August.2009
U.K. Biodiversity Duty - Training Course on Ecosystems, Public Health and Economic Development
12th-14th October 2009, Plas Tan y Bwlch training centre, Snowdonia National Park, Wales
In the United Kingdom, the 2006 Natural Environment and Rural Communites Act places a duty upon public authorities to take account of the impacts which the normal exercise of their functions may have on biodiversity. This applies to all public authorities - including county and city councils, government offices, schools and higher education authorities, public health and social welfare authorities, the police and fire services, museums, sports and tourism bodies and the prison service.
Run by the Wales Biodiversity Partnership, this annual training course in Plas Tan y Bwlch training centre at Snowdonia National Park aims to provide public authorities with guidance on how they can address the Biodiversity Duty within various spheres of activity. This year, the course is being organised in partnership with the COHAB Initiative Secretariat, Natural England and DEFRA, and will include particular focus on the importance of biodiversity to business development and econoomic security, public health and social welfare.
Through a combination of lectures, case studies and group workshops, the course will demonstrate how simple practical approaches to implementing the Duty can benefit business, communities, and public health, as well as helping to meet the UK's obligations under EU and UN agreements. The course is open to representatives of all public authorities and environmental organisations throughout the UK and Ireland.
Monday 12th October
Afternoon: Introduction
Chair: Julia Korn
1400 Welcome – Welsh Assembly Government
1415 Introduction to Biodiversity Duty legislation across the UK – Speakers from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
1445 What is biodiversity and why is it important? - Joanna Robertson, CCW
1515 Coffee/tea
1545 Workshop Activity - Joanna Robertson and UK Speakers
1645 Feedback
1700 Finish
2000-2100 Talk and workshop with a National Park Biodiversity Champion - Margaret Underwood Brecon Beacons National Park Biodiversity Champion
Tuesday 13th October
Morning: Biodiversity and health and well being
Chair Julia Korn
0915 Biodiversity and human well-being – diets, disease, drugs, and disasters – Conor Kretsch, COHAB Initiative Secretariat
0945 UK Biodiversity in the global context – Gordon Shepherd, WWF International
1015 The importance of biodiversity for physical and mental health – William Bird, Natural England
1045 Tea/coffee
1115 Natural England’s programmes in health and biodiversity– Dave Stone, Natural England
1145 Questions
1200-1300 Lunch
Afternoon: Planning Tools to deliver Biodiversity benefits
1300 Integrating Biodiversity into Planning Strategies – Jo Treweek, Treweek Environmental Consultants & International Association for Impact Assessment
1330 Strategic water management and the planning process: an overview of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems – Paul Shaffer, Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA)
1400 Making Contracts Work for Wildlife – Chris Jones, Telford and Wrekin Council
1430 Building Biodiversity Benefits into Planning and development Control Mike Oxford
1500 Tea/coffee
1530 Building partnerships for biodiversity and construction – Lessons from Northern Ireland – Peter Cush, Dept. of the Environment for Northern Ireland
1600 Sustainable energy production in the Marine Environment (Speaker TBC)
1630 Workshop – Addressing Public health and biodiversity considerations holistically within the planning process – Conor Kretsch, COHAB
1715 Sum up and finish
2000 Evening session – The Ecosystem approach to fisheries management – Tom Blasdale, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
2045 Feedback from the day
2100 Close
Wednesday 14th
Chair: Joanna Robertson
Morning: Benefiting Biodiversity and Economic Development
0900 Economies and Ecosystems – Conor Kretsch, COHAB Initiative Secretariat
0930 Making Sport Sustainable – a case study from the Golf Sector – Jonathan Smith, Golf Environment Organisation
1000 Building Biodiversity Business – Laura Somerville, Fauna and Flora International
1030 Tea / Coffee
1100 Business and Biodiversity Offsets – Monica Barcellos Harris, UNEP-WCMC (TBC)
1130 Discussion with all morning speakers Facilitated by Joanna Robertson
1230-1330 Lunch
Afternoon: Benefiting Biodiversity and Economic Development (continued)
1330 Wildlife and Tourism in Scotland - Caroline Warburton, Wild Scotland
1410 Questions
1420 Workshop - Fulfilling your biodiversity Duty – Professional Facilitator TBC
1620 Sum up
1630 Finish
(Last updated: 12th August 2009)
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