www.cbd.int/2010
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SpainWinning photograph portrays the beauty of the endangered Iberian wolf |
www.news.bbc.co.uk
A Spanish photographer has won the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for 2009. The WPY competition, now in its 45th year, is owned by BBC Wildlife Magazine and London's Natural History Museum. This year there were more than 43,000 entries. Jose Luis Rodriguez’s picture of a hunting wolf, frozen in the moment that he leaps a gate is an amazing achievement. The Iberian, wolves, a subspecies of the grey wolf, live close to human habitation in northern Spain, but are often persecuted because they are considered a threat to domestic livestock. In consequence, they are very wary and to capture this moment required much time and detailed planning. Mr. Rodriguez hopes that his photograph, showing the wolf’s great strength and ability, will provide a different image of this magnificent predator.
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Australia
Move to recognise the Glasshouse Mountains as a National Landscape |
www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au www.tourism.australia.com www.glasshousemountains.com.au
The Sunshine Coast Daily believes that the Glasshouse Mountains, the iconic mountains in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, are worthy of being on the international stage alongside some of Australia’s better known landmarks. The Glasshouse Mountains National Park is in Queensland, 70km northeast of Brisbane. The area is being considered by the National Landscapes initiative, run by Tourism Australia and Parks Australia, which have formed a partnership between tourism and conservation to identify Australia’s most iconic landscapes. These areas are promoted as the best Australia can offer to a global target audience of Experience Seekers. So far there are only nine locations on the list. The Red Centre was identified as the first National Landscape. The Sunshine Coast Daily is pursuing a campaign with tourism groups, the state government and community representatives to have the Glasshouse Mountains included. The Tourism Minister, Peter Lawlor, has agreed to support the nomination if all parties within the region present a united front.
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United Kingdom
Largest winter garden of its kind opens |
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
A seven-acre winter garden – the largest of its kind in the UK – has opened at Dunham Massey in Cheshire. The Winter Garden was created and developed in direct response to visitor requests for access to Dunham Massey's gardens during the normal closed season, (November - March), and reflects the National Trust's aim of extending opening hours at its properties across the country. The area covered by the new Winter Garden was originally part of Dunham's deer park. At the turn of the 20th century, the area was fenced off to provide enclosed grazing for the resident Stamford family's ponies. When the National Trust acquired Dunham Massey from the 10th Earl of Stamford in 1976, the old pony paddock had become overgrown, so the area was tidied and re-stocked – but by 2007, trees and shrubs had once again taken hold. The overgrown area of the old paddock seemed to offer the perfect opportunity to develop a winter garden – particularly in the light of visitors wanting to come to Dunham out of season. Clearing work started in June 2007 and lasted six months. The original woodland feel of the area was maintained by keeping some of the large oak and beech trees, several species of rhododendrons, pieris, bluebells, azaleas and hollies. There were 400 metres of new pathways laid and wood from thinning some of the established oak trees in the paddock was reclaimed and used on the Dunham estate, saving around £4,000 in reclamation fees'.
The garden's design and its planting schemes were planned with the guidance of one of the UK's leading plantsmen, Roy Lancaster, OBE working in conjunction with Dunham's own garden staff led by Dunham Massey's Head Gardener, Damian Harris. The garden contains almost 700 different plant species and a further 1,600 shrubs, which were supplied by many of the country's leading nurserymen, were specifically bred for the Winter Garden. All had to have at least two of the following characteristics of interest: winter bark, flower, fruit, autumn colour or scent and sound. The planting of the Winter Garden with over 200,000 bulbs was a huge task – and one that Damian Harris and his team of gardeners could not have done without the help of 1,500 local schoolchildren, National Trust volunteers, members and visitors. A new Winter Garden guide, detailing highlights in the garden across the autumn/winter season, together with a plant list, is available, whilst Head Gardener Damian Harris has put together some tips on how to create your own Winter Garden.
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U.S.A.
