International workshop - Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (30 March-1 April)

Scary or what? (8 Sept 2006)

What, where and how? - a workshop on reintroducing key species to Britain

The Green Room, Organic Farm Shop, Cirencester, Glos

A  joint meeting hosted by WN and BANC

The meeting program and BOOKING FORM can be downloaded here (PDF 30 Kb)

This event will look at the consequences of reintroducing certain charismatic species for wildlife and for people. It will consider how to achieve key reintroductions and it will discuss how all the interested parties should be brought into the debate. It will conclude with evening field visits to local sites featuring wild boar and European beaver.

Fees inclusive of refreshments, evening field visit, and note of workshop discussions:
Individuals and concessions: £35
Charities and NGOs: £55
Public, private and academic bodies: £105

The outline draft program includes:

10.00  Arrival, coffee

10.30  Welcome and introduction  Adrian Phillips, Chair

10.40  Restoring key species and ecosystems - issues, examples and lessons from 40 years of bird reintroductions  Roy Dennis

11.20  Beaver - recent lessons and future prospects  Derek Gow

11.50  Lynx: Prospects in Britain  David Hetherington

12.20  Wild boar decision time  Martin Goulding

12.50  LUNCH and optional viewing of DVDs and displays

13.50  Wolf and brown bear – realistic candidates? Peter Taylor

14.10  Wild herbivores – current experience and future candidates  David Bullock and Matthew Oates

15.00  Group discussions, facilitated by Rick Minter & Alison Parfitt

Participants opt for small group discussions on one of the following themes:

Ecosystem issues – what are the key effects of reintroduced species on their ecosystems and fellow wildlife? What functional relationships might occur amongst species and habitats? Is the issue about reintroducing natural processes or reintroducing species?

Nature conservation, but not as we know it – what are the implications of reintroductions for formal approaches to BAPs, targets, and wildlife management?

Attitudes – what do the public, politicians and key interest groups feel about reintroductions? What influences them and why?

Income and livelihoods – what income, livelihoods and enterprises can be linked with reintroduced species?

Farming, fisheries and game - what are the opportunities and challenges of reintroduced species to farming, fisheries and game interests? What incentives and what if any compensation measures should accompany key reintroductions?  

15.50   tea

16.00   Report back and collective discussion on groups’ conclusions

16.45   Reflections on main issues from the day  John Bowers

16.50   Briefing on evening field visits to Lower Mill Estate beaver project and wild boar woods in Forest of Dean

17.00   Snacks and drinks available at Organic Farm Shop Café

17.30   Depart for evening field visits to Lower Mill Estate beaver site and to wild boar woodland in Forest of Dean

20.30   Optional eve meal in Cheltenham or Cirencester

Venue location at:   www.theorganicfarmshop.co.uk

A CAR SHARE WILL BE SET UP FOR THIS MEETING - if you can offer a lift, please email WN with:

•  a contact phone number

•  a location from which you are travelling from

• the days you are travelling too and from the conference

CAR SHARE OFFERS to the conference will be posted here when they have come in.

Accommodation lists at:  www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/tourism

SEE ALSO the linked BANC event shown below Big cats and Britain’s ecology (9 September 2006)

A report of the meeting is now posted and can be read here.

FRIDAY 7th APRIL 2006: A one day conference at Plas Dolguog, Machynlleth, will look at the issues and opportunities for wildland in Wales:

Agenda

09.30 Registration and coffee
Photo exhibition from Cambrian Mountains Society

Chair (Mick Green)

10.15
Welcome, introduction and scene setting: emerging ideas and opportunities for wildland in Wales (Stanley Owen)

10.30
Potential for species reintroductions in Wales and the role of wild mammals in natural processes (Derek Gow)

11.00
Questions and discussion

11.15 Coffee break

11.45
Examples of current wildland projects and activities in Wales:

• Nantgwynant, Snowdon (Keith Jones, National Trust)

• Vyrnwy Estate (Richard Farmer, RSPB)

• Dyfi Forest (Julian Bray, EA & David Farmery, FC)

13.00 Lunch

14.00
Mapping wildland (Dr Steve Carver, Leeds University)

14:15
Economic regeneration and wildland - Cambrian Mountains (Jeremy Wright, Powys County Council)

14.30
Workshops on benefits of wildland (facilitated by Rick Minter)
Groups on:

• Ecology and biodiversity

• Nature's services - flood control, carbon storage, etc.

