Monitoring glacier change
The average annual melting rate of glaciers has doubled in the past eight years, with record losses in 2006. These figures come from the United Nations Environment Programme report on Global Glacier Changes, which is the theme of a public lecture on Tuesday at 7pm in the Mansion House, Dublin. The lecture will be given by Dr Wilfried Haeberli, director of the World Glacier Monitoring Service.
Haeberli will speak about the impact of this ice retreat on the environment, human health, natural hazards, water and energy supply. Admission is free, but advance booking is advised by e-mail to info@claraclark.ie. The lecture will also be put up on the Environmental Protection Agency's website before the end of October. See www.epa.ie.
Plan for green infrastructure
Integrating environmental issues into economic, political, social and cultural policies is the only way forward, according to many environmental experts. So, with this in mind, the conference on green infrastructure (connecting nature, people and places), on November 4th and 5th in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co Dublin, seems to be right on the mark.
Organised by Fingal County Council, the conference will bring planners, ecologists, landscape architects and other professionals together to plan and build green infrastructure in Ireland. Gerry Clabby, heritage officer with Fingal County Council, says: "Given the rapid pace of urbanisation and how climate change impacts on natural systems, we need to plan strategically for the development of green infrastructure if we are to create a sustainable future."
By way of example, he suggests that a green corridor along a river can safeguard biodiversity and archaeological sites, improve water quality, prevent or ease flooding, provide recreation and outdoor education, enhance community well-being and provide an alternative transport route.
Prof Richard Forman, department of landscape architecture at Harvard University, and Hans Kampf from the Dutch national ecological network are among the speakers. Tel: 01-8905697 or see fingalcoco.ie for more details.
Talk on bog conservation
Experts and lay people interested in the conservation and management of Irish bogs are invited to join Restoration Network, a new initiative proposed by Catherine Farrell of Bord na Móna. An open meeting about the network will be held on Tuesday at 3pm in the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. A seminar looking at turf-cutting on Natura 2000 sites will be held on Tuesday at 11am in the same venue.
More details on both events, which are organised by the Irish Peat Society, from 086-2553806 or e-mail Catherine. farrell@bnm.ie.
Village design conference
Finally, a conference on village design will be held in Slane Castle, Co Meath, on Friday, October 31st. Organised by the Heritage Council, the conference will look at planning policy for small towns and villages and how village design statements are an opportunity for collaborative planning. Contact 056-777077 or www.heritagecouncil.ie.
ECOWEB
www.ecoexpo.ie
Check out this site for details of the Eco Expo, held in conjunction with the Ideal Homes show in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin from Thursday, October 23rd to Monday, October 27th. There's a video of the eco show house and includes a full programme of eco information talks.