City Parks under pressure seek a new Master Plan |
www.duluthmn.gov
The City of Duluth in Minnesota has begun work on a city-wide parks and recreation master plan and wants to hear the public’s thoughts and ideas during the next few months. It has been a challenge over the last few years for the Parks and Recreation Division, along with Park Maintenance, to maintain services in parks and community centres as a result of reduced resources and manpower and increased community demands. In consequence it is felt that there is a need to redefine goals, objectives and mission statement in order to better serve the needs of the public. The Department has appointed a park planning consultant, the Hoisington Koegler Group Inc, and has invited volunteer groups, other agencies and citizens, to help coordinate plans for parks, trails, recreation facilities and programs, as well as identifying priorities and partnership opportunities. A part of the assessment process will be a randomly mailed survey and on-line questionnaire. Three community open house sessions will be held during December. In early spring, the draft report, inclusive of the needs assessment and survey results, will be presented to the Parks Commission for discussion and refinement. Following this there will be further public consultation before the Parks Master Plan is presented to the Council for final approval.
Australia
Ifpra Asia Pacific Fremantle Conference |
www.ifpraasiapacific.org
The 2011 IFPRA Asia Pacific Congress with be held in conjunction with the annual national conference of Parks and Leisure Australia from 18th to 21st September 2011. The host city is Fremantle, Western Australia. Fremantle is 25 kilometres south of Perth the state capital. Fremantle was established in 1829 as a port for the fledgling Swan River Colony and was the major city in Western Australia for much of its early history. It was the first port of call in Australia for many migrants and visitors and today Fremantle sustains a rich mixture of cultures and nationalities. Fremantle is Western Australia's major commercial port and handles the majority of the State's imports and exports. Fremantle is a major tourist attraction for travellers from all parts of the world and attracts large numbers of residents and visitors on a daily basis. The city offers a unique blend of a lively multicultural yet relaxed lifestyle and is a 7 day city. Fremantle has long been know as Perth's other capital. Within easy walking and cycling distance, visitors can experience contemporary circus, fine crafts, original music and theatre, exciting galleries, museums, bookshops and buskers. Along with maritime history and extensive architectural conservation, the Arts have become a central part of Fremantle life where visitors can discover the past and present. Many Arts organisations are housed in historic buildings providing a contemporary use for some of the most spectacular reminders of an earlier history. Fremantle provides a unique opportunity for the visitor to experience and enjoy a range of cultural activities in a relaxed atmosphere. A browse through the markets or leisurely stop at one of the numerous cafes and restaurants will complement your exploration of the arts, making a visit to Fremantle a rich and rewarding experience.
You can expect to read more about Fremantle and parks and recreation initiatives in western Australia in coming issues of the bulletin and IFPRA World along with details of the technical programme and congress announcements. On behalf of the IFPRA Asia Pacific region and Parks and Leisure Australia I look forward to welcoming you to Fremantle in 2011.
Paul Wilson
Chair IFPRA Asia Pacific.
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U.S.A
America’s Best City Parks |
www.forbes.com picture from www.pattersonpark.com
America’s bi-monthly business magazine, Forbes.com, has published a list of twelve of America’s best City Parks. Rob Baedeker reports on the magazine’s website, describing the unique sense of peace and quiet to be found in City Parks sited in the middle of the country’s busiest places. The article quotes Alan Tate, author of Great City Parks: “They give you a feeling of going away without leaving town.” He also refers to the work of Frederick Olmsted, the American Journalist and Landscape Designer responsible for developing Central Park and Prospect Park in New York City. Central to Olmsted’s work was the need for green open space within the boundaries of a city. The twelve parks listed were selected from suggestions made by Alan Tate and Peter Harnik, director of the Centre for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land. The twelve parks listed vary in size and features, but each in its own way offers a place to escape without leaving the city. An example is Boston's Post Office Square, a small (1.7 acre) space in the heart of the city’s financial district where it popular with office workers looking somewhere to relax during their lunch break. Its designers moved a dilapidated concrete parking structure underground and built the park on top of it. Performance spaces and an outdoor restaurant extend its use beyond business hours. Another park listed is Patterson Park one of the oldest parks in Baltimore and steeped in history. It is a park with many facets. As well as its historical significance, it has facilities for exercising and community gatherings. Its Friends describe it as “the Best Backyard in Baltimore.”
