Head of Unit “Inland Waters”, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, GermanyModerator: Eduardo de Miguel Beascoechea, Director of Fundación Global Nature, Spain

Questions and comments from the audience

11.30–11.45 Group Photo

11.45–12.12 Coffee Break

13.30–15.00 Presentations: Water challenges of our timesHow to mainstream successful pilot initiatives and tools for sound management of lake watersheds. Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Former Executive-Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Germany (Video)Strategies for partnerships of business and NGOs for the protection of wetlands. Ward Hagemeijer, Head Business and Ecosystems, Wetlands International, The Netherlands Private cooperation for water management.

TUESDAY > MAY 7 > DAY I

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PROGRAMME

Factors of success. Jaime José Castillo Soria, Director of Institutional Relations, Global Omnium, SpainBusiness tools to manage water challenges. Marta Santamaría Belda, Policy Director, Natural Capital Coalition, UKModerator: Amanda del Río Murillo, Technical Coordinator, Fundación Global Nature, Spain

Questions and comments from the audience

13:30–15.00 Lunch

PARALLEL SESSIONS

SESSION 1 > Salón de Actos15.00–17.00 Spanish & international initiatives of the business sector to conserve water resources and increase resilience against climate change International projects to conserve water resources. Rafael Sánchez Navarro, RAMSAR Spanish Focal pointExample I – Carolin Häfner, Specialist Corporate Citizenship, Public Relations,

Cultural and Social Sponsoring, Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG, GermanyExample II – María Pedro and María Peña, R+D+i Global Omnium, SpainExample III - Klaus Strixner, Sika Community Programme, Sika AG, SwitzerlandModerator: Elvira Carles Brescolí, CEO, Fundación Empresa y Clima, Spain

Discussion. Summary of results

SESSION 2 > Salón de Conferencias 15.00–17.00 Watershed management, water footprint and other tools: Potential achievements and limits Water Footprints: Concepts, Methodologies and Policy Responses. Francesc La Roca Cervigón, Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua, Spain Example I: Water Stewardship @Nestlé: Caring for Water initiative. Cédric Egger, Corporate Water Resources Manager, Nestlé Waters–ParisExample II: Methodology to evaluate ecosystem services in wetlands.Nieves Cifuentes Valero, Corporate

Responsible for Environment and Sustainability, Naturgy, SpainExample III: Reducing water risks in cities – Natural Capital Assessment of SEKISUI Chemical. Hitomi Miura, ESG Management Promotion Department, SEKISUI Chemical, JapanModerator: Stefan Hörmann, Head of Unit Business and Biodiversity, Global Nature Fund, Germany

Discussion. Summary of results

SESSION 3 > Sala de Prensa15.00–17.00 Payment for ecosystem services, project support, sponsoring: Compen-sation or contribution or both?Payments for Ecosystem Services opportunities for the companies and environment. Marion Hammerl, President of Global Nature Fund, GermanyExample I: Visitor Giving in the English Lake District – Connecting Tourism and Conservation in a National Park. Sarah Swindley, Director, Lake District Foundation, UKExample II: Business Action for Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Andreas

Gettkant, Coordinator of the Global Project Private Business Action for Biodiversity, GIZ GmbH (German Development Cooperation), GermanyExample III: Long-term cooperation between NGO and companies on rural development & lake protection. Dr Andrew Venter, CEO, Wildtrust, South AfricaModerator: Marion Hammerl, President of Global Nature Fund, Germany

Discussion. Summary of results

17.00–17.30 Coffee Break

17.30–18.00 Wrap up of the day: Do we have answers to all questions?Moderator: Udo Gattenlöhner, Director of Global Nature Fund, Germany

20.00 Dinner in the Oceano-graphic hosted by SEKISUI Chemical and Global Omnium

Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències, Carrer d’Eduardo Primo Yúfera, Valencia

PROGRAMME

FIELD TRIP

9.00 – 17.00 Field Trip to L’Albufera

Activities:• Boat trip in L’Albufera• Guided visit to Tancat de la Pipa

Green Filter: example of shared management between two NGOs under a land-stewardship agreement, with University support

• Guided visit to the Interpretation Center El Racó de l’Olla

• Route into the Gola de Pujol

Meeting Point > EXPOHOTEL

17.00 Free Evening (Guided tour to the City of Valencia)

TOPIC: PARTNERSHIPS FOR INCREASING WATER ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

09.00–10.30 Keynote Presentations:The ongoing work of the EKLIPSE project on the barriers to effective restoration in the EU, Judith Fisher, Chair of the EKLIPSE Restoration EWG, Member of the IPBES Multidisciplinary Expert Panel, Research Fellow at UWA African Research and Engagement

Centre, AustraliaWetland Conservation Experiences in Comunitat Valenciana, Paloma Mateache and María Sahuquillo, Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, SpainLake Spot Lights - Water Ecosystems around the world affected by climate change & Solution approaches. Examples from the Living Lakes Network:• Alejandro Juárez Aguilar, Corazón de

la Tierra, Lake Chapala, México • Samantha Houghting, WILDTRUST, St.

