Carbon countdownThe urgency of shifting to a low-carbon economy, the importance of people-power and environmental governance for sustainable development are key issues for the World Conservation Union ( www.iucn.org).
Such big themes will no doubt be aired by Sebastian Winkler from the World Conservation Union in his forthcoming talk in Dublin.
Winkler will speak about international efforts to halt biodiversity loss and in particular, Countdown 2010 network whose mission it is to stop further biodiversity loss ( www.countdown2010.net).
The public forum (which includes a question and answer session chaired by Dr Mathew Jebb from the National Botanic Gardens) will be held at 7pm on Monday, March 10 in the Hamilton Building, Trinity College Dublin. This free event opens this year's Postgraduate Ecology Forum. See www.pef.iefor more details.
Conservation in farming
Conservation farming practices in the Alvars in Sweden, the Causse in France and the Yorkshire Dales in England were outlined at Ireland's first international conference on farming for conservation in Ennistymon, Co Clare this week.
Also this week, The Living Farmland - a Guide to Farming With Nature in Co Clare was launched in Ennis by IFA president, Padraig Walshe. The book profiles nine farmers who have incorporated environmental management of rock, grassland, peatland, woodland and coastal habitats into their practices. For copies, contact Rural Resource Development on tel: 061-361144 or see www.rrd.ie
Building energy efficiency
Architect and broadcaster Duncan Stewart will be advising people on how to make their homes more energy efficient at the Spring House, Interiors and Garden Show in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin next weekend.
His talks are part of the show's Ecobuild zone which will also have stands on renewable energy technologies. Sustainable Energy Ireland ( www.sei.ie), the Environmental and Sustainable Construction Association ( www.easca.ie) and Cultivate ( www.cultivate.ie) will be present, and there will be talks on home energy assessments.
National Tree Week
"Trees water life" is the theme of this year's National Tree Week which runs from tomorrow until next Saturday. Trees play an important role in protecting our waterways by filtering out solids and absorbing excessive nutrients, thus purifying water before it flows into streams and rivers.
Forests also act like sponges, soaking up excessive rainfall and releasing it into waterways slowly, helping to prevent flooding. Forest walks, tree planting ceremonies, workshops, talks, competitions and plantathons feature in the programme. See www.treecouncil.iefor details of events countrywide.
Devastating developing world
The devastating effects of climate change in developing countries will be highlighted in a series of talks next week. Martha Yvette Aguilar from El Salvador and Dr Dominic Walubengois from Kenya will speak about the destruction in their countries and the international response.
Venues are Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch on Monday at 7.30pm, Brookfield Health Science Building, University College Cork on Tuesday at 7pm, Cultivate Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin on Wednesday at 7.30pm and the School of Geography, Queen's University, Belfast on Thursday at 7pm. www.trocaire.org/lent
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Find out about the Norwegian initiative to preserve the planet's biodiversity with the opening of a global seed vault this week.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault houses seed samples of food plants from the entire world.