• Spiritual dimensions

• Recreation, adventure and challenge

• Therapeutic and education opportunities

• Economic opportunities and new livelihoods

• Game, fishing and food from wildland

• Making wildland pay for private landowners e.g. providing services for visitors, providing public benefits for public funds

15.30 Tea break

16.00
Report back from workshops and collective discussion on key issues

16.45
Reflections on key messages (Peter Taylor, author of Beyond Conservation, A Wildland Strategy)

16.55 Close

SATURDAY 8th APRIL 2006: Site visits to areas with wildland qualities and examples of restoration of natural habitats.

10.00 Meet in Machynlleth

10.15
Cors Dyfi (Nature Reserve, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust)
Example of spruce plantation restored to wetland habitat on estuary

11.00
Cors Fochno (Dyfi National Nature Reserve, CCW)
Lowland raised bog and tidal marsh

12.30 Lunch (bring sandwiches or buy at Clettwr Café, Tre'r Ddol)

14.00
Pemprys (John Muir Trust)
Cambrian Mountains valley up from SAC oakwoods of Cwm Einion. Landowner working in partnership with JMT on potential for rewilding. Landowner or JMT representative on hand to talk about progress and problems.

15.30
Forestry Commission woodlands and moorland on Pumlumon plateau (FC, Tbc).
Good views, large wild area, role and potential of FC land, some areas recently cleared of spruce for restoration to native habitats.

17.00 End

Fees, payable to "Wildland Network - Wales": £15 individuals, £25 charities and NGOs, £50 public, private and academic bodies. Includes lunch and refreshments and a write up of the conference.

A copy of the meeting program can be downloaded here (PDF 12kb). Details of the final program will be posted by March.

The venue for the Friday conference is:

Plas Dolguog Hotel,

Felingerrig

Machynlleth

Powys, SY20 8UJ

Phone: 01654 702244

www.plasdolguog.co.uk

Machynlleth is served by train (from Birmingham) and by bus (from Bangor and Cardiff), lifts from Machynlleth Station to Plas Dolguog by arrangement.

List of local accommodation can be sent on request.

Email bookings to: cymru@wildland-network.org.uk

Post your cheque and contact details to:

Wildland Network – Wales
Plas Einion
Ffwrnais
Machynlleth
SY20 8PG

If you want to speak someone about the conference, phone 01970 832625

Tir Gwyllt yng Nghymru – Cyfleoedd, materion sy’n ymwneud ac enghreifftiau
Machynlleth, 7fed ac 8fed Ebrill 2006

Pleser mawr i’r Rhwydwaith Tir Gwyllt yw cynnal deuddydd o gyfarfodydd tir gwyllt ym Machynlleth yng nghanolbarth Cymru.

Ddydd Gwener 7fed Ebrill: Bydd Cynhadledd undydd ym Mhlas Dolguog, Machynlleth yn edrych ar gyfleoedd a materion sy’n ymwneud â thir gwyllt yng Nghymru.

• Enghreifftiau o brosiectau tir gwyllt yng Nghymru.

• Prosesau naturiol mewn cadwraeth natur a’r potensial ar gyfer ailgyflwyno rhywogaethau.

• Y budd eang ac amrywiol sy’n deillio o dir gwyllt.

Ffioedd, yn daladwy i “Rwydwaith Tir Gwyllt Cymru”: £15 unigolion, £25 cymdeithas wirfoddol a Chyrff Anlywodraethol, £50 cyrff cyhoeddus, preifat ac academaidd.

Gan gynnwys cinio a lluniaeth.

Ddydd Sadwrn 8fed Ebrill: Treulir diwrnod yn ymweld â safleoedd yn ardal Machynlleth gan edrych ar ardaloedd sydd â nodweddion tir gwyllt ac enghreifftiau o adfer cynefinoedd naturiol. Bydd y daith yn mynd â ni i warchodfeydd yr aber, prosiect mewn dyffryn ategol, a bryniau diffaith eang y Mynyddoedd Cambriaidd.

Mae gwasanaeth trên i Fachynlleth o Birmingham a gwasanaeth bws (o Fangor a Chaerdydd). Gellir trefnu cludiant o’r orsaf i Blas Dolguog.

Gellir anfon rhestr o lety lleol ar gais.

