Islands and overseas entities’ contribution to biodiversity conservation and the fight against climate change. Brussels, 20 December 2011

Posted on: 13 March 2012
By: mackene
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This conference aimed at raising awareness on the importance of overseas entities and islands’ assets to take up the crucial challenges relating to biodiversity conservation and climate change.

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Biodiversity skills. Schneverdingen, Lower Saxony, Germany, 25-27 January 2012

Posted on: 13 March 2012
By: mackene
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28 participants from five Northwest European countries came together to test the first version of a training package for local biodiversity. In a three day programme, the participants tested and evaluated the biodiversity training package for planners, which includes lectures, on-site visits, case studies and working groups. All modules will be presented online on the project website for interested parties to use. Integrating biodiversity into local plans and actions offers many opportunities for local sustainable development. As a result of ongoing decentralization, local administrations have increasing responsibilities for the implementation of biodiversity-related policies.

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Integrating multiple facets of river corridor development. Sheffield, 17-18 November 2011

Posted on: 18 November 2011
By: isadm
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The last of the URSULA (Urban River Corridors and Sustainable Living Agendas) conferences  provided a forum for the presentation of a wealth of research conducted during the URSULA project.  Topics included how the River Don affects Sheffield’s microclimate, how the river could be harnessed to deliver hydropower, the effect of weirs in river ecology, the effect of biodiversity on wellbeing, as well as the approach developed in URSULA to design sustainable urban river corridors. Presentations are available online.

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Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services

Posted on: 7 September 2011
By: mackene
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This new biodiversity strategy for England builds on the Natural Environment White Paper and provides a comprehensive picture of how we are implementing our international and EU commitments. It sets out the strategic direction for biodiversity policy for the next decade on land (including rivers and lakes) and at sea. Defra has also published a document which discusses the technical issues and options for developing a set of headline indicators to track progress with the new Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services (Biodiversity 2020). It also invites comments on the scope and detail of the indicators. Click here for access to this document.

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The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Manual for Cities: Ecosystem Services in Urban Management

Posted on: 7 September 2011
By: mackene
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ICLEI President, David Cadman, has launched the latest TEEB tool for cities, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Manual for Cities: Ecosystem Services in Urban Management. This practical guide for cities highlights how a focus on ecosystem services and their valuation can create direct benefits for urban areas and can be performed even with limited resources. It was written in partnership between ICLEI, the TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers team and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The TEEB Manual is a practical resource, outlining the step-by-step strategy introduced in the TEEB Report with real-life examples from cities around the world that have employed this approach. At a European level, the TEEB guidance needs to be translated into action through the development and review of National Biodiversity Strategies. Furthermore, ecosystem values need to be included in discussions about alternative financing and resource mobilisation.

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Ecocity World Summit. Montreal, 22-26 August 2011

Posted on: 31 August 2011
By: mackene
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The Summit programme was organised around six interconnecting themes that explore leading edge research and showcase practical solutions that contribute to the development and management of ecocities. All speakers presented lessons from their specific area of expertise and explained how their work relates to the broad range of issues that are integrally related in the ecocity concept. Special crosscutting panels focused on the interconnections between several themes to offer a holistic view of Ecocity principles. Examples include: design of living buildings in sustainable communities; new technology for eco-infrastructure such as waste to energy facilities; planning solutions for ecomobility; economic strategies to sustain ecocities; and citizen commitment and empowerment. Abstracts of all oral presentations are available online. Content from all presentation sessions was captured in audio or video format. Details will be provided soon regarding how to access these recordings. Individual presenters’ powerpoint and slide presentations are not available through the conference web site. However, a post-conference edited volume is being compiled with presenters at the Summit being invited to present papers for consideration in a book on ecocities.

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Liveable Cities Forum: Designing biodiversity friendly communities. Montreal, 21-22 August 2011

Posted on: 22 August 2011
By: isadm
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The Liveable Cities Forum provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of urban biodiversity conservation, and a platform to explore biodiversity management and its application at the local level. Presentations, videos and a summary of the event are available online.

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