Managing effects of global climate on estuarine biodiversity and productivity

The purpose of the Project is to incorporate the knowledge and information from the Project's results into integrated coastal zone management plans (ICZMs) for the estuaries that were part of the Project, with the overall objective to improve the environment through healthy estuary ecosystems. Reference is made to the application, dated 9 May 2006, and subsequent correspondence with the Focal Point dated 23 October 2006, 21 March 2006, 29 May 2007, 18 June 2007, 27 June 2007, 13 July 2007 and 11 September 2007. The completed Project shall include the following activities and results: - establishment of a GIS (geographical information systems) database for the study areas; - development of integrated coastal zone management plans for the estuary Minho; - information and publicity (three internal workshops/seminars, one publication leaflet in Portuguese, eighteen scientific papers, three articles in local newspapers, participation in fourteen international scientific seminar to present the Project's results and three exhibitions held to inform stakeholders of the Project); - purchase of laboratory equipment; - research activities (isotope chemistry, genetics, modelling of intra- and interspecific physiological capacities, ecological modelling, biodiversity study and modulation). The Project Promoter is Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (Centre of Marine and Environmental Research -CIMAR-) at the University of Porto. The Project shall be undertaken in partnership with the University of Bergen, Institute of Biology and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). The Focal Point shall ensure that the Project Promoter provides at least 15 percent of the estimated eligible Project cost.