The final conference of COST Action ES1104 took place at the University of Greenwich, London, on 30 and 31 March 2016. ‘Restoration of Arid Lands and Combat of Desertification: From Science to Practice’ brought together an international line-up speakers from the ‘Drylands and Desert Restoration Hub’ to present review papers on best practice in drylands restoration and the results of recent research, in order to showcase the work which has taken place over the past four years.  High-profile experts from various international bodies and NGOs were invited to take part in the panel discussions.

The full programme can be downloaded here: Restoration of Arid Lands conference programme

Please find below the links to the session recordings:

Day 1
Session 1
URL:http://gre.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=92335685-6a65-419e-a2e1-910b3d0af536

Welcome & COST Action ES1104: An overview
Benz Kotzen (Chair, COST Action ES1104, University of Greenwich, UK
David Maguire (Vice Chancellor, University of Greenwich, UK

Day 1
Session 2
URL:http://gre.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=43ae1fa8-4061-4c39-b5f0-d949e19ac489

Description:
Applied multidisciplinary research in dryland restoration

Chair: Cristina Branquinho (University of Lisbon, Portugal)

Edoardo Costantini (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Italy): Soil indicators to assess the effectiveness of restoration strategies in dryland ecosystems

Ilan Stavi (Dead Sea and Arava Science Centre, Israel): Moderate-intensity practices for restoring soil functions and ecosystem services in drylands

Melanie Köbel (University of Lisbon, Portugal): Plant diversity along a desertification gradient: the importance of soils

Discussion panel:

Richard Thomas (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Jordan)
Pedro Berliner (Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel)
Fabrizio Cassi (Timesis, Italy)

Day 1
Session 3
URL:http://gre.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=99c678da-1e92-44b1-914c-ed09c385295e

Description:
From science to practice

Chair: Edoardo Costantini (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Italy)

Roberto de Phillipis (University of Florence, Italy): The induction of biological soil crusts: an environmental biotechnology for the rehabilitation of desert soils

Alejandro Valdecantos (Mediterranean Centre for Environmental Studies, Spain): Plant-plant interactions in dryland restoration

Alexandra Silva (SECIL-Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento, S.A., Portugal): Quarry rehabilitation and biodiversity: a case study from Portuga

Discussion panel:

Yannis Fermantzis (Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Greece)
Mchich Derak (Regional Directorate of Forestry and Desertification Control of the Rif, Morocco)
Moctar Sacande (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/FAO, UK)

Day 1
Session 4
URL:http://gre.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=4766f57d-079b-4e8a-b090-1eaa9c2944ad

Description:
Strategic approaches to land use planning

Chair: Gudrun Schwilch (University of Bern, Switzerland)

Janet Hooke (University of Liverpool, UK): Landscape approach to dryland restoration: a review of relevant concepts and tools for implementation

Maria Jose Marques (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain): Multifaceted impacts of Sustainable Land Management in drylands

Matteo Jucker (University of Bern, Switzerland): Assessing resilience of land use systems in dry Mediterranean areas prone to regime shifts

Discussion panel:

Grammenos Mastrojeni (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy
Karin van Boxtel (Both Ends, Netherlands)
Anton Imeson (3D Environmental Change, Netherlands)

Day 2
Session 1
URL:http://gre.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=220ac552-d8bb-4f3b-b8f6-56a1ce6b03e8

Description:
Engagement with stakeholders

Chair: Maria Jose Marques (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain)

Ute Schmiedel (University of Hamburg, Germany): The role of paraecologists in ecological restoration

Pandi Zdruli (CIHEAM Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Italy): Engaging with local communities in the restoration of Wadi Kharrouba, North West Desert, Egypt

Mehreteab Tesfai (Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research): Stakeholder involvement in water harvesting projects in Africa: a key factor for success

Discussion panel:

Mariam Akhtar-Schuster (PT-DLR, Germany)
Yasemen Karatas (Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey)
Troy Sternberg (University of Oxford, UK)

Day 2
Session 2
URL:http://gre.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=68ab45e1-32ef-471a-9c6d-6091c9c360ee

Description:
Learning from practitioners

Chair: Janet Hooke (University of Liverpool, UK)

Gudrun Schwilch (University of Bern, Switzerland): Learning from and sharing best practice in the management of drylands

Alice Nunes (University of Lisbon, Portugal): Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean basin as viewed by practitioners

Teresa Mexia (University of Lisbon, Portugal): Priorities, difficulties and challenges of restoration in drylands: young researchers’ perspectives

Discussion panel:

Roberto de Philippis (University of Florence, Italy)
Ramazan Apaydin (Ministry of Forestry and Water Affair, Turkey)
Anton Imeson (3D Environmental Change, Netherlands)

Day 2
Session 3
URL:http://gre.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=da5ef706-4921-4874-aa03-4ee09d2537f8

Description:
Setting New Agendas in Restoration Science

Chair: Simon Berkowicz (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel)

Federico Rossi (University of Florence, Italy):
The role of cyanobacterial-produced exopolysaccharides in the successful induction of biological soil crusts in desertified areas

Alessandra Adessi (University of Florence, Italy):
Investigating the role of extracellular polymeric substances in the physiology of dryland biological soil crusts

Isaac Kedem (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel):
Exploring the role of an unusual green alga in the healthy functioning of a desert crust

Ariel Cohen (Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel):
The impact of environmental change on the development of ephemeral gullies

Luca Paoli (University of Siena, Italy):
Desertification and lichens: biological markers of climatic and nitrogen stress in dry environments

David Finger (Reykjavik University, Iceland): Building up knowledge on resilience of fragile lands in subarctic climate.

Adriana Príncipe (University of Lisbon, Portugal):
Regenerating Mediterranean forest: the implications of microclimate in drylands

Troy Sternberg (University of Oxford, UK):
Mapping potential groundwater for sustainable Gobi Desert communities