Archebion i:

E-bost
cymru@wildland-network.org.uk

Post
Rhwydwaith Tir Gwyllt
Plas Einion
Ffwrnais
Machynlleth
SY20 8PG

Ffôn
01970 832625

Gwefan y Rhwydwaith Tir Gwyllt: www.wildland-network.org.uk

EVENTS OF OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Big cats and Britain’s ecology (9 September 2006)

BANC workshop at the Oak Hall, Keynes Country Park, Cotswold Water Park

The meeting program and BOOKING FORM can be downloaded here (PDF 30 Kb)

Sightings of big cats across Britain total at least 1200 a year. Photographs show forensic evidence of big cat effects, CCTV footage exists, and it is believed that breeding of some species occurs, with numbers increasing in certain regions including southern and SW England. This event will bring big cat researchers together with nature conservationists to discuss the consequences of these top predators in Britain. The meeting venue is close to many sites of wildlife interest and the Lower Mill Estate beaver site. An optional guided walk will visit these sites in the afternoon.

10.15  Arrival and coffee

10.40   Welcome and introductions - Rick Minter, ECOS

10.45   Big cats in Dorset and Wiltshire – the forensic evidence, the mapped territories, impacts on deer, and the ecological implications - Johnathan McGowan, Head of mammals, Bournemouth Natural Sciences Society

11.30   Implications of big cats for wildlife and nature conservation

Chris Moiser, Scientific Adviser, Big Cats in Britain Research Group

Frank Tunbridge, ROAR consultancy

Peter Taylor, ECOS’ Big Cats correspondent

 11.45   Discussion on implications of big cats for British wildlife and nature conservation eg…

• Effects of big cats on their prey populations

• Relationships between carnivores

• Effects of other big cats on lynx

• Viable populations

• Disease vector issues

• Tourism and visitor income

• Public access to the countryside and to wildlife sites

 12.20   Implications for UK nature conservation? Reflections on key issues from discussion Professor Jules Pretty, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex

 12.30 – 1.30   LUNCH and chance to view big cat exhibits
(parallel AGM of British Association of Nature Conservationists)

1.30 – 3-30 pm   Options for:

 a. Local field visit to Lower Mill Estate, to see habitat creation, habitat connectivity, and beaver location
 b. Further discussion on ecological implications of big cats in Britain

 Fee inclusive of coffee and lunch: £12

 Accommodation details at:  www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/tourism

Location details for Keynes Country Park:  www.waterpark.org

Keynes Country Park has many family and children’s activities, if delegates wish to travel to the event with their family.

The British Association of Nature Conservationists (BANC) is a think tank which addresses the different values involved in conservation and land-use issues. It publishes ECOS magazine. www.banc.org.uk

5th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (22-25 August 2006)

Land use changes as a challenge for restoration: ecological, economical and ethical dimensions -

Organised by the  European Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration and being held in Greifswald, Germany.

The calls for papers and proposals for thematic symposia are now open, with the following deadlines:

• Proposals for thematic symposia: 1 February 2006

• Submission of papers and posters: 1 March 2006

Early bird fees will be available until 31 March 2006

For updated information on themes, symposia, excursions etc., visit www.uni-greifswald.de/SER2006

Contact: SER2006@uni-greifswald.de

Bringing back the Beaver (5/6 May 2006)

A one day conference at the Cotswold Water Park on 5th May, and repeated 6th May. Hosted by the Cotswold Water Park Society and Derek Gow Consultancy Ltd.

Chairman:  Simon Pickering – Cotswold Water Park Society

9.00 am
Beavers at Lower Mill Estate: A vision for the future - Jeremy Paxton
An explanation of the Lower Mill Estate beaver project – people and wildlife living together - and its practical implications for the future development of our countryside.

9.30 am
Setting the Scene - Dr Bryony Coles
An examination of recently uncovered evidence for the former existence of this species in mainland Britain. Dr Coles has researched the Archaeological evidence of beaver presence for over 10 years. Her work has uncovered prehistoric human chisels made from the jaw bones of beaver as well as host of preserved field signs and dam relicts.

10.00 am
A case for the restoration of the European beaver in Britain - Roy Dennis
An ecological assessment of the desirability of restoring the European beaver to mainland Britain. Roy was a board member of SNH when the concept of reintroduction was first raised and has travelled widely to view beaver restoration projects in Europe.  

10.30 am. Coffee

11.00 am
A historic review of the European beaver - Duncan Halley
The European beaver is now recognised as a key stone ecological species. Less well known is its history of past persecution and subsequent reintroduction. Duncan Halley has lived and worked with European beavers in Norway for the last 10 years and has presented a number of seminal papers on the species history and ecology.

