TEAGASC "A Climate for Change" International Conference, Dublin, 24 - 25 June 2010

The Teagasc international conference - "A Climate for Change – Opportunities for Carbon-Efficient Farming" will take place in the Mansion House, Dublin from 24 - 25 June 2010.

 

The exciting panel of national and international speakers will address some of the key challenges facing the environment and the role that agriculture and farming can play in mitigating the impact of Climate Change.

 

Organised by Teagasc, this Climate Change conference will be of interest to scientists and farmers, policy makers and students, as the threats and opportunities facing agriculture are explored and discussed. 

 

For more details and to register visit www.teagasc.ie/aclimateforchange/.

 

The key questions being addressed at this Agri-Environmental Policy Conference are:

 

• Is the global debate on Climate Change a threat or an opportunity for Irish farming?

 

• Can carbon-efficient farming give Ireland a competitive edge?

 

• Which measures will improve the carbon-efficiency on tillage, dairy and beef farms?

 

• How can forestry, biofuels and land-use change, offset Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

 

• How will future gains in production efficiencies be acknowledged within the framework of Kyoto reporting?

 

• Will curbing national Greenhouse Gas Emissions necessarily equate to curbing agricultural productivity?

 

Find out the answers and contribute to the debate in Dublin on Thursday and Friday, 24 and 25 June next. Register now.

 

With kind regards

Teagasc Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

 

Invasive Species Ireland Forum Registration now open

Invasive Species Ireland Forum Registration now open

Registration for the 2010 Invasive Species Ireland Forum is now open. This year, the Environmental Protection Agency and Invasive Species Ireland are collaborating in a joint two day event on the 13th and 14th May, hosted by the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

Day 1 

The first day of the meeting will act as a dissemination workshop for the results of the EPA Strive funded project 'Alien invasive species in Irish Water bodies'. This is a two year project aimed to address the knowledge gaps identified under the Water Framework Directive for alien invasive species in Ireland's River Basin Districts. This was achieved through a combination of research and policy development comprising of analysis of the impacts of selected invasive species on structure and function of natural ecosystems (primarily by innovative studies of impacted and non-impacted foodwebs using stable isotopes in exemplar waterbodies); preparation of an archived GIS-based database of aquatic aliens in Ireland; and development of a monitoring and reporting strategy and guidance on preventing and containing aquatic introductions.  More information can be found on the Strive projects webpage.

Day 2

The second day of the Forum will bring together stakeholders and invasive species experts to discuss and shape Invasive Species Ireland – Phase 2. The review of ISI Phase 1 and the recommendations of stakeholders have been taken on board in the development of ISI Phase 2. Over the next 3 years the project will continue to develop Ireland's risk assessment protocols; IAS exclusion and management plans; sectoral Codes of Practice and an extensive stakeholder engagement and partnership process. New actions include the development of an IAS strategy, setting up local catchment invasive species action groups, development of an industry standards award scheme and an assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of IAS in Ireland. There will be five Technical Working Groups (terrestrial, freshwater, marine, education and awareness, and strategy and legislation) and this is the first opportunity for the groups to meet and discuss the Invasive Species Ireland work programme and help guide outputs and priorities. More information on the technical working groups will be made available throughout April. 

As with previous years, this is a free event but attendees must register with the project team before hand.

Click here to download the programme for this joint EPA and Invasive Species Ireland event.

 

Click here to access the online registration form.

 

or email john@invasivespeciesireland.com with your registration details. 

 

Dr Dick Shaw, CABI, to give Invasive Species Ireland Forum Keynote Address

Invasive Species Ireland is pleased to announce that this year's keynote address will be given by Dr Dick Shaw from CABI. Dick is a leading expert in the field of biological control and has extensively researched the potential for biological control of Japanese knotweed. 

Earlier this year, The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and The Welsh Assembly Government approved the release of the psyllid, Aphalara itadori to stop the spread of Japanese knotweed. Japanese knotweed is a devastating plant which costs the UK economy over £150 million a year to control and clear. As part of his keynote address, Dick will present an overview of the research programme that was undertaken prior to the release, information on the relevant policy context and the preliminary results from the release sites around England and Wales.

 

For more information on the biological control of Japanese knotweed and other species, please see the Japanese knotweed Alliance website.

