Title: Seminar: Caring for wetlands – An answer to Climate change
Location: Simon Perry Building, Trinity College, Dublin
Date: 2010-02-03
Caring for wetlands – An answer to Climate change
Seminar, Wed 3rd Feb 2010, Simon Perry Building TCD 1-5.30 pm
On the Occasion of World Wetland Day 2010 events are taking place all over the world– see Ramsar Convention website www.ramsar.org
In Trinity College, a seminar with guest speakers and discussion workgroups will focus on concrete action for better protection of wetlands and wetland functions, especially wetland value for flood control and biodiversity.
The event is being organised by Coastwatch in cooperation with Civil and Environmental Engineering TCD. The proceedings are to be published and used towards wise management of wetlands.
DRAFT 3 of Programme Comment and offers of contributions very welcome.
Contact Karin Dubsky, TCD and Coastwatch, Ramsar NGO focal pt Irl. kdubsky@tcd.ie 086 8111 684
Registration – 1.00
1.10 Opening Laurence Gill Head of Department
1.10 – 1.50 Wetland Information: Short input statements of key facts followed by discussion
Ramsar Convention, wetland stocks, values and functions – Karin Dubsky Coastwatch
Wetlands as carbon sinks – David Wilson, EPA
Wetlands as flood retention systems: Paul Johnston Environmental Eng. TCD
Wetlands and biodiversity: invertebrates and fish nursery; Fisheries Board rep
Discussion
2.00 – 3.30 Wetland Stocks, Management, Protection, Planning, Restoration
Loss of Wetland area and consequences; Shirley Clerkin, Env officer Monaghan County council tbc
Loss of Wetland quality and restoration sought. Coastwatch Lough Swilly group rep
Halting Wetland loss: Present and planned change to protect, manage and use wetlands (incl the Land Reclamation Act, Planning Bill and wfd )
Flood risk Management – recent experience and action sought by farmers. Gerry Gunning, Rural Development Officer, IFA
3.30 Coffee
4.00 – 4.40 parallel work groups: group one in demo room one in MSC room 3rd floor
A – Action to halt wetland loss
Introduction: Planning and wetland protection changes needed; Ian Lumley and Anja Murray An Taisce
B – Wetland restoration Law and practise
Introduction Restoration of some coastal wetlands Coastwatch and a turlough waiting to be restored Joanne Pender IWT,
4.45 Report back and discussion
5.30 Close
