Themes and Sessions

The overall theme for the conference and workshops is “The Ecosystem Approach in the 21st Century: Guiding science and management” with a focus on aquatic ecosystems. Day 1 of the conference is open for submission of presentations on this topic and any of the themes given here. Days 2 and 3 will be workshops by invitation based on the themes.

Theme 1. Origin of Ecosystem Approach (EA) and challenges with implementation

  • Definition and history of ecosystem approach (facilitated discussion)
  • Summary of EA application
  • What made the EA successful?
  • What were clear challenges? Where are we going is shaped by what has happened and why
  • What are the challenges of implementing an ecosystem approach? Why is now the right time to revisit and revise the ecosystem approach?

Theme 2. Developing an integrative framework (IF)

  • Local vs global
  • What are the key dimensions/elements that must be considered in an IF (e.g., economic, scientific, cultural)?
  • How can an IF for ecosystem management be implemented across a range of spatial and temporal scales?
  • What are the uncertainties and assumptions we must overcome before an IF is ready for management?

Theme 3. Science-policy solutions

  • Strengthening science-policy linkages
  • Dealing with uncertainty

Theme 4. Education, outreach, science transfer

  • Outreach exemplars
  • Lessons learned

Theme 5. Blue economy

  • Monetary gains from ecosystem-based management

Theme 6. Pathways for transformative change at the food-water nexus

  • Envisioning a sustainable transition pathway for shared water futures in the Great Lakes
  • Laurentian Great Lakes and East African Great Lakes focus

Theme 7. Indigenous management systems

  • Centering and prioritizing Indigenous-led management
  • The role of partnerships in advancing Indigenous-led efforts in the Great Lakes

Theme 8. Technological advances

  • What emerging technologies and integrative tools are needed to optimize the use of ecosystem-based management?
  • Defining Technology
  • Roles of technology in aquatic ecosystem science, monitoring, and management
  • Technologies that revolutionized aquatic ecosystem management
  • The next frontier: Emerging technologies
  • Challenges and Recommendations for effectively incorporating technology into the aquatic ecosystem approach