Draft Minutes

2nd IMCG Classification and Terminology Workshop

Sumava, Czech Republic, 22nd-26th March 1999

Introduction

The 2nd IMCG Classification Workshop was held in the Sumava National Park, in the Czech Republic, and was organised by Jan Sliva. The meeting was a follow-up to the first such Workshop, held in Greifswald in 1998. It was designed to review progress and begin the process of bringing differing concepts and approaches to classification together. In fact progress during the intervening 12 months has not been as rapid as was originally hoped, but it was nevertheless felt that such a meeting would be a valuable opportunity to stimulate the process into its next stages. This is particularly important, given that the IMCG is becoming involved in a number of partnership activities with bodies such as the IPS, Wetlands International, and the Ramsar Bureau, in which questions of classification and terminology are central issues.


Workshop delegates


Workshop programme

At the outset, the workshop identified seven major themes for detailed examination from the range of topics originally identified at the Greifswald workshop. These seven themes in part reflected what were generally agreed to be the key topics to resolve, and in part was a tacit recognition that topics could not be productively developed in the absence of their assigned topic leaders.

The seven themes were:

Topic
Coordinator
1.
    Terminology
Ron Hofstetter
2. Conservation value Hans Joosten
3. Hydrogenesis Hans Joosten
4. Plants Philippe Julve
5. Animals Stefan Hotes
6. Regionality Michael Steiner
7. Multi-level approach & integration Richard Lindsay

Having agreed the themes, each topic was then approached in a two-stage process. Firstly a plenary ‘brainstorming’ session was used to bring ideas together and test the mood of the workshop about particular approaches. For some of the topics, there was then the opportunity to break out into smaller ‘working sub-groups’ which explored the detail of various issues. Subsequent plenary sessions allowed the sub-groups to report back and test the ideas on the workshop as a whole.

Certain criteria were required of proposals:

  1. They should, far as possible, be universally applicable and thus, for example, not reflect any Euro-centricity. Ideally the systems should work perfectly well in parts of the globe which are still completely unexplored (at least in terms of their mire systems).
  2. They must be readily applicable, and practical. Widespread adoption will only take place if a new approach is seen to be more effective than, and is considered to be at least as easy to use as, existing methods.
  3. Responsibility for encouraging adoption of new systems emerging from this workshop process (and thus abandonment of perhaps long-used classification systems) clearly lies with the Topic Sub-Groups, who cannot expect systems to be taken up simply because they are published — even if the Sub-Group is convinced that their system is better than existing systems. There is an innate inertia, and also a sense of comfortable familiarity with existing systems, which must be overcome if any new system is to be widely adopted. Topic Sub-Groups will need to present their approaches in such a way that makes the new systems attractive options for users to adopt, and must be willing to assist users actively in their adoption.


Workshop outputs

A variety of topics benefited from extensive discussion and debate, and for some of these there appeared to be a gradual development of consensus. Other topics clearly need much more thought and constructive debate between now and the next Workshop. Several clear decisions were made during the Workshop, mainly concerning an Action Plan which summarises the next phase of the work programme. Agreement was also reached on the composition of the seven Topic Sub-Groups, and the methods by which these Sub-Groups would operate.

1.Workshop Action Plan

Parts of this Plan have already been and gone, for which I apologise, though most of those responsible for these early actions were aware of the steps expected of them.

1.1 Topic Action Plan Framework

Each Sub-Group would produce an Action Plan Framework which sets out the broad stages of the work, who is responsible for these, what the timetables and deadlines are, and what the final outputs will be. These Action Plan Frameworks should have been delivered to Richard Lindsay by 1st May. For those who have not yet produced such a Framework, an example is attached as Annex 1.

1.2 Half-year Progress Review

By 1st October 1999, Sub-Groups will produce a Progress Review, which should be sent to the IMCG Secretariat for publication in the IMCG Newsletter and on the IMCG Classification web-page.

