Apologies for cross-posting.
Please address any enquiries to Suzanne Leroy (email:[log in to unmask])
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"Rapid and catastrophic environmental changes in the Holocene and human response"
first joint meeting of IGCP 490 and ICSU
Environmental catastrophes in Mauritania, the desert and the coast
Objectives of IGCP 490 and ICSU Dark Nature
The main structural questions to be answered in this meeting are
? Chronology of Changes in the broad theme of Climatic, Ecological and Health Catastrophes
? Causes and mechanisms of past environmental catastrophes/rapid changes
? Impacts on past civilisations and ecosystems
? Mechanisms of recovery
For Mauritania, the relevant indications of these changes are coastal wetland regions, upwelling strength, groundwater, tsunamis, lakes, desertification, health, dust, collapse of ancient civilisations.
First meeting: where?
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is a desertic and sahelian country between Senegal and Western Sahara, with abundant traces of climatic changes with wetter and drier periods. The desert around Atar holds abundant lake beds and other traces of past wetlands (e.g. travertines active on/off in the last century in relation to varying rainfall), a centre of attraction for human occupation. We will also walk to the crater left by the meteoritic impact of Aouelloul. Chingueti, a medieval holy city, is now nearly covered by sand; however its family libraries still contains ancient scientific, religious and philosophical books (Leroy and Stewart, 2002).
Also Mauritania has on its coast a large wetland area protected by the RAMSAR Convention: the national park of the Banc D'Arguin (PNBA) which contains a relictual mangrove from the Pliocene and is the home of plentiful of wildlife. This area was already used by Neolithic inhabitants, as it can be seen by the very large shell middens, and is still the home of the Imraguen, fishing in the rich upwelling waters.
Why?
Still too little research is going on in Mauritania on "The role of Holocene environmental catastrophes in human history". This meeting attempts to show to the participants the state-of the-art of the present knowledge and aims at enticing new research projects in Mauritania by the involvement of the local scientific community (University of Nouakchott).
Humans living in these transitional areas (in space and time) are very sensitive to aridification and sea level changes. Human migration patterns through the Sahara further north (Gibraltar) and south (sub-sahelian Africa) have and often are still directly related to environmental change.
The role of Saharan dust in climate as well as its impact on health will be examined.
The Mauritanian field trip will be an opportunity for this international meeting to invite papers on all similar regions in the world.
When?
Sunday 4-Sunday 18 Jan. 2004 with the option of selecting only one of the two weeks.
Scientific programme
Field conference
Week 1: The banc d'Arguin, protection problems, one day/2 days boat trip on the shallow area of the Banc, the beach rock, the remains of the mangrove at Cape Timiris, the Neolithic middens.
Week 2: The biodiversity and human occupation in the cordon de Zerga (Palaeozoic esker) (between Atar-Chinguetti), the Holocene lake sediment, rock art, the travertines (active and dead) of Tergit (near Atar) and the recent desertification, the meteoritic impact crater of Aouelloul.
We welcome presentations on catastrophic and rapid environmental changes any where in the world but preferentially related to: Desertification; cultural collapse; groundwater changes; dust transport; sea-level change; palaeoecology, palaeo-health.
Travel funds
The cross-disciplinary participation of scientists from West Africa as well as from other developing nations within the region will be facilitated. Some travel funds will be available for young scientists or scientists from developing countries.
The conference organisers have a limited amount of funds available to support travel and accommodation expenses of young scientists (i.e. postgraduate research students and postdoctoral researchers who have completed their PhDs since 1998) and scientists from Developing Countries.
Scientists wishing to apply for support are expected to participate fully in the conference and therefore should submit the following:
* an abstract (c. 1000 words) to Atlas-Conferences
* a cover letter explaining if they are applying for 1 or 2weeks (maximum 500 words) to S. Leroy
* a brief curriculum vitae to S. Leroy
It is anticipated that no participant will be supported for travel costs from their home to Paris.
Applications for support must be received by 15 Nov 2003. Decisions over the allocation of funds will be made by 1st Dec 2003.
Any financial support allocated will be provided on registration with the travel agency.
For further information please contact Prof. Suzanne Leroy.
