Based on the NRK articles “Norway in Red, White and Grey” ("Norge i rødt, hvitt og grått") and its follow-up “Europe from Green to Grey” ("Europa fra grønt til grått"), we are arranging a webinar on biodiversity Tuesday, December 2nd, from 10:00 to 11:00 CET, with presentations in English.
Programme:
Introduction to biodiversity loss in relation to of energy transition, area use, and major global blue-green ambitions
Rachel Haug Fossbakk, Chief Scientist at SINTEF Ocean.
How we made "Europe from Green to Grey"
Zander Venter, Senior Researcher at NINA.
Zander shows how they used satellite data, machine learning, and statistical estimation to produce the most detailed mapping of systematic land degradation in Europe to date. The results reveal that area use is significantly higher than previously estimated. He will discusses which industries are driving these changes and which ecosystems are most affected, and explains how this method can be used to improve environmental monitoring in the future.
How Scoping Shapes the Story: Comparing Biodiversity Impacts of Land and Deep-Sea Mining
Eric Young, Researcher at SINTEF Ocean and PhD Candidate at HVL.
Does deep-sea mining have a greater impact on biodiversity than land-based mining? This is a hotly debated question. But how much do the answers depend on how the analysis is scoped and framed? Eric examines how recent studies and reports define and measure area use and biodiversity impacts and how these methodological choices shape scientific conclusions and public debate. By tracing how analytical boundaries are drawn, it reveals why comparisons between land and sea can appear clear-cut on paper yet remain deeply uncertain in practice.
From static maps to dynamic biodiversity models: Is it possible to predict the future of Norwegian nature?
Ivar Herfindal, Researcher at NTNU Gjærevoll Centre.
Using new methods, researchers have come closer to what could be called a digital twin of Norwegian nature. But these are static products that do not account for the dynamics in nature and complex processes within and between species. Understanding the consequences of our actions means being able to predict the impact of changes on nature, that is, the organisms of different species found in a given area. Ivar will give a brief taster of how the Gjærevoll Centre tackles the challenge of predicting consequences of biodiversity interference.
Hope to see you there!
