First announcement - Please mark the dates in your diary and share with your contacts

Synergies, conflicts and trade-offs in the relationship between nature and society are key processes in socio-ecological systems.  While conflicts are regarded as challenging and difficult trade-offs between ecosystem services are often necessary, the search for synergies and win-win solutions are essential steps in finding lasting solutions to major socio-environmental issues.

Through critical views from a range of disciplines, the conference aims to develop a deeper understanding of conflicts in human-nature relationships, and to explore the possibility that such conflicts may – through their resolution – actually lead to more sustainable solutions.

Through a mix of plenary sessions and interactive ‘living lab’ type workshops, representatives from a wide range of disciplines (including those who may not be considered the ‘usual players’ in environmental debates) will collaborate towards developing a practical guide to nature-related synergies, conflicts and trade-offs, focusing on positive outcomes for nature and society.

We plan to open a call for contributions in due course and will announce the framework of the programme soon. The conference will be a meeting place for scientists from the humanities, social sciences (including psychology and health), natural sciences (including behaviour and evolution), local, regional and EU level policy makers and NGOs.

The event will be organized by the conference committee with additional support from our communication team (Andy Sier from CEH and Ben Delbaere from ECNC) and the ALTER-Net secretary Tessa van Santen (INBO). Jiska van Dijk of NINA will lead the organisation.

Further details will be available here.