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Nepal
National park hosts a Polo Championship with a difference |
www.elephantpolo.com www.environmentalgraffiti.com
This month the Royal Chitwan National Park in Kathmandu hosted the 28th World Elephant Polo Championship with participating teams from Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Hong Kong, England, Scotland and the United States. Elephant polo was first played at the beginning of the 20th century in India. Each elephant carries one mahout to steer and one player and there are eight-a-side. The pitch is only 
three quarters of the size as a regular polo field as elephants tire more quickly than polo ponies. For this reason, each game last only ten minutes followed by an interval of fifteen. Half of the elephants that participate in the Championships belong to the Nepal National Parks, the other half to Tiger Tops Jungle Resort, a luxury retreat sponsoring the championship. Despite the claims of some animal groups that this is a cruel sport, the World Elephant Polo Association’s (WEPA) insists that the animals are well fed and sheltered and get as much exercise as a wild elephant would, although they have to earn their keep. The use of an ankush (a sharp hook used at one time for steering the elephant) is strictly forbidden. The event was won by the English “Air Tusker” team. The England team started slowly, losing to Tia Rongsen’s Indian Tigers 2-3 in their initial match, before adjusting their tactics to beat Tiger Tops Nepal and the Pukka Chukkas securing a semi-final place against the hot favourites, National Parks Nepal. Elephant Polo is registered as an Olympic sport with the Nepal Olympic Committee, but it seems rather unlikely that it will included in the London 2012 Olympics. As in previous years, donations from the players and several charity events held during the tournament, WEPA raised much-needed funds for the local Meghauly Clinic and the Tiger Tops Swiss Air funded local pre-school.
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South Africa
Special courts established to reduce environmental crime |
http://www.buanews.gov.za www.ierm.org.za
The re-established environmental courts, which aim to improve the conviction of environmental crime, are expected to be up and running in the next six months.
Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica said that the establishment of dedicated courts including dedicated prosecutors will have a profound impact on the fight against environmental crimes. A meeting between the Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe and herself in September 2009 resulted in the decision to move forward with the process of re-establishing the courts to address many of the challenges experienced in effectively enforcing the environmental laws.
The department does not plan new court buildings but would look at utilising the existing ones for environmental crimes. Another challenge would be to find the people with the right skills to operate them.
The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report released by the Department revealed that the total number of cases in which the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute had increased from 16 in 2007/08 to 100 in 2008/09 and the number of convictions decreased from 748 in 2007/08 to 258 in 2008/09. Commenting on the number of cases declined in prosecuting, Sonjica said that it was because the environmental crimes were not the core function of the NPA hence the need for dedicated courts. The Department's Compliance and Enforcement Support Director Mark Jardine said that, as a way forward, they will focus on the causes for the fluctuations in the number or reported convictions, acquittals and decisions not to prosecute and also why some institutions were recording over 200 convictions per year and others nothing.
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Singapore
Testing a new generation of turfgrass varieties |
www.nparks.gov.sg
Twelve different species and new varieties of turfgrasses are undergoing research at a new facility at HortPark, the gardening hub. The first such research programme in Singapore, this aims to investigate new types of turfgrasses and their planting conditions to assess if they could be implemented in Singapore’s tropical climate. This research programme is carried out by the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE), an initiative of the National Parks Board (NParks), as a regional centre of excellence to advance urban and green living environment. CUGE is also a one-stop training and knowledge hub in urban greenery and ecology, offering a comprehensive range of skills training programmes for all levels of the landscape industry workforce. Turfgrass is a key component of the Garden City since it is the most extensive plant type used in Singapore. It also has many environmental benefits as it reduces ambient temperatures, controls soil erosion, and cleans water run-off. Currently, almost all parks and streetscapes in Singapore are planted with cowgrass (Axonopus compressus) as it is easily maintained. However, cowgrass does not stand up to extensive foot traffic and trampling. In addition, Singapore's high rainfall and high temperature have posed challenges such as wet soils, which result in soil compaction, barren areas, loss of drainage and waterlogging. Another issue is shade, as turfgrasses are generally planted beneath trees and buildings. This results in thin turf, which is further exacerbated by trampling. A new generation of turfgrass varieties will be tested for adaptability to Singapore's tropical climate. They are native to Southeast Asia and may be more suited to local use because they have dense, fine leaves, lusher colour and greater trampling tolerance. They include the native Zoysias, which include species Matrella, Tenuifolia, and Japonica. Other important species tested include Paspalum, Stenotaphrum (St. Augustine grass), Eremochloa (centipede grass), native Digitaria (serangoon grass), and Axonopus (carpet grasses and cowgrasses).
Besides using the results for turf areas under its management, NParks will be sharing research findings with other organisations, such as Town Councils and Singapore Sports Council so as to improve the quality of green spaces in parks and other public areas.
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Ireland
Town wins National Pride of Place competition |
www.countywicklow.com
Greystones Town in County Wicklow Ireland gateway to the garden of Ireland has won first place in its population category in the National Pride of Place competition 2009. This win follows winning Gold in Category A (under 20,000 population) in the 2008 LivCom Competition. Pride of Place was established to acknowledge in a meaningful way the selfless work being done by the people in communities all over the island of Ireland. It is recognition of the work done to create communities for tomorrow while respecting the heritage and culture of the past. The competition is in it 7th year and supported by Co-Operation Ireland and Local Authorities North and South. The judges were impressed by the many clubs and organisations working in the heart of the community to create caring, vibrant and visible communities. The results were announced in County Down Northern Ireland at the end of November.
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United Kingdom
Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park achieves Dark Sky park |
www.forestry.gov.uk www.darksky.org
On 16th November, in the International Year of Astronomy, it has been announced that the Forestry Commission Scotland has established part of Galloway Forest Park as the first Dark Sky Park in the UK, the result of some fifteen months of work pulling together audits, controls and readings from around the forest park. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) set up the award of Dark Sky status with the aim of reducing light pollution, conserving energy and looking after nature. Their goals are to raise awareness about light pollution, its adverse effects and the solutions, educating people about the values of quality outdoor lighting. The Forest Park has around 75,000 hectares of land, where limited numbers of buildings means light pollution can be kept to a minimum. In addition, the Commission has some control over development of this land, making it easier to control sources of light. The Sky Quality Meter (SQM) scale ranges from 0 to 25. A reading of 8 in the middle of a major city such as Glasgow or Edinburgh would be expected, whereas a reading of 24 would be measured in a photographer's dark room. Based on this scale, the Forest Park’s scores range from 21 to 23.6 giving as near to total darkness as is possible given nearby populations. All forest roads in the park are accessible by foot, bike or horse, but vehicle access is controlled by permissions. The exceptions are forest drives, of which the Galloway Dark Sky Park has two. Along these drives there are plenty of opportunities to stop, get out of the car and look up at the stars.
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New Zealand
Public invited to help prevent spread of an invasive non-native weed |
www.ngia.co.nz www.weedbusters.co.nz
The Nursery & Garden Industry Association (NGIA), which is the official Trade Association Body of the New Zealand Horticulture Industry, is warning against the spread of Carex pendula, the tallest-growing and broadest-leaved sedge in New Zealand with stems of up to 2.5m tall and leaves 15 to 20 mm wide. It has distinctive drooping flower-spikes up to 15 cm long. It is found on stream banks, but can thrive in conditions ranging from wetlands through to open forest areas and is now spreading vigorously along the sides of the Heathcote River in Christchurch. Its size and prolific seeding means it can displace native species in a range of habitats. As such it is a threat to natural areas and restoration projects, especially near waterways and wetlands.
Information from public and professionals is being sought by Weedbusters, a weeds awareness and education programme that aims to protect New Zealand’s environment from an increasing weed problem. People are responsible to a large extent for spreading environmental weeds, often without knowing it, and Weedbusters aims to educate people and raise awareness to turn this problem around. Communities, private individuals, local government, central government and research organisations actively work with Weedbusters. Members of the public who think they may found this plant are asked to contact the Potential Pest Line and are advised to remove and carefully destroy any seed-heads present to prevent further spread.
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Netherlands
Floriade: A hortictural extravaganza to look forward to in 2012 |
www.floriade.nl
The Programme for Floriade 2012, a World Horticultral Expo staged once every ten years in the Netherlands, is beginning to develop. The sixth edition of the Floriade will be hosted by the Regio Venlo, on the border of Netherlands and Germany from April until mid-October 2012. The region is currently undergoing a number of major developments and the staging of this event will leave the region with a sustainable legacy. The event will take place at the centre of Greenport Venlo. The name Greenport is used for economic networks of companies, organisations and institutes involved in horticulture and Greenport Venlo is one of five Greenports in the Netherlands. Together they form driving force of the entire Dutch horticultural complex. Greenport Venlo includes the entire horticultural complex between Nijmegen and Sittard. As well as the opportunity to enjoy exceptional displays of flowers, plants, trees, fruit and vegetables, a cultural programme is planned with music, theatre and visual arts from all over the world. There will be educational activities and attractions for children. Cafes and restaurants will offer local and international cuisine or visitors may choose to enjoy a picnic surrounded by flowers and trees or lounging on the banks of the water.
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United Kingdom
National Park finally confirmed after sixty years in the making |
www.cnp.org.uk www.southdowns.gov.uk
On 12th December the boundaries of the South Downs National Park have finally been confirmed. This is England’s ninth national park, the fourteenth in the United Kingdom. The National Park was agreed in principle in March 2009, but could not be confirmed until final boundary disputes were resolved involving a one-day public inquiry. The South Downs Campaign (SDC), a network of around 160 organisations, which includes the Campaign for National Parks and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), is celebrating the removal of this last hurdle in the long and difficult history of the South Downs. It now wants to see swift action to ensure that the new National Park Authority is given all the help that it needs to make it a success. The announcement came on the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Act, which established the concept of National Parks in England and Wales. The South Downs was recommended to become a National Park by Sir Arthur Hobhouse and his committee in 1947. Robin Crane, Chair of the SDC, comments that this final milestone means that the South Downs will now have the protection and recognition that it deserves.
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Hong Kong
Registered “Old and Valuable Tree” has to be removed for public safety |
www.lcsd.gov.hk
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has removed a Cotton tree at Wan Tau Kok Playground in Tai Po because it is seen to pose a threat to public safety. Following detailed inspections by department staff and arborists, and analysis by members of the tree expert group, the tree was believed to have fungal diseases in the root system. This affected the transportation of nutrients and water, causing the tree to deteriorate severely and be in potential danger of collapse. Listed on the Register of Old and Valuable Trees with the registration number LCSD TP/1, the 23-metre-tall Cotton tree was located on a slope adjacent to a five-a-side soccer pitch at Wan Tau Kok Playground, Tai Po. The department staff had been conducting regular inspections and carrying out suitable maintenance measures on the tree. It had been closely monitored after abnormalities were found during an inspection by department staff and the arborists mid year. Suitable remedial measures and application of fungicide were carried out on the tree. However, when department staff inspected the tree again in October, they found that most of the leaves had fallen, its bark had peeled off and its root had signs of fungal attack. The LCSD stressed that it would continue to adopt a prudent approach in managing its trees. Removing a problematic tree would only be the last resort when there was no viable option to keep it.Return to contents
2010, April 11-16
Healthy Parks Health People – Inaugural International Conference
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia
www.healthyparkshealthypeoplecongress.org
2010, May 31
International Awards for Liveable Communities - Closing date for registrations in the 2010 awards
www.livcomawards.com Tel: +44 (0) 118 946 1680 Email: info@livcomawards.com
2010, May 28-30
47th International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
Suzhou, P.R. China
Contact Prof. Xiaoming Liu at chsla@sohu.com or Chistine Bavassa at efla.exsec@gmail.com
2010, June 15-17
Improving Parks and Green Spaces: IFPRA Europe Event
Hosted by the London Borough of Hillingdon, Uxbridge, London, U.K.
Tuesday 15 June Commissioners' meetings
Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 June - site visits to West London parks and green spaces
Friday 17 June - joint open meeting (indoors) with the London Parks and Green Spaces Forum on increasing access to parks and green spaces for people of all abilities, ages and backgrounds.
2010, July 6-8
International Trials Conference: Assessment of Ornamental Plants
www.rhs.org.uk/plants/ornamentals2010.asp
2010 August 22-27
28th International Horticultural Congress - IHC2010, Lisbon (Portugal)
Theme: Science and Horticulture for People
Info: Prof. Dr. António A. Monteiro, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Technical University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal. Phone: (351)213653451, Fax: (351)213623262, E-mail: amonteiro@isa.utl.pt or Dr. Víctor Galán Saúco, Inst. Canario de Inv. Agrar., I.C.I.A., Apartado 60, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. Phone: (34)922476321, Fax: (34)922476303, E-mail: vgalan@icia.es E-mail symposium: info@ihc2010.org Web: www.ihc2010.org
2010, November
Ifpra World Congress: Quality Services – ‘Parks, Recreation and Tourism'
Hong Kong www.ifpraasiapacific.org/ifpra_world_congress_2010.htm
2011
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
Switzerland
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com
2011 July 24-30
XVIII International Botanical Congress
Melbourne Australia
www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/ibc-2011/
2011, September 18-21
Ifpra Asia Pacific Congress
Fremantle, Western Australia
2012
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
South Africa
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com
2012, Apr-Oct
Floriade: Be part of the theatre in nature – get closer to the quality of life
GreenPark Venlo, Netherlands
www.floriade.com/
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