Introducing the Catchment Change Network

The Catchment https://www.yourcanadianmeds.com/ Change Network (CCN) is a NERC-funded Knowledge Exchange Network that brings university scientists, with a broad interest in catchment management, together with a wide range of practitioners to consider future change in catchment systems. The science of the natural environment is an uncertain science. Practitioners cannot make predictions for real problems without significant uncertainty in representing the processes involved. In catchment management, this inherent uncertainty is exacerbated by the additional complexities of future climate change, societal change and technical innovation. These are difficult to anticipate or quantify and suggest a need for an adaptive approach to management with a science need driven by existing and emerging legislation. CCN is exploring the ways in which the latest scientific methodologies can inform this process in the three Focus Areas of flood risk, water scarcity and diffuse pollution. Network activities will include mapping of future research needs in collaboration with a wide variety of potential users, the development of Guides of Best Practice in each focus area and the development of a range of professional training opportunities across our science user groups.

CCN Objectives

The major aim of the network will be to integrate modern uncertainty estimation methods linking risk and uncertainty with a move towards adaptive management at the catchment scale. The Catchment Change Network has the following Objectives:

1. To formalise a network of scientists and science users in catchment management
2. To jointly develop and deliver workshops, training and special publications
3. To deliver three annual conferences which will active ly identify future resear ch requirements
4. To integrate our three focus area topics (flood risk, water scarcity and diffuse pollution) and promote integrated catchment management

Focus Area 1: Change and Flood Risk Management

Focus Area 2: Change and Water Scarcity

Focus Area 3: Change and Water Quality

Core Activities and Outputs

Workshops and training. In Year 1, each of the three focus areas will be the subject of a workshop, each of which aims to better inform policy development using current scientific understanding. These will bring together the academic researchers and the user and practitioner community in defining the needs, scope and means of delivery of key learning in the area. In years 2 & 3, training programmes will replace these workshops and focus on wider dissemination to a broader practitioner audience. Guides to Best Practice. Progressively updated Guides to Best Practice will be produced for each of the three focus areas. Content https://www.yourcanadianmeds.com/ will be defined and progressively developed by the Focus Area Teams with the aim that these documents will outline the current state of knowledge and science whilst providing practical case studies of where key tools have and can be successfully applied. Each will be developed collectively with the interactive involvement of stakeholders via a wiki-based format The CCN will identify necessary future research directions at an Annual Conference which will also form a key tool in dissemination to wider audiences, including the wider science base and other science users.