DURESS at the Royal Welsh Show

The Duress project (Diversity of Upland Rivers for Ecosystem Service Sustainability) is a £3 million National Environment Research Council funded project which has been assessing the role of Biodiversity as central to the sustainable delivery of upland river ecosystem services under changing land-use and climate.

From July 20th - 23rd 2015, DURESS researchers from Cardiff and Aberystwyth Universities showcased their work at the Royal Welsh Show. Children of all ages took part in interactive activities such as using the microscopes to identify invertebrates and find out about their functions. It was a great way to engage young people in science and see the practical work scientists do to try and improve our rivers and countryside. 

The Social Science researchers were also asking members of the public how they value the benefits we all gain from our rivers. This research will help DURESS understand the economic cost-benefits of upland river catchments and people’s preferences for ecosystem service.

Led by Sustainable Places Research Fellow Dr Isabelle Durance, the DURESS project has been investigating how organisms and ecosystem functions maintain river ecosystem services and intends to help those communities who live, work and depend on the UK's uplands who are most effected by the changing climate, evolving resource demands and economic uncertainty. The project which began in May 2012 is now coming to an end and the team are in the process of distributing their findings about what the future could look like.

Find out more about the DURESS project on their website.