1. Introduction & Objectives
Drylands cover about 41% of Earth’s land surface and are inhabited by more than 38% of the total global population. Taking into account that these ecosystems are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems under the current context of Global Change, together with currently are in a lesser extent studied, it is urgent to include in the scientific agenda’s, reports and assessments these systems. At the same time, these global drylands face a myriad of problems that present tough research, management, and policy challenges.
The aim of this Working Group is to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange information and discuss ideas and experiences in Drylands zones within the broad field of ecosystem services science. We further hope to make information concerning ecosystem services available to a wider community of users. In this way we think the ESP Working group is a vehicle to bring experts from different disciplines and ecosystems together and to start working for more visibility of Drylands challenges at a global level, to find colleagues and jointly provide and discuss ideas, launch papers and organize other academic activities.
We think that this working group serves as an information portal and discussion platform, which can be used for knowledge sharing and publication of WG outputs.
Therefore, we are looking for ways to create more visibility and one way could be to collaborate developing Drylands focused papers and events that have relevancy at larger scales.
For more information in general, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the working group leads or support members, as indicated in this webpage.
The BWG 4 – Drylands has created the following sub-working groups:
2. Lead Team & Members
- Antonio J. Castro, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, USA
- Cristina Quintas-Soriano, CAESCG, University of Almería, Spain
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Lead team, please contact the current lead team members.
If you are interested in becoming a member of this Working group, please click here.
3. Activities and Outputs
- 2021 Europe ESP conference: Human, livestock and wildlife (im)mobility in grassland and savannah ecosystem, Book of Abstracts, Presentations & Recordings
- 2018 Middle East & N.Africa ESP Conference: Sustainable rangeland management and community-based rehabilitation Book of Abstracts, Presentations