The northwest goes for glory Greenbox, the eco-tourism project in the northwest of Ireland is one of three finalists in the destination category of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The cross-Border eco-tourism destination, which includes all of counties Leitrim and Fermanagh and parts of Donegal, Sligo, Cavan and Monaghan (see www.greenbox.ie) has been short-listed alongside the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the state of Vermont in the United States.
The Tourism for Tomorrow awards, run by the World Trade and Tourism Council, a corporate organisation, are now in their third year. The judges will visit the three sites and the winner will be announced at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, from May 10th to 12th, www.globaltraveltourism.com
Third world war warnings
It is the responsibility of all scientists to promote greater understanding of issues such as waste management options, energy production, greenhouse gases and GM crops. So said Prof Martin J Downes of NUI Maynooth at Environ 2007, this year's Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland conference, which took place at the Carlow Institute of Technology last week. Prof Downes singled out researchers at the Institute of Technology in Sligo as leaders in reaching out to the community, and urged other colleges to follow their lead. He also suggested that any future wars are likely to be fought over increasingly limited natural resources. Some 200 research projects on topics including conservation, biodiversity, waste management, environmental change and invasive species were presented at the two-day event. See www.environ2007.ie for more details.
A weekend for bogs and frogs
Interested in learning more about the wildlife on the bog or the preservation powers of turf? If so, consider enrolling for the Wet, Wonderful and Wild Bogs and Fens evening course at the UCD Adult Education Centre, Dublin. The course, which costs €190, starts on Tuesday and runs for six weeks, and includes a Saturday field trip to three peatland sites in the Bog of Allen. Details on 01-7067123 (quote HN207).
Meanwhile, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) is encouraging nature lovers to head out this weekend on the look-out for frogs or frogspawn as a celebration of World Wetlands Day (yesterday), and to file records of what they find on www.ipcc.ie.
Talks at the urban farm
Do we get the environment we deserve? This is the theme of a talk by Éanna Ní Lamhna, wildlife expert and chairwoman of An Taisce in Airfield Trust, Dundrum on Tuesday at 8pm. With suburban developments encroaching on this urban farm over the years, it's an interesting location for Ní Lamhna to look at the impact of modern living on our natural environment. Admission is €8. Meanwhile, on Friday at 2pm, Green Party TD and spokesperson on energy Eamon Ryan will give a talk on the threats and opportunities we face in tackling climate change and depleting oil stocks. See www.airfield.ie.
EcoWeb
www.dublin.ie/websites/bees
Check out this site for information on the County Dublin Beekeepers Association including details of a beekeeping for beginners course which begins on Tuesday, February 6th.