1.3 Decision about next Workshop

Also by 1st October, a firm decision must be made about the date and location of the next Workshop. At present, a provisional offer has been made by Leslaw Wolejko for Spring, 2000, in NW Poland. This will either be confirmed, modified, or a firm alternative will be presented, via the Newletter and the IMCG Web-Page by 1st October. If you suspect that the IMCG Secretariat does not have your most up-to-date address, please either fill in your new details on the "Application Form" on the IMCG Web-Site, or e-mail the Secretariat on:

imcg@uel.ac.uk

or send us a letter to:

IMCG Secretariat

Department of Environmental Sciences

University of East London

Romford Road

London E15 4LZ

United Kingdom

 

1.4 Classification & Terminology Project — 3rd Workshop

The provisional dates and location for this 3rd Workshop have been proposed as 24-28th March, 2000, at a locality still to be decided in NW Poland. The Workshop will have three objectives:

1.4.1 Review of near-finalised classification approaches for the seven Topic Areas, discussion of unresolved issues, and then compilation of the seven Topic systems into an integrated descriptive system.

1.4.2 Agreement on the content of presentations concerning classification and terminology to be made at IMCG’s Conference (and in possible joint events) during the Quebec 2000 Millennial Wetland Event, in the summer of 2000.

1.4.3 An IMCG European Regional Symposium, for those unable to attend the biennial Field Symposium and Congress in Canada but wishing to have an opportunity to be involved in deciding and influencing IMCG issues. Outputs from the Regional Meeting will be fed into the subsequent biennial Field Symposium and Congress.

Funding for 3rd Workshop

In order to ensure that the next Workshop is not unduly Western-Eurocentric, funding will be essential to permit the attendance of participants from other parts of the globe — particularly the tropics, SE Asia and the Southern Hemisphere. Everyone is asked to pursue possible funding sources. Please keep the IMCG Secretariat informed about proposed approaches to possible funding sources so that potential sponsors are not approached separately by several different IMCG members.

 

2. Topic Sub-Groups

These represent the active elements in the future programme. It will be essential that these Sub-Groups actively pursue their topic area with a view to having some concrete and widely-accepted proposals for the 3rd Workshop in March, 2000.

2.1 Composition of the Topic Sub-Groups

Composition of the various Topic Sub-Groups is given in Table 1. The Sub-Group Co-ordinator is shaded black (or text says "lead") for the relevant topic. A number of other people are then listed for each topic. The full list for each topic represents the Sub-Group to will lead the discussion about that particular topic — though anyone wishing to be involved in the discussions is welcome to take part. It should be noted that the co-ordinator of each topic is automatically included as a member of all other Sub-Groups, in order to encourage a co-ordinated approach across topics at all stages. An important point for some participants is the final column of Table 1. This indicates whether they would prefer to receive e-mail files in zip format because they are charged according to the size of files received. Those distributing information should take this factor into account.

2.2 Topic Sub-Group Discussion Mechanisms

Each Sub-Group will almost certainly conduct most of its discussion electronically. This could be either by direct e-mail groups, or via a discussion page on the IMCG Web-Site. It is up to each Sub-Group to decide how it wishes to operate, but clear guidance, and opportunity, must be given to those wishing to join in the various discussions. Sub-Group Co-ordinators should inform the IMCG Secretariat the discussion mechanism their Sub-Group has agreed to use, and clear guidance must be given to the Secretariat as to what the Secretariat’s role will be in providing discussion facilities (e.g. a discussion web-page) and advising those who wish to join a particular Sub-Group discussion.


Any other business

Richard Lindsay

Workshop Chairman

27th June 1999


TABLE 1. Composition of Topic Sub-Groups

There are seven Topics, each headed by a Sub-Group Co-ordinator, indicated either by a black-shaded box, or the word "lead". Other members of the Sub-Group are indicated with an "X". Each Sub-Group Co-ordinator is also represented on all other Sub-Groups to ensure co-ordination of approach across Su-Groups. The final column indicates those who need to receive zipped e-mail files because they are charged by size of received files, or have limitations of disk space.

