Date: 2-4 November 2010

Venue: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland
 

BACKGROUND

In the International Year of Biodiversity what do we have to celebrate?  What has been achieved? What targets have been met? What still needs to be done? What tools are available to improve biodiversity conservation in the future?

Heads of State and Government undertook in 2001 to halt the decline of biodiversity in the EU by 2010 and to restore habitats and natural systems. In 2002, they also joined some 130 world leaders in agreeing to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss globally by 2010. 

In May 2006, the European Commission adopted a communication on "Halting Biodiversity Loss by 2010 – and Beyond: Sustaining ecosystem services for human well-being". The Communication underlined the importance of biodiversity protection as a pre-requisite for sustainable development, as well as setting out a detailed EU Biodiversity Action Plan to achieve this.

Biodiversity is vital to regulating climate change and reducing its negative impacts by making ecosystems more resilient; biodiversity and climate change must be tackled in a coordinated manner and given equal priority.

This conference aims to:

• investigate how biodiversity policies and legislation including the Common Agricultural Policy, Fisheries Policy and the Marine and Coastal Access Bill) are affecting and driving biodiversity conservation;
• showcase biodiversity tools and methods available to ecologists; and
• review case studies of some of the more practical methods used in biodiversity projects.

The conference will consider future targets and approaches to biodiversity conservation.

 

 BOOKING

Early booking is advisable – places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. REGISTERINGFOR THE CONFERENCE CAN ONLY BE DONE ONLINE. To register for the conference please and to book your place.

The final booking date will be Friday 29 October 2010.

 

PROGRAMME

*** Speakers are currently being contacted for all the 'TBC' slots below and will be announced below once they have confirmed they will give a presentation at the conference

TUESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2010

18.00 Irish Section AGM

19.00 Dinner

20.30 After dinner speaker:
Dr John Cross, Woodland Specialist at National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)

WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2010

SESSION 1. BIODIVERSITY: WHERE WE ARE NOW?
Chaired by Professor Steve Ormerod FIEEM (Cardiff University)

09.00 Introduction, Health & Safety briefing

09.10 Ministerial Address
Mairead McGuinness, MEP

09.35 World Governments Fail to Deliver on 2010 Biodiversity Target
Damon Stanwell-Smith, UNEP WCMC

10.00 The Economics of Biodiversity and Ecosystems – A Tool to Improve Understanding and Impact?
Speaker TBC

10.25 The International Year of Biodiversity
Speaker TBC

10.50 Discussion

11.00 Tony Bradshaw Best Practice Award – Summaries of the Finalists (3 x 5mins)

11.15 Tea/Coffee Break

11.45 Pick up packed lunches and assemble for field excursions

SESSION 2. FIELD EXCURSIONS

12.00 Depart for field excursions (excursions to be announced shortly)

17.00 Return from field excursions, Tea/Coffee

17.30 AGM

19.00 President’s Wine Reception

19.30 Conference Dinner

21.30 Tony Bradshaw Best Practice Awards and other presentations

 

THURSDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2010

SESSION 3. LEGISLATION, POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING
Chaired by: Jenny Neff CEnv FIEEM (Ecological Advisory and Consultancy Services)

09.00 Introduction

09.05 Influencing the Common Agricultural Policy to Deliver Biodiversity Gains
Dr John Finn, Biodiversity and Agri-Ecology, TEAGASC

09.30 Marine Biodiversity and the Future Implementation of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill
Patricia Almeida-Villella MIEEM, Head of Data and Knowledge Management and Neil Wellum, Head of Marine Conservation Environment Team (Marine Management Organisation)

09.55 Influencing the Common Fisheries Policy to Deliver Biodiversity Gains
Speaker TBC

10.20 Taking Biodiversity into Account during the Planning Process
Gerry Clabby, Fingal County Council

10.45 Discussion

11:00 Tea/Coffee Break

 

SESSION 4. BIODIVERSITY TOOLS
Chaired by: Jenny Neff CEnv FIEEM (Ecological Advisory and Consultancy Services)

11.30 Biodiversity Data – Collection, Storage, Future?
Liam Lysaght, Director, National Biodiversity Data Centre

11.55  BISE and Baseline: New Tools to Combat Biodiversity Loss in Europe
Speaker TBC

12.20 The Role of Museums in Biodiversity Conservation (Collections and Research)
Matthew Jebb, Director of Dublin Botanical Gardens

12.45 Discussion

13.00 Lunch

 

