Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration

Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration

International Geoindicators Workshop

Canberra, Australia, 24-26 November 2003.

Sponsored by

The GEOINDICATORS INITIATIVE of the

International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

Commission on Geological Sciences for Environmental Planning (COGEOENVIRONMENT).

CRC for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration (CRC LEME).

Environment Australia

Geoscience Australia.

University of Canberra.

What are geoindicators?

The contribution of natural geological processes and their linkages to the environment have often been ignored in long-term environmental monitoring and reporting. Geoindicators are measures (magnitude, frequencies, rates, trends) of geological processes and phenomena, occurring at or near the Earth’s surface and subject to changes that are significant for understanding environmental change over periods of 100 years or less. Geoindicators assess both catastrophic events, and those that are more gradual, but evident within the human lifespan. They focus on abiotic components of ecosystems and landscapes. The geoindicator concept is a new approach to the indicators of landscape change that aims to assist in environmental research, monitoring, and reporting. It is being advanced by an international working group, called the Geoindicators Initiative that was set up by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

Website:

or

Structure and aims of the workshop:

The Workshop will discuss, and disseminate information about, geoindicators and their applications. The 3 day workshop is structured to contribute to understanding the role of humankind and natural geological processes as factors causing environmental changes over short periods of time (<100 years).

The Workshop will cover applications of geoindicators in National Parks systems, in State of Environment reporting, and in sustainable development, and will have a strong focus on those geoindicators that can be used for:

1.National Parks monitoring, and arid zone indicators.

2.Groundwater quality and monitoring.

3.Seismicity, crustal movements, and active fault zones.

4.Coastal zones and shoreline protection.

Who should attend?

The Workshop is intended for national parks managers, field operators, and technicians; ecologists, biologists, environmental scientists, geologists, and environmental and geo-sciences professionals with an interest in environmental management.

An important aim of the Workshop is to provide the opportunity for forming contacts and cross-discipline networks between parks staff and professionals working in different disciplines but working towards the same goals and objectives.

Field trip

The second day of the workshop will involve a 1 day field trip to inspect and demonstrate how geological features can be used as indicators of environmental change.

Venue

The workshop will be held in the Geoscience Australia complex Symonston, ACT.

The Geoindicators Initiative - GEOIN

The primary sponsors of the Workshop, the Geoindicators Initiative (GEOIN), is a non-profit international endeavour to encourage the application of geoscience to environmental concerns through monitoring and assessing rapid geological change. GEOIN is actively involved in conferences, workshops, training courses, publications and other activities. It operates via the Internet as a medium for the international exchange of data, information, and experiences.

GEOIN is supported by: the International Union of Geological Sciences, the Institute for Earth Science and the Environment of the Geological Society of America, and other organizations. GEOIN is run by a small voluntary Management Board consisting of Co-Directors A.R. (Tony) Berger (Victoria, Canada) and Jonas Satkunas (Geological Survey of Lithuania), together with David Liverman (Geological Survey of Newfoundland), and John Ridgway (British Geological Survey), and all will be presenting at the Aiustralian Workshop.

International workshops and courses organised by GEOIN

(For more information see )

GEOINDICATORS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN ARID REGIONS. International workshop, Assiut, Egypt, 29 September-3 October 2003,

geoindicators in moUntainous areas. International workshop on Geoindicators, Sacred Inca Valley (Cuzco–Urubamba), Peru, 30 September – 5 October 2002.

GEOINDICATORS WORKSHOP AND FIELD TRIP. Cordoba, Argentina, 14-17 May, 2002,

GEOINDICATORS FOR ECOSYSTEM MONITORING IN PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS. International Workshop. Gros Morne National Park, Western Newfoundland, 10-14 September 2001

GEOINDICATORS SHORT COURSE AND FIELD TRIP, Lusaka, Zambia, 24-27 June 2001.

GEOINDICATORS SYMPOSIUM AND FIELD MEETING. Ustka, Poland, 26-29 September, 2000

GEOINDICATORS: APPLICATIONS TO HUMID TROPICS. Symposium at 31st International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 8-9 August, 2000

GEOINDICATORS. International Workshop. Vilnius, Lithuania, 11-16 October 1999.

Accommodation Information

The venue at Geoscience Australia (GA) is 8 km from the centre of Canberra. The nearest accommodation (approx. 1 km from GA) is in the suburb of Narrabundah as follows: (not in any order of precedence):

Hotel Heritage; 02-62952944;

Comfort Inn Garden City; 02 6295 3322;

Crestwood Gardens Motor Inn; 02 6295 2099; ww.crestwoodgardens.citysearch.com.au

Best Western Sundown Motel Resort; 02 6239 0333;

Information on Canberra Accommodation can be found at

Registration

The participation fee $220includes admission to the Short Course, morning and afternoon coffee/tea and lunch, and the cost of the mid-course Field Trip.

Contacts for Further information.

1

Mary Walsh

CRCLEME

C/o Geoscience Australia

PO Box 378

Canberra ACT 2601

Australia

Fax: +61 (02) 6249 9930

Email:

Colin Simpson

73 Beasley Street,

Torrens ACT 2607

Australia

Phone: +61-(02)-62863548

Email:

1

------

Registration - Expression of Interest Form

Copy and paste the details below into an email, or post the completed information, to: Mary Walsh - dcontact details above.

1