Ifpra world e-news

Newsletter Issue 1 – January 2007

Ifpra is committed to improving Membership Services, and the first initiative in this project is the introduction of an E-Newsletter. I am therefore delighted to be able to bring to you the first edition of ifpra world e-news. It is planned that this new service to Ifpra members will be e-mailed to you at the beginning of every month and provide you with a selection of relevant news items from all around the world. In due course, it is proposed to increase the frequency of the Newsletter. This Newsletter will enable Ifpra members to share their news with their fellow professionals, check out new offers from the Ifpra Bookshop and access a comprehensive Events Diary giving details of forthcoming national and international events. This is your newsletter, so please make it a success by communicating regularly with ifpraworldnews@aol.com with news items and information about events in your country and offering your comments as to the content, format and frequency of the Newsletter. The inclusion of Commercial Supporters of the Newsletter will be introduced, and further details can be obtained from the Ifpra General Secretary.

Editor

Contents

Þ Consultation on EU Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) – United Kingdom

Þ Delays to Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreational Park in Sacramento – United States

Þ Draft legislation to open up coastline – South Africa

Þ Proposals for a new whitewater park – United States

Þ Adopt a Tree – India

Þ 25th Anniversary Parks Canada Co-operating Association Programme – Canada

Þ Changing attitudes to the use of recycled water – Australia

Þ One voice for conservation in Boston – U.S.A.

Þ Celebrating Christmas in a tropical garden – Singapore

Þ Draft National Environment Policy – India

Þ Closing Date for application for World Heritage Fellowships - World

Þ The Climate Change Challenge – U.K.

United Kingdom

UK consultation on EU Environmental Liability Directive (ELD)

www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/env-liability
The UK’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (defra) has launched a consultation on the likely effect of the EU Directive adopted in April 2004 for implementation in 2007. The directive is aimed at the prevention and remedying of environmental damage – specifically, damage to habitats and species, damage to water resources, and land contamination which presents a threat to human health. Business interests, local authorities, landowners and others with an interest in environmental legislation have been invited to respond to the defra consultation by 16th February 2007. A number of organisations, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, have already published their concerns that the new environmental legislation fails to protect species currently at risk.

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United States

Delay to Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Park in Sacramento

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/

The California State Parks’ Off Highway Motor Vehicle Division operates eight State Vehicle Recreation Areas across the State attracting more than 5.4 million visits a year. There is demand for a new park within the Central Valley area, but insurmountable problems have arisen with the site identified, relating to access, suitability of the soil for managing sustainable long-term OHV recreation and the risk of exposing visitors to the unacceptably high concentration of “valley fever” spores in the area. Every effort is being made by the Department to find an appropriate site.

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South Africa

Draft legislation to open up coastline

www.info.gov.za

Up-market coastal resorts and developments in South Africa may soon be compelled to provide public access to the coastline they encompass should a draft Integrated Coastal Management Bill open for public comment for a period of 90 days, become law. One of the main aims of the new legislation is to make South Africa's seashores, estuaries and territorial waters public property. The draft legislation approved by the Cabinet requires the state to act as the trustees of coastal public property to ensure that it is conserved and used for the benefit of the whole community, including future generations.

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United States

Proposals for a new whitewater park

http://www.boiseriverpark.com/
Interest in a proposed new whitewater park on the Boise River has been fuelled by a recent article in The Idaho Statesman, but according to the Boise City Parks and Recreation Department, the project is in the initial fundraising stage and it will be years before it is completed. The proposal is the outcome of years of work by local boating groups and the interest is building throughout the boating community. Early preliminary designs and studies have been completed and much of the information is available. There is also growing interest from Garden City and Garden City businesses in the proposed development that will share over a quarter of a mile of riverfront with Boise and eventually anchor a new stretch of Greenbelt and a footbridge across the river to Garden City.

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India

Adopt a Tree

http://cities.expressindia.com/

According to cities.expressindia.com, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Delhi, is planning an innovative scheme to persuade people to adopt a tree. With the help of a private sponsor, a “crying” plant will attract passers by and encourage them to support the initiative. The automated speaker system will be installed in selected roadside plants. The pilot project will direct more funding towards the maintenance of trees, often neglected in new planting schemes.

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Canada

25^th Anniversary Parks Canada Co-operating Association Programme

www.pc.gc.ca

In December 2006, Parks Canada celebrated the 25^th Anniversary of an initiative that has successfully promoted cooperation with the voluntary sector to provide long-term support, involvement and shared stewardship of national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas across the country. Launched in 1981 with six associations, currently the program involves thousands of members, volunteers and staff affiliated with 55 co-operating associations contributing to 73 sites across the whole of Canada.

