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There is a rich history of environmental research in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands and Appalachian Mountains. From botany to forestry to geochemistry, this region has been the home of numerous discoveries. One observation made by both researchers and by residents is that environment is so intertwined with the societal, cultural, and political landscape of the Highlands, that interdisciplinary study makes obvious sense as a way to address the environmental problems of the region. Until now, no attempt has been made to facilitate this interdisciplinary study.
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The Mid-Atlantic Highlands are unique due to the proximity to large population centers, including Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond, and Boston. This proximity places upon the Highlands the burden of providing ecosystem services to those population centers, including the production of both food and energy. However, the provision of services causes environmental stress in the region, and often gets in the way of the provision of other important ecosystem services, including the provision of clean water. Some of these stresses then travel to those population centers through hydrological or atmospheric transport. These complicated relationships require interdisciplinary study to understand their drivers and consequences.
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The conference will be held at Canaan Valley
Institute's new Research and Education Center
near Davis, West Virginia
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Together with the new Environmental Research Center at West Virginia University, CVI is sponsoring a conference entitled Highland Problems and Downstream Connections; An Environmental Summit for the Mid-Atlantic Highlands. The focus of this three day meeting (March 7-9, 2010) is to identify research needs which can help researchers, policy makers, and stakeholders better understand the connections between uplands and coastal areas, including the environmental stresses that result from the considerable ecosystem services that the highlands provide to downstream communities.
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The meeting will have three concurrent themes - science, policy, and integration. Each theme will have a keynote speaker, panelist presentations (15 minutes), and a moderated discussion. The meeting opens Sunday evening with an address by Alan B. Mollohan, congressman for West Virginia’s first district. Monday continues with sessions on science and policy, and concludes Tuesday with the integrated session.
This meeting should not be missed by anyone who has an interest in the environment or sustainability of the highland region. For more information contact Paula Worden at paula.worden@canaanvi.org or 800.922.3601, extension 223.
PLEASE NOTE, THIS CONFERENCE IS FREE, BUT PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER.
Register Here Online
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