 

 

John Kelly

Senior Researcher

 

Tel:          +44 (0) 2890 27 8330

Direct:      +44 (0) 2890 31 6987

Mobile:     +44 (0) 7859 06 8460

Web:        www.envirocentre.co.uk

 

For and on behalf of EnviroCentre Limited, 10 Upper Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NT

Weekend in the Woods

 

20th CELT Weekend in the Woods in East Clare - A Wonderful Opportunity to Learn a New Skill
 
Up to 15 of Ireland's top traditional skills professionals will be offering training courses at the 20th CELT Weekend in the Woods event held at Bealkelly Oak Wood, Tuamgraney, Co.Clare by the shores of Lough Derg on 8th and 9th May.  CELT - Centre for Environmental Living and Training - have been hosting Weekend in the Woods two or three times a year since 2001 and it has grown in popularity as more and more people want to learn how to make something useful from local natural or recycled materials - a wooden chair, a table, a basket, fire-irons, a copper jug, a felt bag - or how to build using local natural materials - dry-stone walls, wattle and daub, cob and cordwood structures.  Other courses on offer for adults include Leatherwork, Longbow making, Fishing for beginners, Needle-Felting, Silversmithing - and, for youngsters aged 8 to 14 years, Woodcrafts and Rustic Art.  The event is once again supported by The Heritage Council and Department of Environment with additional assistance from Muintir na Coille (Coppice Association) and Woodland League.
 
According to a CELT spokesperson, the May event is very special because the woodland will be carpeted with bluebells and with hope for good weather, many folk will be camping (for free, but for participants only, not available to the general public).  Over a hundred people are expected to attend from all backgrounds and all parts of the country.  There is a great 'buzz' as like-minded eco-friendly folk meet each other, make new friends and swap thoughts and ideas.  Some always bring musical instruments for a get together and sing-song round the campfire on the Saturday evening.  Locally grown organic food is available and there will be the usual CELT tea shop for cakes and other refreshments throughout the weekend - and not forgetting the clay oven used to make tasty pizzas on Saturday evening.
 
Courses can be booked on-line at www.celtnet.org with option to pay through PayPal, or send email (giving 1st, 2nd, 3rd preferences) and post a cheque or postal order payable to CELT.  The weekend course fee is down to 120 euro (was 150 before the recession).  For further information phone Sarah or Bob on 061-640765.
......................................................................................................................................................................................................
ENDS
 
 
(for verification contact : Bob Wilson)
CELT Centre for Environmental Living and Training
Main St, Scariff, Co.Clare, Ireland
www.celtnet.org   info@celtnet.org   Tel: 061-640765

Sustainable Innovation Forum April 27th

You may be interested in attending the Sustainable Innovation Forum on Tues April 27 in Royal Hospital Kilmainham Dublin featuring a  "60 Green Minutes" business competition to be held live on the day.

 

Details of this free event are at http://www.rx3.ie/MDGRoot.aspx

Kinsale Spring Fair! Sat 24th April

[10:10] Ireland update

 Dear Tenteners,   

Everything is growing in the garden after Ireland's worst winter in living memory – and everyone is at it. You can see gardens starting in Ireland where there were never gardens before – and allotments are spreading as fast as Farmer's Markets! 

10:10ers are in the lead, the Irish office garden has splendid purple sprouting broccoli to eat as we watch the broad beans, shallots, and - yesterday - asparagus pushing up through the warming soil. And better yet, the perennials (every year) like the alpine strawberries (you can grow these from seeds or buy plants) and the fruit bushes are budding up again. Alpine strawberries are tiny and soooooo delicious – and fruit almost through the year. 

Our Polar Bears have made the crowd stand up wherever they go and this month 10:10 will be holding a raffle to see which schools and events they will attend next. Let us know if you want them to visit you. The Polar Bears make people laugh and show that making cuts in our life styles doesn't have to be run by the doomsayers. It can be fun to work together, and that's what 10:10 is about - with the Polar Bears there to thank us. 

Big companies like Sony Ireland and Abbot Ireland have joined 10:10 – businesses and people are already starting to make the change that they know is necessary – now all they have to do is help us spread the word. 

Check out our brand new international website for tips around the world – it may be upside down to us, but the vegetables growing in New Zealand look mighty like the vegetables growing here. The new website makes it easy to tour the world and discover that 10:10ers are springing up like – well like the Irish gardens! 

Speaking of that - back to the garden. 