11.30 am
Beavers in Bavaria - Gerhard Schwab
Modern Bavaria is an intensively used landscape from a human development, agricultural and water engineering perspective. European Beavers reintroduced in the 1960’s are now rapidly expanding their range and a range of innovative solutions have been devised by Gerhard and his colleagues to mitigate for aspects of beaver activity where they conflict with human interests. .

12.00 am
Thwarting the engineers - Skip Lisle
By the beginning of the 20^th century North American beavers populations had been decimated by human hunting throughout most of their former range. From this low point they have now recovered extensively in many states to the point where their dam building activities have caused some inconvenice. Skip Lisle is an expert on the construction of simple drainage “beaver deceiver”structures, which thwart their ability to block culverts and enable the removal of inconvenient dams.

12.30 am
Pause for thought – speaker to be arranged

12.35 am - Lunch

1.30 pm
Beavers, ecotourisim and human enjoyment - Gijs Kurstjens
Beavers were reintroduced to the Netherlands almost 20 years ago. In the Gelderspoort area of the Rhine an innovative land restoration project is developing which will allow wild nature to reclaim a significant area of old river forelands.  The European beavers reintroduced into this area have been co-opted as a restoration symbol – a Dutch Panda. Their field signs and presence are being enjoyed by ever-greater numbers of the Dutch public. 

2.00 pm
Beavers and water retention -giving the earth back its kidneys - Andrejz Ceczk
Andrejz has been involved in a number of beaver restoration projects in Eastern Europe some of which have been given official support in an effort to assist the retention of water in a country which has one of the fastest declining groundwater levels in Europe.   

2.30 pm
Beavers and politics: Lessons from the Scottish experience - Lisa Schneidau
The Scottish Executive recently refused permission for a trial restoration of European beaver in Knapdale, Kintyre to proceed. This project had attracted the significant support of conservation organisations, the general public and was an initiative after 10 years of consultation of the executives own conservation watchdog SNH. What lessons can be learnt from this experience.

3.00 pm Coffee

3.30 pm
Where do we go from here? - Derek Gow

3.45 pm
Chaired open session with panel of speakers.

4.45 pm
Conclusion and Action 

The agenda is the same event for 5 and 6 May. A booking form can be downloaded here (PDF 112kb)

The Journey for the Wild - John Muir Trust, summer 2006

The Journey for the Wild is an epic adventure through some of the UK’s wildest places. In the spirit of John Muir, the journey will take place on rivers, land and sea; traveling light and with a minimal carbon footprint.

The aim is to raise awareness of the value of wild places for people and nature.

People of all abilities will share in the opportunity to pass a message from wild place to wild place. The journey will cover over 2,500 miles during 5 months of the summer of 2006, with routes from the North, South, East and West, culminating in a celebration at Ben Nevis.

The route to be taken by the four message batons is shown on the website and links places involved with the John Muir Trust over the years. We encourage people who would like to be involved in areas not visited by main route to create their own route to join with the Journey.

Handover points from leg to leg are fixed, but the route in between is up to you.

Please see www.jmt.org/programmes or contact the office 0845 456 1783 for detail of leg start and finish points.

This is a great opportunity for you and your organisation to be involved in helping to raise awareness of the value of wild places for people and nature

 British Big Cat Conference, Leicestershire/Northants border 24th - 26th March 2006

The first national British Big Cat Conference will take place over the weekend of 24th - 26th March 2006 in Marston Trussell on the Leicestershire/Northants border- one of the areas where a feral big cat is most likely to be seen.

In the last four decades, big cat sightings have increased exponentially and are currently running at an estimated 1200 sightings a year. The glimpse of a black, panther-like animal is now the commonest brush with the unknown in Britain. Sightings extend from Sutherland to Cornwall and from Norwich to the Isle of Mull. Yet still none has been caught, alive or dead.

The conference will draw together investigators of the phenomenon, from police officers to zoologists, field investigators to philosophers, and many eyewitnesses who have recently had close encounters with big cats.

Tickets for the conference are £20 in advance. The contact details are:
Telephone: 01300 321316
Write: BBC Conference, Reagh, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Email: conference@harpur.org  www.harpur.org/conference.htm

Zoological Society of London - Scientific Meetings

International workshop - Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (30 Mar - 1 Apr 2006)

"Species introduction in restoration projects -possibilities and limitations".

The annual workshop of the specialist group "Restoration Ecology" of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be held from 30 March to 1 April 2006 in Freising, Germany (near Munich).

You can find further information about the themes and deadlines of the workshop on: http://www.wzw.tum.de/vegoek/restoration2006/