Scientific committee
? Suzanne Leroy (Geography and Earth Sciences, Brunel University, West London) [log in to unmask],
? Aziz Ballouche (Geographie, Universite de Caen) [log in to unmask],
? Mohamed Salem Ould Sabar (Geologie, Universite de Nouakchott) [log in to unmask],
? Nick Brooks (Saharan Studies Programme, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia),
? Iain Stewart (Geography and Earth Sciences, Brunel U. and Department of Geography & Topographic Science, U. of Glasgow)
? Eric Odada, Nairobi, Kenya
Organising Committee
? Suzanne Leroy, [log in to unmask]
? Aziz Ballouche, [log in to unmask]
? Mohamed Salem Ould Sabar, [log in to unmask]
? Sylvain Philip (Hommes et Montagnes travel agency)
Preliminary list of key note speakers
The participation of Nicole Petit-Maire, Barbara Sponholz, Martin Williams, Fabienne Marret, Khalil Mohamed, Tony Berger, Nick Brooks, Fekri Hassan, Dave Liverman, Jonas Satkunas is already guaranteed.
Participants numbers
Numbers will be limited to 40 because of the limitations linked to local transport.
Presentation of scientific results
An unusual format has been chosen, well adapted to the country. This is due to the lack of electricity in the field and due to the damaging effect of sand on optical and electronic devices. The participants, contrary to usual, once arrived at the camp at lunch or in the evening, will speak about their results in the open (standing up surrounded by participants sitting on the floor). The participants will be helped to follow the talk by detailed figures given in the volume of abstracts and by a flipchart.
Volume of abstracts
Because of the unusual setting, we require an extended abstract (1000 words minimum, 2000 words maximum excluding title and references) but with 4-5 diagrams selected in order to support your talk (no electronic/electric medias).
Please submit your abstract to: http://atlas-conferences.com/cgi-bin/abstract/submit/camu-01
Publication
Publication of the results will be encouraged in a special issue of the Geological Society of London.
Travel
To Mauritania: charter flights from Paris to Atar are recommended.
PARIS CDG T3 - ATAR Sunday 4 January and Sunday 11 January 2004
Meeting at the Airport: 04.00 take-off: 06.00, Arrival at ATAR : 11.30
ATAR PARIS Sunday 11 January and Sunday 18 January 2004
Meeting at the Airport: 10.00 take-off: 12.00, Arrival at PARIS CDG T3 : 16.30
Schedules flights to Nouakchott are possible but more expensive. The meeting point is Atar in any case at the beginning of each week.
In Mauritania:
Week 1: some travel in 4-while drive, sleeping under simple communal tents, in the PNBA
Week 2: some local travel by hiking and sleeping in the open (luggage and food on dromedaries) around Atar, Zerga, Tergit.
All through the travel Agency: Hommes et Montagnes (www.hommes-et-montagnes.com/; Sylvain PHILIP <[log in to unmask]>): charter, food and local transportation.
Sponsors
IGCP 490 The role of Holocene environmental catastrophes in human history
ICSU DARK NATURE - RAPID NATURAL CHANGE AND HUMAN RESPONSES
IUGS- GEOIND Geoindicators Initiative
Pending: MEDIAS-France
Potential: UEA, INQUA, WAC
The sponsor will go firstly for travel expenses of young scientists and scientists from emerging countries.
Links
? Regular updates on: www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/ges/igcp490/maur2004.htm
? Hommes et Montagnes travel agency: www.hommes-et-montagnes.com/
? IGCP 490: www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/geo/igcp490/igcp490home.html
? ICSU Dark Nature: www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/ges/ICSU-DN/ICSU-DN.htm
? Leroy S. and Stewart I., 2002 - 'Environmental Catastrophes and Recoveries in the Holocene'. PAGES News: 10, 3: 26, newsletter available at www. pages.unibe.ch.
? Leroy S. and Stewart I., 2003 - 'Environmental Catastrophes and Recoveries in the Holocene'. Episodes. 26, 2: 124-125.
? GEO-indicators initiative of IUGS www.lgt.lt/geoin/
Registration
1- Registration fees for all participants (even those receiving a grant):
20 Euros before 1 Dec. (to be paid with your travel booking)
60 Euros after 1 Dec. (to be paid with your travel booking)
2- Travel booking with "Hommes et Montagnes" (asap to benefit from cheaper charter flights from Paris)
week one only: 1310 euros
week two only: 930 euros
weeks one and two: 1510 euros
These prices are full pension and flights from Paris, taxes, visa, local guides, boats, camels, 4 x 4 toyotas.
3- abstract submission fee:
? before 1 Dec. 2003
Send abstract to http://atlas-conferences.com/cgi-bin/abstract/submit/camu-01 , There are no submission fees;
? after 1 Dec. 2003
40 euros of fees to the travel agency "Hommes et Montagnes". Abstract to be sent to Suzanne Leroy [log in to unmask]
Version of 28 Oct. 2003
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