Lucia Wetland, South Africa• Daniel Mwakameka, Action for

Environmental Sustainability, Lake Malawi, Malawi

• Felipe Valderrama Escallón, Fundación Humedales, Lake Fúquene, Colombia

• Alejandro Juárez Aguilar, Corazón de la Tierra, Lake Chapala, México

• Ajanta Dey, Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, Sundarbans, India

• Senglong Youk, Fisheries Action Coalition, Lake Tonle Sap, Cambodia

Moderator: Manfred Niekisch, Vice President, Global Nature Fund, Germany

Questions from the audience

10.30–11.00 Coffee Break

11.00 – 13.00 Presentations: Management and Monitoring of Lakes and Wetlands Management and control of Mediterranean wetlands in the Júcar

hydrographic demarcation: the case of l’Albufera de Valencia, Teodoro Estrela Monreal, Head of the Hydrological Planning Office of Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar, SpainLiving Lakes – Example of tropical lakes. Senglong Youk, Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT), CambodiaSustainable Peatland Management in the Broads – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a sustainable economy. Harry Mach, CANAPE Project Manager, Broads Authority, UKParticipatory monitoring of watersheds. Raegan Mallinson, Claire Pollock-Hall & Avery Deboer-Smith, Living Lakes Canada, CanadaThe role of Mediterranean wetlands in climate regulation. Antonio Camacho González, Cathedratic Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Ecology, University of Valencia, SpainModerator: Jordi Sargatal Vicens, President of the Association of Friends of the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l’Empordà (APNAE), Spain

Questions from the audience

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch

SESSION Sala de Ocio14.30–16.00 Best Practice & Speed Networking: matching partners for joint action of businesses, public institutions and NGOsCompany – NGO collaboration: new forms of partnershipBiodiversity Focus: how to efficiently include it in projects

Climate change adaptation: restoration and/or resilienceCitizens science: how to ensure success in the long runAwareness and media: How to communicate and make actions visibleModerator: Judith Fisher, Chair of the EKLIPSE Restoration EWG, Member of the IPBES Multidisciplinary Expert Panel, Research Fellow at UWA African Research and Engagement Centre, Australia

16.00 – 16.30 Coffee Break

16.30 – 17.15 What will you take home? More answers or more questions? Summary of the conference. And young voices from the audience

Clemente Álvarez Andrés, Ballena Blanca, Spain

17.30 – 18.30 Closing Pro-gramme & Best Conservation Practice Award CeremonyClosing remarks: Eduardo de Miguel Beascoechea, Director of Fundación Global Nature, Spain.Udo Gattenlöhner, Director of Global Nature Fund, Germany.

20.30 Dinner and 20 Years Living Lakes Festivity Event in the Palacio de la Exposición hosted by Valencia City

Carrer de Galícia, 3, 46010 Valencia

WEDNESDAY > MAY 8 > DAY II

THURSDAY > MAY 9 > DAY III

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

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Map of the Living Lakes Conference

CONFERENCE VENUE

Complex Esportiu-Cultural Petxina: Paseo de la Petxina, 42 Complex Esportiu-Cultural Petxina: Paseo de la Petxina, 42

A Central building B Central building C Parallel Sessions

Salón de Actos Conference registrationPanels and poster

Salón de Conferencias (Ground floor)Sala de Prensa (First floor)Sala de Ocio(Second floor)

Contact the Organizers More information

María Sanchez Phone number: +34 618 639 592 msanchez@fundacionglobalnature.org

Press and mediaJosé Manuel López-Cózar Phone number: 609 276 423 jcozar@fundacionglobalnature.org

Follow us in social media with the hashtags: #LivingLakes2019 #LoveLakes #LikeLakes #LiveLakes

Websites: www.fundacionglobalnature.orgwww.livinglakes2019.org

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WWW.LIVINGLAKES2019.ORG

Organizer: With the support of:

Sponsors: