Wetlands and Invasive Alien Species: Toward Economically Viable Natural Solutions?
Abstract
Wetlands are the largest reservoirs of carbon-containing organic matter. They help mitigate extreme weather events (floods and droughts), purify water, and preserve biodiversity. However, 85% of wetlands have been lost over the past three hundred years; they continue to disappear three times faster than forests. Since the 1970s, an additional problem has come to light: the number of invasive alien species in wetlands and aquatic environments has increased by 70%. This is one of the five factors responsible for the decline in biodiversity.
According to the 2018 Global Report on Water Resource Valorization, “working with nature, rather than against it, would preserve natural capital and support a circular economy” that uses resources efficiently yet sustainably. Nature-based solutions can be both viable and provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. Recent technologies that combine ecological solutions with sustainable chemical processing will be presented. A few illustrative examples will highlight the value of such approaches.
This course will be followed by a seminar presented by Dr. Arnaud Albert, who holds a Ph.D. in biology and serves as a project and research officer for invasive alien species and as the national focal point for invasive alien plants at the French Office for Biodiversity. His presentation is titled “What Actions Should Be Taken to Prevent the Introduction of Invasive Alien Species?”