TIP OF THE MONTH: Water, water, water. Whatever you do NEVER LET YOUR PLANTS DRY OUT. Water makes the nutrients in the soil available and allows the plants to grow without interruption – try watering your potatoes daily and you'll have a bigger crop with a better taste! 

Onwards & upwards, 

Tony and the 10:10 team in Ireland

BiodiversityIreland - latest issue

The latest issue of BiodiversityIreland is now available as a download from our website http://www.biodiversityireland.ie

If you would like a hard copy of the bulletin posted to you please email info@biodiversityireland.ie.

Walnut Books Spring Sale - sustainable solutions in a nutshell....

Spring is in the air at last and Walnut Books is celebrating with 15% off all books from our Gardening and Growing range. It's time to dust off the wellies and get out in the garden so from making great compost to planning how to get the best from your allotment, back garden plot, or window box you'll find something to help at www.walnutbooks.com. Check out the complete range here: http://www.walnutbooks.com/default.php?cPath=22 , and as always do feel free to get in touch for advice on which book will suit you best!

Need some hands-on growing advice? The Hollies have developed the only commercial scale no-dig garden in the country (and beautiful it is too!). Their next Open Day is on April 25th and they have posted their full programme of courses for 2010 here: http://theholliesonline.com/courses-2010/. You'll find a course there to suit every level of gardening and building experience and the Hollies is always worth a visit.


Wishing you a productive and fruitful Spring Season,
Best Wishes,
Nora

Climate Change Interactive Forum - Schull

Climate Change Interactive Forum

The next Interactive Forum as part of Schull Campus will focus on Climate change, resulting from Global Warming. The talk given by Nic Slocum takes place on Thursday, April 15th at Inish Beg House. 

Contact walter@schullcampus.com for further information.

Cork branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust Event

IDENTIFYING LOCAL BIRDS

 

The Cork Branch of the IWT are working with Birdwatch Ireland to encourage local involvement in the ATLAS Project.

 

This is an exciting project to find out what species are bird are found locally. This event will teach people about the project and show how easy it is to be involved at contributing the much needed records. You dont have to be an expert to be involved in this project!

 

There will be a presentation on 11th April in Ballyphehane Community Centre. Brian Caffrey the project manager will discuss the ATLAS project and how you can be involved.

 

Then what better there will be a follow up where you have the chance to learn about bird species and identification? On Sunday 25th April. You don't have to come along to the two events. You don't have to be a bird expert either!

 

For more information on this opportunity please contact Rick Munday on 087 917 0409

                                     

 

Biodiversity Bingo launch

Biodiversity Bingo is a new fun competition being run by the National Biodiversity Data Centre to mark the international year of biodiversity.  It's a chance to get out and search for interesting species, learn to identify some new ones, and have fun recording our biodiversity!  Each fortnight from the 6th April – 13th September 2010, the Data Centre will select 6 species from a range of taxonomic groups.

 

Game 1 launched today.  Can you find the 6 species before the 19^th April and be in with a chance to win?  Play now at

http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/home-page/biodiversity-bingo/

If you would like to subscribe to this mailing list please email info@biodiversityireland.ie.

 

 

 

Final two SECAD Community Training workshops - 8th and 17th April

 either of these workshops, please contact the trainer Fiona on 087 9878159 or by email at fiona@mwcdsa.ie .

 

 

NOTICE

 

Committee Skills Training and the Roles of Officers

Rescheduled Date

Course Content

§          Setting an Agenda

§          Minute taking,

§          Organising meetings

§          Roles and duties of Committee Officers and Members

§          Difficulties in Committees

§          Running effective meetings

§          Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary Roles

Date	Venue	Time
Thursday 08/04/2010	South and East Cork Area Development Ltd. (SECAD) Midleton Community Enterprise Centre Knockgriffin Midleton	9.30am to 1.30pm

 

 

Goverance- How to Manage your Community Project Well

Rescheduled Date

Course Content

§          Principles of good governance and responsibilities of the Board.

§          The relationship between best practice governance, board composition and local ownership of the community group.

§          Developing your Governing processes

§          Internal Controls

§          Managing Your Finances

§          Compliance and Control,

§          Financial management Policies,

§          Reducing risks

Date	Venue	Time
Saturday 17/04/10	South and East Cork Area Development Ltd. (SECAD) Midleton Community Enterprise Centre Knockgriffin Midleton	10.30-4.00