 
 

Termin-ology
Cons.

values, criteria, benefits, wise-use
Hydro-genesis
 

Plants
 

Animals
Multi-level & inte-gration
 

Region-ality
Zip- files
Kira Aaviskoo          
X
    
Joachim Blankenburg
X
              
Irina Bufkova      
X
        
John Couwenberg
X
  
X
    
X
    
Kath Dickinson      
X
    
X
  
Gert-Jan v. Duinen        
X
      
Hans Esselink        
X
      
Brian Eversham        
X
      
Ab Grootjans
X
  
X
          
Pietlouis Grundling            
X
  
Thomas Heinicke  
X
  
X
X
      
Ron Hofstetter
lead
X
X
X
X
X
X
Z
Stefan Hotes
X
X
X
X
lead
X
X
  
John Jeglum
X
  
X
      
X
  
Lebrecht Jeschke            
X
  
Hans Joosten
X
lead
lead
X
X
X
X
  
Philippe Julve
X
X
X
lead
X
X
X
  
Richard Lindsay
X
X
X
X
X
lead
X
  
Irina Kammenova  
X
            
Viktor Masing          
X
    
Tatiana Minajeva  
X
  
X
        
Asbjørn Moen      
X
  
X
X
  
Mette Risager  
X
            
Sake v.d. Schaaf    
X
          
Andrej Sirin  
X
X
      
X
Z
Jan Sliva
X
        
X
X
  
Karel Spitzer        
X
      
Gert Michael Steiner
X
X
X
X
X
X
lead
  
David Stroud          
X
    
Tiemo Timmermann  
X
            
Bryan Wheeler
X
  
X
          
Wendelin Wichtmann  
X
            
Leslaw Wolejko    
X
          
Tatiana Yurkovskaya            
X
  

 

ANNEX 1

Example of Topic Framework : Multi-level Sub-Group

 

Objectives
Activities
Outputs
Indicators
A) Scoping phase    
1. Define the scope of the required classification. 1.1 Agree the limits of investigation with workshop and other sub-groups. 1.1.1 Definition of peat, mire, and associated habitats. 1.1.1.1 Definitions of mires and related systems are accepted by IMCG members and mire experts worldwide.
2. Define the concept of multi-level, as it applies to definition derived from (A1.1.1) 2.1 Identify theoretical range of levels.

2.2 Review range of levels already described.

2.1.1 Theoretical model of levels.

2.2.1 Synthesis of existing levels.

2.1.1.2 Agreement in Sub-Group, and beyond, for model and synthesis.
B) Definition of objects    
3. Identification of levels appropriate to overall classification framework. 3.1 Investigate utility of differing potential information levels.

3.2 Test possible levels.

3.2 Agree levels appropriate to present exercise.

3.2.1 Working set of levels for analysis.

3.2.2 Published test results, to allow Sub-Group and others to see progress.

3.2.1 Agreement in Sub-Group, and beyond, for levels adopted.

 

4. Clear, usable definitions of multi-level units. 4.1 Rigorous testing of selected multi-level units. 4.1.1 Published test results, to allow Sub-Group and others to see progress.

4.1.2 Published guide to multi-level units.

4.1.2.1 Ability, and willingness, of non-Sub-Group members to use defined levels effectively.
C) Integration with other Topics    
5. To integrate the multi-level approach with other Sub-Group Topics. 5.1 Co-ordination and testing with outputs from other Sub-Groups. 5.1.1 Publish integrated classification system for mires and peatlands. 5.1.1.1 Widespread adoption of IMCG classification system.


General Information

The 2nd Workshop was held on schedule in March 1999 in Sumava Mountains, South Bohemia, Czech Republik.


Preliminary Programme


SUN 21.03.99  19.00   Get together
      at „Lehrstuhl für Vegetationsökologie,TUM“ in Munich, Germany (for those who arrive on Sunday)

MON 22.03.99 09.00   Departure from Munich to the Workshop location
   14.00-18.00  1. session

TUE 23.03.99  09.00-13.00  2. session
   14.00-18.00  3. session

WEN 24.03.99 09.00-13.00  4. session
   14.00-18.00  Half-day-excursion

THU 25.03.99  09.00-13.00  5. session
   14.00-22.00  6. Session & Closure session

FRI 26.03.99     Excursion - dependent on weather:
      a) snowless landscape: mires of Bohemian Forest
      b) lot of snow: Prague

SAT 27.03.99  departure
Sessions

At the beginning of each session, selected invited participants are asked to present a lecture (about 30 min.) about their allocated topic.  After presentations/lectures, the discussion will be open to the rest of the participants.  If required, small working groups will continue the work on the problems.  The ideas of the presentations, discussions and working groups, respectively, will be summarized in in final Workshop Report.
 


