Hosted at the Christchurch Conference Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 27 to 29 November 2023, the 2023 International Conference for the Australasian Network for Ecology and Transportation (ANET) delved into the theme of “Resilience, Recovery, and Restoration: Transport Ecology in a Changing World.”
This trailblazing even brought together ecologists, transport planners, regulators, construction and operation professionals, and the local community for an unforgettable exploration of the intricate connection between transportation and ecology.
The two-day conference was packed with insightful technical presentations, captivating posters, interactive panels, hands-on workshops, and innovative trade displays.
Furthermore, UIC had the pleasure of organising a workshop focusing on railway infrastructure development and ecosystem services on Monday 28 November. The event was jointly moderated by Carla Bates, Head of Environment at KiwiRail, and Lorenzo Franzoni, Sustainability Advisor at UIC.
During the event, participants gained a unique insight into the field of ecosystem services, investigating how railways can create synergies and make a positive impact. This was particularly important in terms of UIC’s ongoing project “Ecosystem Valuation for Railways” ECOV4R, which focuses on developing an ecosystem services valuation framework for railway infrastructure development.
The interactive session played a pivotal role in facilitating the exchange of ideas, local knowledge, technical expertise, and practical experience.
On the same day, Pinar Yilmazer, UIC Senior Advisor, also delivered a presentation on “Global Strategies for Sustainable Habitat Management”. The session explored the intricacies of UIC’s biodiversity strategy, providing insights into the latest technical projects within the UIC Sustainable Land Use Sector, and showcasing compelling case studies from UIC members worldwide.
Taking centre stage were also the critical aspects of railway asset management for biodiversity. The presentation emphasised key factors such as the importance of having common performance indicators, collecting reliable and standardised data supported by medium and long-term monitoring, and the pivotal role of innovative digital remote monitoring.