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Australia

Changing attitudes to the use of recycled water

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/archives/

A recent article in The Australian suggests that recycled sewage could be used for drinking if it can be done safely, although the priority should be use for agriculture and industry. This reflects changing attitudes in the face of serious water shortage issues. In a poll conducted exclusively for The Australian, almost seven out of ten people favoured water from sewage treatment plants being supplied for all household uses, including drinking, provided it is treated to the same quality as existing supplies. It was considered that greater use of recycled water for industry and commercial purposes and to water parks and gardens would free up valuable drinking water, and help increase the environmental flows.

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U.S.A.

One voice for conservation in Boston

www.bostonnatural.org and www.thetrustees.org

The Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) and the Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) have announced a permanent affiliation to act with one voice for conservation in Boston. BNAN sees this as a means of expanding and accelerating its work with community gardens, urban wild areas and green spaces. TTOR is a state-wide conservation organisation that protects and cares for over 53,000 acres of open land, including 100 reservations of remarkable natural beauty and historical significance. Under the terms of this unique arrangement, BNAN will continue as a separate non-profit organisation with its own board, continue to own and acquire community gardens and continue its current programs, advocacy, planning and community organizing work while having access to TTOR’s expertise, experience and resources in land conservation and stewardship. This affiliation is the result of two years of discussions between two groups that share a commitment to natural land and the essential role it plays in quality of life.

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Malaysia

Celebrating Christmas in a tropical garden

www.singaporegardenfestival.com

The first Singapore Garden Festival organised by the National Parks Board took place between 16-25 December 2006 at the Suntec City Convention Centre. In spite of rain and competition from the Christmas shops, the event proved to be a sell out with 200,000 visitors, some returning for a second visit. The Show featured leading floral and garden designers from Singapore and abroad, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Holland, Australia, Japan, China and Asian countries. Many were award winners at other major international horticultural events. The Festival will return in 2008 and will eventually be sited at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay when they are opened from 2010.

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India

Draft National Environment Policy

http:pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=23705
A draft National Environment Policy (NEP) has been announced by the Government of India in response to a national commitment to a clean environment, mandated in the Constitution. The document recognizes that, maintaining a healthy environment is not the State’s responsibility alone, but also that of every citizen. It briefly describes key environmental challenges, currently and prospectively facing the country, the objectives of environment policy, normative principles underlying policy action, strategic themes for intervention, broad indication of the legislative and institutional development needed to accomplish the strategic themes, and mechanisms for implementation and review. The NEP is intended to help realise sustainable development by mainstreaming environmental concerns in all development activities and relevant sectoral policies. It is expected to serve as a guide to action plans, programmes and projects for environmental conservation. The Policy will promote schemes such as the Conservation and Management of Wetlands and Mangroves, under which thirty-eight sites have been identified as appropriate, for planting, conservation and management. The scheme will address issues such as the identification of alternative occupations, protection and surveillance measures and education and awareness.

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World

Closing Date for application for World Heritage Fellowships

http://whc.unesco.org/en/home
World Heritage site managers and people intending to pursue a career in World Heritage site management are being invited to apply for Fellowships offered through the UNESCO-VOCATIONS PATRIMOINE World Heritage Site Managers Programme. This programme - launched in January 2006 - is made possible as a result of an innovative public-private partnership between the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the French non-governmental organization, Association Vocations Patrimoine, supported by the multinational groups, AXA and MAZARS. At present, the Fellowships are only offered in connection with the Master of Arts in World Heritage Studies at Brandenburg Technical University, Cottbus, Germany and with the Master of Science in World Heritage Management at University College Dublin, Ireland. Applicants should therefore either be in receipt of an offer on or in the process of applying to one of these courses. Applicants should be under 45 years of age and priority will be given to applicants from low-income countries and to professionals already working at a World Heritage property. Applications must reach UNESCO by 31 March 2007.

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U.K.

The Climate Change Challenge

www.nerc.ac.uk

Professor Alan Thorpe, Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged climate sceptics to debate their views on climate change. The recent Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change highlights the importance of climate change science – not only physical and biological science but also engineering, economics and social science – in the assessment of the economic impacts. As well as mitigating the causes of change, research shows that people need to adapt and learn to live with environmental changes. But many people still refuse to accept that the science is sufficiently robust to allow decisions to be taken about the biggest challenge facing our planet. Professor Thorpe said, "In light of the scientific evidence, summarised in the Stern Review, it is hard to understand how people can make statements like 'climate change is all down to variations in the sun's radiation'; or 'we really don't know what is going to happen.' I am willing, on behalf of NERC, to accept the challenge of a public debate with sceptics to try to correct misinformation with actual scientific knowledge." NERC has set up an online discussion forum where all comers can air their views. The forum will be open until 31 January 2007.

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EVENTS DIARY