Benefits and prospects 效益与前景

Benefits and prospects   效益与前景

This project will provide new data and knowledge from a region that is considered important on a global scale in terms of carbon and nutrient fluxes, marine biodiversity, climate, human modification of coastal zones and political and socioeconomic changes, but strongly under-represented in global data bases. Therefore, the research results will contribute to the large global programmes IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme) and DIVERSITAS (International Programme of Biodiversity Science) which are under the roof of the overall Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP). On a local to regional level ECOLOC will provide research results that can be of direct use for local/regional decision makers and stakeholders, i.e. for developing management measures towards a sustainable use of coastal zone resources.

One of the main goals of the Framework Programme FONA – Research for Sustainable Development of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is to stem the worldwide loss of biodiversity and to preserve ecosystem functions. There are still serious gaps in knowledge about the causes, extent and consequences of biodiversity losses. Not even the magnitude of existing biodiversity on Earth is known. In addition, the question of how humans can simultaneously use and protect natural resources remains unanswered. A further important goal of the programme therefore is to achieve sustainable use of resources and, at the same time to ensure sustainability of livelihood.

Both countries will benefit from producing and contributing cutting-edge results in this respect. The interdisciplinary approach and intensive collaboration between Chinese and German institutions and researchers in this proposal contributes to the overall goals of the “Sino-German Collaboration in Marine and Polar Sciences (SiGMa)” as denoted in the Minutes of the 17th Meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Cooperation in Marine Science and Technology of both countries in Hangzhou in December 2012. The cooperative project ECOLOC will provide scientists from both countries with the opportunity to jointly work with modern analytical methods. The opportunities of exchange of scientists between participating institutions of both countries, joint application of modern analytical methods and the involvement of young researchers, students and technicians from both sides provided by ECOLOC will also promote mid- and longterm strategic partnerships of the participating research institutions. By offering thesis projects on various levels ECOLOC also contributes to capacity building in both countries.

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