The draft programme for the joint BES – Natural England conference on ‘Adapting Conservation to a Changing Climate’ is now available online. Professor Sir John Lawton will begin the meeting, taking place at Charles Darwin House on 11-12 January 2011, with a presentation on ‘making space for nature in a changing world’. Other speakers on day one include Prof. Andrew Watkinson, Director of the Living with Environmental Change programme and Dr Jan Plesnik, joining us from the Czech Republic to discuss the European context for adapting nature conservation to climate change. Day two will see presentations from amongst others, Prof. Chris Thomas at the University of York on identifying those species which will require the most assistance to adapt to climate change; Dr Pam Berry from the University of Oxford and Dr Olly Watts from the RSPB.
The two days will see a mix of high-quality presentations and break-out group discussions, with ample opportunities for poster viewing. Networking opportunities will be provided by an optional conference dinner on day one, and a drinks reception (included in the registration fee).
Effective adaptation research requires a strong partnership between researchers, practitioners and policy makers. It is essential that adaptation measures are developed on the basis of sound science, combined with a rigorous assessment of their feasibility and acceptability to society. This conference will therefore bring scientists together with policy makers and those who are actually implementing adaptation measures.