SESSION 5. CONSERVING AND MANAGING BIODIVERSITY
Chaired by Penny Anderson CEnv FIEEM (IEEM President)

14.00 The Bord na Mona Rehabilitation Plan (Peat Bog Restoration)
Catherine Farrell MIEEM, Bord na Mona

14.25 Sustainable Agriculture in the Burren
Sharon Parr, Project Scientist, The Burren Farming for Conservation Programme

14.45 Practical Measures to Conserve Freshwater Pearl Mussels
Evelyn Moorkens MIEEM, Self-Employed Consultant

15.10 Discussion

15.25 Tea/Coffee Break

 

SESSION 6. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Chaired by Penny Anderson CEnv FIEEM (IEEM President)

15.55 The Living Landscapes Approach to 21st Century Nature Conservation
Heather Thompson, Chief Executive, Ulster Wildlife Trust and Paul Wilkinson, Head of A Living Landscape, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts

16.20  Developing Post-2010 Biodiversity Targets
Speaker TBC

16.45 Ecologists and the Future of Biodiversity Conservation
Speaker TBC

17.10 Discussion

17.20  Sum up and Conference End

BOOKING

Early booking is advisable – places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. REGISTERINGFOR THE CONFERENCE CAN ONLY BE DONE ONLINE. To register for the conference please and to book your place.CLICK HERE

The final booking date will be Friday 29 October 2010.

 

PRICES (conference fees are exempt from VAT)

	Day Delegate Rate * (3 November 2010)	Day Delegate Rate * (4 November 2010)	Two Day Combined Delegate Rate * (3-4 November 2010)	Dinner (2 November 2010)	Conference Dinner (3 November 2010)
IEEM Members	£98.50 (€117.50) **	£98.50 (€117.50) **	£186.50 (€222.50) **	£36.50 (€43.50) **	£46.50 (€55.50) **
Non IEEM Members	£129.50 (€154.50) **	£129.50 (€154.50) **	£248.50 (€296.50) **	£46.50 (€55.50) **	£57.00 (€68.00) **
Soc Env Members (non-IEEM)	£114.00 (€136.00) **	£114.00 (€136.00) **	£217.50 (€259.50) **	£46.50 (€55.50) **	£57.00 (€68.00) **
IEEM Members (student, retired, abeyance, deferred) (limited number of these reduced price places)	£52.00 (€62.00) **	£52.00 (€62.00) **	£104.00 (€124.00) **	£36.50 (€43.50) **	£46.50 (€55.50) **

* All the above day delegate rates include tea and coffee and lunch but no dinner or accommodation

** All the amounts in Euros are calculated at the time of going to press and if paying by Euro cheque, these can be calculated with the most recent exchange rate. All credit card payments are taken in pounds sterling.

 

ACCOMMODATION

IEEM has an allocation of rooms at the Royal Marine Hotel which delegates are responsible for booking direct with the hotel themselves. A negotiated reduced rate of €85 bed and breakfast rate has been agreed with the hotel which, at the time of press, is equivalent to £70.50.

To book one of the allocated rooms at the hotel, please download the following accommmodation booking form, fill out your details and email it directly to the hotel: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax it to +353 (0) 1 2712511.

For further details about the conference hotel please visit their website http://www.royalmarine.ie/ or telephone them on +353 (0) 1 23000 30.

If you would like to stay somewhere other than the Royal Marine Hotel, then alternative hotel information can be found on the following websites (although please bear in mind that all conference activities will be taking place in the Royal Marine Hotel):

http://www.dun-laoghaire.com/accommodation

http://www.dun-laoghaire.com/accommodation

 

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

When booking, please advise us if you have any special dietary requirements.

 

CONFIRMATION OF BOOKINGS

Bookings will be confirmed by email.

 

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

Publicity information may be inserted into conference packs at a cost of £150.00 (excl. VAT) per leaflet (A5, A4 or A3 folded to A4). For further information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

There is also a limited number of places for organisations to book exhibition space at the conference at a cost of £400.00 (excl. VAT). For further information and availability contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

This programme is correct at time of printing, but may be subject to change without notice. The most up to date programme will be available on the IEEM website.

 

CANCELLATION

In the event of cancellation, a 50% refund will be made if advised before 22 October 2010; no refunds after 22 October 2010. All cancellations must be received in writing. Substitutions can be made at any time.

 

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

Attendance at this conference counts towards the CPD requirements for IEEM members.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .