Ifpra

 

Ifpra World e-News – December 2011

Contents

ITALY – Milan’s Vertical Forest

http://www.greenmuze.com/nature/trees/4243-milans-vertical-forest.html
http://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/?p=4600#more-4600
A twin apartment block currently under construction will be the greenest building in Milan.  The “Bosco Verticale” (Vertical  Forest) will be planted with dense forest systems to create a microclimate and filter out dust pollution.  The green facade will also absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, moderate temperature extremes and lower noise pollution.  Each apartment will have a balcony planted with trees which will provide summer shade but drop their leaves in winter to allow sunlight.  A grey water filtration system will supply irrigation and photovoltaic power generation will contribute sustainable power to the building.  The development is part of the BioMilano Vision to incorporate sixty abandoned farms into Milan’s greenbelt and is designed by Stefan Boeri Architects.  Photographs of a recent open day are posted on their website.

Return to contents

AFRICA – Trees Boost Crop Yield

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15305271
A new study shows how planting trees can improve soil quality to boost crop yields in Africa.   Researchers from the World Agroforestry Centre say soil fertility is one of the main problems to improving food production in Africa.  Farmers are reluctant or unable to buy chemical fertilizers, while in densely populated countries, like Malawi, they cannot afford to leave land fallow.  The study has been looking at alternative management systems, namely intercropping trees with the maize.  The nitrogen-fixing roots of certain trees provide nutrients to enrich poor arable land.  The study results appear in the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability.

Return to contents

VIETNAM – Javan Rhino Now Extinct

http://www.rhinos-irf.org/javan-rhinos-now-extinct-in-vietnam/
A recent study by Queen’s University, Canada and funded by the IRF and WWF has confirmed the extinction of the Javan rhino in Vietnam.  The Vietnam group of Javan rhinos was only discovered in 1988 and several organisations became involved in mid-90s to attempt to conserve them in Cat Tien National Park.  The body of the last rhino was found in the park in April 2010, obviously a victim of poaching as it had been shot in the leg and the horn removed.  A small population of less than 44 Javan rhinos lives in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park and great efforts are now being made there to expand their habitat and protect the animals from poachers.

Return to contents

USA – Central Park devastated by Snowstorm

http://www.centralpark.com/news/456/snow-storm-causes-unprecedented-damage-in-central-park
Severe snow at the end of October caused unprecedented damage in New York’s Central Park.  The October storm  caused the worse devastation to the park in 27 years and as many as 1,000 trees may be lost.  The heavy snow falling on trees that had not shed their leaves caused branches to break and whole trees to collapse. As the temperature stayed near freezing and not well below, the snow was damp and heavy, putting extra pressure on fragile branches.  The subsequent clean-up operation faced by the Central Park Conservancy is huge but every effort is being made to restore the park

Return to contents

CANADA – Road Map for Rouge National Urban Park

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/1240937
 Federal Environment Minister, Peter Kent has told stakeholders that the proposed Rouge National Urban Park requires innovative and “truly outside-the box” thinking.  The task to build “a people’s park”, which will connect to history and the outdoors, was begun at a recent “visioning workshop” at the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Miller Lash House in the Highland Creek Valley.  Among the participants were conservationists, tenant farmers and municipal politicians, all with a contribution to make.  The park is within driving distance of a fifth of Canadians and  the Minister said its development will give the opportunity to millions of young people to experience the Canadian outdoors with  “the elements that make us truly Canadian.”

Return to contents

UK – Benefits of Britain in Bloom

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Community-gardening/Britain-in-Bloom/News/Communities-highlight-benefits-of-Britain-in-Bloom
RHS Britain in Bloom is one of the largest voluntary campaigns in Europe and aims to improve life through community gardening.  This year, the Awards Ceremony was held in St Andrews and celebrated the work of over 200,000 volunteers who collectively contributed 4.4 million hours (over 500 years!) to the campaign.  The Judging Panel toured the UK in August, visiting the 76 finalists, nominated from over 1,000 participating communities to represent their region/nation in the finals.  The judging criteria were: horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.  A report entitled “Britain in Bloom: Transforming Local Communities”, examines the transformational impact of the scheme and can be found on the RHS site.

Return to contents

AUSTRALIA – Future Plans for the National Botanic Garden

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-23/botanic-gardens-new-look/3688906?section=act
The Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra has launched a new branding and a ten-year management plan.  The draft document aims to increase horticultural/conservation research, develop the seed bank for rare or threatened species and increase education and visitor programmes.  The new logo, based on the Banksia flower, aims to “reflect the gardens’ status as a national institution while...keeping the visual connection to Australian flora.”  The plan is open for public comment and it is hoped that as well as local residents, visitors, researchers and other botanic gardens will contribute suggestions.

Return to contents

MEXICO – Urban Parks and Birds

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/11/21/Study-City-songbirds-victims-of-noise/UPI-50401321913546/
A study by the University of the Americas in Mexico and the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development shows how green spaces most affected by noise have fewer bird species.  Noise pollution significantly reduces the number of songbirds in cities and should be considered when looking at urban biodiversity.  Green spaces studied for the presence of 38 species included urban parks, main squares, the university campus, nature reserves near the city and even cemeteries.  Finches, sparrows and thrushes were found to be the best adapted species.  The next step is to investigate the level of noise toleration by individual species.

Return to contents

CHINA – Asia Pacific Forestry Week highlights Local Involvement

http://www.fao.org/forestry/ap-forestry-week/en/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15619703
Asia Pacific Forestry Week, 2011 was held in Beijing in November and one of the key reports highlights the importance of involving local groups in halting the loss of forest cover in the Asia-Pacific region.  The report examines low-cost forest protection projects which offered the incentive of work opportunities and income sources to communities.  These schemes also enhanced ecosystems, restored biodiversity and increased carbon storage.

Return to contents

GLOBAL – Seeds on Fire

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15674495
Some plant species are being influenced by manmade fires.  Scientists have shown that less rounded seeds and those covered in thicker protective hairs were more likely to survive the fires used to clear scrubland and this will influence the evolutionary process.  Part of the study took place in an area of Chile where natural fires were rare, allowing the assessment of the impact of human activity.  Results also indicated that fire as a selective pressure on seed shape had more of an impact than other environmental features, such as drought.

Return to contents

FINLAND – Wetland Birds delay Migration

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/15783321
Migration patterns of birds wintering in Northern European Wetlands are changing.  Research from Finland has found some waterfowl, including ducks, geese and swans are leaving up to a month later than thirty years ago.  Since 1979, volunteers from the Hanko Bird Observatory have been making daily bird counts to compile a “Migration Census” to show which birds were flying south from Finland and when.  The data has now been analysed by the University of Helsinki.  The study shows how rapidly waterfowl respond to climate change; increased water temperature means there is more food available for waterfowl further north later into the year.

Return to contents

CANADA – Polar Bear Wall

http://explore.org/#!/walls/player/polar-bears/
The migration of 900 Polar Bears currently gathered in Wapusk National Park, near the town of Churchill is being tracked and filmed by a camera equipped truck, named “Tundra Buggy One”.  The project is part of a scheme to follow animals in their natural habitat to increase public awareness of the environment and global warming.   The daily web-feed of the bears is streamed over the internet and can be accessed as part of a Polar Bear Wall on explore.org. 

Return to contents

EVENTS DIARY

2011
1 December
The International Symposium on Urban Open Spaces – Quality Provision and Assessment
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Further information and registration:   http://www.sl.life.ku.dk/Aktiviteter/2011/19_urban_open_spaces.aspx

 

2012
 22 – 26 January
Event Management School
Wheeling, West Virginia
www.nrpa.org/event-school

26 February – 2 March
NRPA Green School
Wheeling, West Virginia
www.nrpa.org/education

11 – 16 March
Revenue Development and Management School
Wheeling, West Virginia
www.nrpa.org/education

27 – 29 March
NRPA Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation
Washington DC
www.nrpa.org/legforum

 Apr-Oct
Floriade:  Be part of the theatre in nature – get closer to the quality of life
GreenPark, Venlo, Netherlands
www.floriade.com/

 

14-15 June
Ifpra Yardstick Members Meeting 2012
Aalborg City, Denmark
Thursday 14 June (meeting), Friday 15 June (park visits day)

5 – 7 September
IFPRA European Congress 2012
Basel, Switzerland.
Website: www.IFPRA2012.bs.ch
Contact: emanual.trueb@bs.ch

7 – 9 September
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
South Africa
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com

12-18 October
16th Convention of the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS)
Sandton,  South Africa.
www.worldrose.org

16 – 18 October
2012 NRPA Congress and Exposition
Anaheim, California
www.nrpa.org/Congress2012

2013
20 April - 20 Oct
International Garden Expo Suncheon
Suncheon City, South Korea
Web: www.2013expo.or.kr
Contact:  Na Ok Hyeon (The International Cooperation Manager of the Garden Expo team) mono1968@korea.kr

2014
17-24 August
29th International Horticultural Congress
Horticulture - Saving Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes
Brisbane, Australia
Contact: 
Dr Russ Stephenson, Australia, email: russ.stephenson@deedi.qld.gov.au
or Jill Stanley, New Zealand, email:  jstanley@hortresearch.co.nz

2015
3 – 9 June
17th Convention of the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS)
Lyon, France.
www.worldrose.org

Return to contents