MON 22.03.99

14.00-18.00

Subject:    Introduction

a) R. Lindsay / J. Sliva / H. Joosten:
 Introduction; Short report on the results of the 1st workshop; coordination and final  Workshop-schedule

Suject:    Classification aims and scales
Questions to be solved: Aim of the (IMCG) Global Classification; Scales of the Global Classification; Tools and Information for Global Classification

b) J. Sliva:
 GLOBAL classification effort - the Question of Aim and Scale
c) R. Lindsay/ John Couwenberg:
 Multi-level classification approach: which levels are reasonable for global  classification?

 20.00-open end

Discussions to the day-topics
 


TUE 23.03.99

09.00-13.00

Subject:   Terminology
Questions be solved:  Multilingual wetland/mire lexicon

d) R. Hofstetter:
 Unified mire terminology in system of wetland terminology.

14.00-18.00

Object:   Hydrologic & hydrogeomorphic approach
Question be solved:  Is the hydrogenetic/hydrogeomorphic system the suitable basis     for a global classification ?

e) J. Jeglum:
 The hydrogeomorphic classification system: an alternative approach to wetland/mire  classification in the USA
f) H. Joosten:
 Hydrogenetic types re-visited

20.00-open end

 Discussion to the day-topics
 


WEN 24.03.99

09.00-13.00

Subject:   Regionality approach
Questions to be solved: Global distribution of mire types

g) M. Steiner:
 Synopsis of mires regions of the world - characteristics & attributes
h) Lebrecht Jeschke
 Mire regions in Europe

14.00-18.00

Excursion

20.00- open end

 IMCG Activities:
 (i) An account on progress of the European Mire Book project
 (ii) The state of the art of the Wise Use Guidelines of Peatlands, in preparation with IPS
 

THU 25.03.99

09.00-13.00

Subject:   Biological classification & functional types approach
Question to be solved: How reasonable is the botanical approach for a global classification ? Can a biological typology be the basis of a mire/peatland classification?

i) P. Julve:
 Criteria for botanical mire classification
j) S. Hotes
 Are there criteria for zoological mire classification ?

14.00-18.00

Subject:   Global mire classification & nature conservation
Questions to be solved: How do conservational priorities affect the classification?

h) Tiemo Timmermann,  Hans Joosten:
 Conservation criteria and priorities in relation to classification

20.00- open end

Closing session:  Summary of the Workshop, schedule for the next period
 

FRI 26.03.99

09.00-open end

 Excursion

Location / Accomodation


Sumava (Bohemian Forest) Mountains, Czech Republic (near Bavarian border).

The accomodation is organised in a small mountain hotel in the central part of the Sumava mountains. The sessions will be held here in one separate room.
The place is called POPELNÁ - thre are few houses, ca 3 km off the road between VIMPERK and SUSICE (see road maps 1 and 2 in attachment). (The name of the hotel and phone connection - after Febr. 16-th.!)

Accomodation price:  DM 30-36 (= USD 18-22) in two bed rooms (with bathroom/WC) per night and person (incl. breakfast)
Catering:    in hotel, ca. USD 10-15 per day

Organisation/Contact:


Jan Sliva
Technische Universität München
Lehrstuhl für Vegetationsökologie
Am Hochanger 6
D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan
Germany

Tel.: +49-8161-713715
Fax: +49-8161-714143
email: sliva@weihenstephan.de
For more information about Czech Republik see the Web-sites:

http://www.czech.cz
http://sunsite.mff.cuni.cz/czechrep
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/eur/cze.htm
 

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