Das Projekt "Integrating new technologies for the study of benthic ecosystem response to human activity: towards a Coastal Ocean Benthic Observatory (COBO)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Stiftung Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung e.V. in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (AWI) durchgeführt. Coastal ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic perturbation, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem stability and resilience. Shallow water sediments and their associated biota represent a reservoir for biodiversity, hosting resting and reproductive stages of planktonic organisms, and regulating carbon and nutrient biogeochemical cycles. However, the relationship between tightly coupled biological and geochemical processes in this environment is poorly defined with respect to their temporal and spatial variability. The overall objective of COBO is to integrate emerging and innovative technologies from different disciplines (physics, chemistry, biology, imagery) to provide in situ monitoring of sediment habitats, a key component of coastal marine ecosystems, in order to understand complex interactions between the biota (function and diversity) and their chemical environment. Existing technologies have limited spatial and temporal sampling resolutions and this has hampered progress in determining key parameters and in explaining biogeochemical patterns / processes and in modeling ecosystem dynamics. Improved in situ technologies are required to provide rigorous scientific information on processes regulating this unique and fragile habitat and for assessing, controlling and minimising human impact on European coastal waters thus addressing societal need. Organism-sediment processes, with both enhancing and mediating effects, are still poorly understood in shallow water sediments that receive the bulk of anthropogenic disturbance. The combination of innovative instruments from the different disciplines will provide powerful tools to significantly advance our understanding of organism sediment relations under dynamic coastal conditions and enhance predictive capability. COBO represents a major step towards the development of permanently operating benthic observatories for coastal management. Prime Contractor: Scottish Association for Marine Science; Dunberg Oban; United Kingdom.
Das Projekt "Entwicklung von innovativen Anbau-, Produktions- und Bewirtschaftungssystemen in Hinblick auf zukünftige Rahmenbedingungen" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V., Institut für Landnutzungssysteme und Landschaftsökologie durchgeführt. Bedingt durch die aktuellen und zu erwartenden ökonomischen, ökologischen und sozialen Rahmenbedingungen, aber auch restriktiver Nutzungsvorgaben ist es notwendig neue Anbauverfahren und -systeme der landwirtschaftlichen Landnutzung zu entwickeln. Ziele des Projektes sind die Erarbeitung entsprechender Grundlagen sowie die Entwicklung und Erprobung von stabilen und umweltgerechten 'lowest-input Anbausystemen des Ackerbaus mit erheblich reduziertem Faktoreinsatz sowie eine rassenspezifische, dem Leistungspotential angepasste, stark arbeits- und kostenreduzierte Weide- und Tierhaltung für die Standortbedingungen Nordostdeutschlands. Dieses Projekt wird weiterentwickelt im Rahmen des Projektes Entwicklung und Erprobung von Low-Input und high efficiency Anbausystemen im Hinblick auf zukünftig mögliche klimatische und wirtschaftliche Rahmenbedingungen.
Das Projekt "Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Supplying of Services in Rural Settlements of Mediterranean Partner Countries (HYRESS)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Agricultural University Athens, Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering durchgeführt. Objective: The strategic objective of the proposed project is to remove the knowledge barriers against the installation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems and the creation of mini-grids based on renewables. Ultimate objective of the project is to develop, combine, install, test and assess (technically and socially) the performance of low-cost pilot hybrid Renewable Energy (RE) systems in remote areas of the Mediterranean, which are not yet grid-connected. The hybrid systems will be consisted of photovoltaics, small wind generators, hydrogen subsystems and they will be installed in selected areas of the MPC countries to set-up and provide energy and associated services thus aid to the increase of the standard of living of these rural communities. The systems will be configured and sized after taking into account the local conditions. Three hybrid systems will be installed in remote rural areas of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. The systems should fulfil criteria as modularity, robustness, and simplicity in use and also require very low maintenance. Additional considerations for the technologies selection and implementation regard the possibility of systems standardisation and replication. Furthermore, the local installations will serve as good practice, accelerate local skill development, and promote and encourage international partnerships amongst all relevant stakeholders, such as research, financial, and regulatory institutions, industry and service companies, in particular SMEs, local representatives and social players. By setting-up the afore mentioned three pilot installations in three MPC the proposed research will bring a significant contribution for creating sustainable structures with a decent living quality in the rural environments of the MPC by developing highly innovative hybrid RE installations based on the availability of local renewable energy sources and the local social conditions and needs.