Ecological Interactions in a Warmer World

Our side-event aims to highlight the importance of climate change in relation to the ecology and viability of plant and animal species. Climatic patterns worldwide are changing rapidly with time - this inevitably has, or will reflect on entire ecosystems and man-based reliance of economically important living resources. We will present current knowledge on the following issues: To what extent does global warming impact on the biology of particular species and ecosystems? How important are shifts in species distribution ranges, and how can they affect particular economies and / or cultural practices? Finally, we will discuss emerging ideas aimed to tackle these problems in relation to previously established natural protected areas.