May 2007
It’s odd how each month similar stories turn up from
different parts of the world. One month environmental issues
will be at the top of the agenda; another month will be all
about heritage. This month, wherever I looked, there were
stories about volunteers and volunteering. It does seem that
parks and open spaces are capable of attracting amazing numbers
of dedicated helpers willing to give their free time to clean,
tidy and even to assist with planting programmes. As always, if
you have news to share, please do not hesitate to e-mail
ifpraworldnews@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Editor
Plans have been unveiled for the construction of a new building
at the Eden Project in Cornwall. The new structure will allow
people to explore and understand the effects of climate change
and the ways in which man will have to change to meet the
challenges ahead. Known as “The Edge”, the project aims to look
back and understand how people coped with change in the past and
how animals and plants living “on the edge” manage to survive.
The focus will be the impending water crisis.
The building will be a landmark construction in the tradition
that Eden has already established – a beautiful and dynamic
blend of architecture, technology, science and the arts. It will
demonstrate options for energy supply, water conservation and
waste management that will provide models of how people might
live in the next decades.
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The Times of India reports that members of a local nature club
in South Kolkata have been pulling out the nails driven into
roadside trees to support advertising hoardings. It is claimed
that trees are being damaged and in some cases poisoned to
ensure better visibility for advertising. The campaign to remove
the nails had the support of leading environmentalists who
believe that the local authority should have been more proactive
in protecting roadside trees that give shade and help to combat
pollution.
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Spring Creek provides a boundary between Harris and Montgomery
counties. The dream of a park and trail system along its banks
has required the cooperation of both counties and the support of
a number of other organisations. When completed, there will be
more than thirty miles of trackway for cyclists and walkers and
later a trail for horse riders. It will be the longest trail in
the region. The Greenway project will safeguard the creek and
its surrounding natural areas of woodland and wetland for future
generations. Land has been acquired by the Counties with the
support of private donors and various conservation groups, such
as The Trust for Public Land that recently acquired 115 acres.
The Trust has conveyed this property to the Harris County Flood
Control District that will own and manage the land as part of
the public greenway. The Trust believes that this property is an
undisturbed ecological gem and its preservation provides
opportunities for floodplain storage, eco-tourism, education and
outdoor recreation. Sections of the Spring Creek Greenway are
expected to open in the Autumn.
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On 21st April, more than 4,000 New Yorkers took spring-cleaning
to a new level by turning their attention to the city’s public
spaces, including, parks, gardens and playgrounds to make them
cleaner and greener in time for the summer. The effort was
co-ordinated by New York Cares, as part of its annual Hands on
New York Day. As well as clearing up an accumulation of debris,
volunteers undertook painting and renovation of fences and
benches.
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Delhi Newsline claims that, despite the best efforts of the
Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to include parks and
open spaces as part of new developments within the Gurgaon
region, many residents prefer the privacy of their own back
gardens and many attractive parks are under used. Whereas parks
in the capital city are well used and valued, in affluent
suburbia, people prefer their own private space. The challenge
for the Development Authority is to design new parks that will
encourage visitors, enticing them away from their swimming pools
and home gyms.
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At its April 17 meeting, the Shelby Township Board of Trustees
approved $75,000 in funds to match a Recreation Initiative Grant
to improve access to the Heritage Gardens and pond via a barrier
free pathway from the Mae Stecker Walking Park. Currently,
visitors to the municipal grounds who wish to walk in the
gardens and use wheelchairs, walkers or strollers must travel
through a municipal building and take a back route to access the
park. Shelby Township Parks and Recreations Director, Dave
Moore, says: “It’s been needed for quite a while. The gardens
were built before the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) came
into effect, so they didn’t have to be handicap-accessible.”
People currently have to park a distance away from the path and
provided funding is secured, this more convenient access will
benefit all.
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The Russian News and Information Agency, NOVOSTI, reports that
the March of Parks world-wide campaign is continuing in Russia
in the Ugra National Park in the Kaluga Region, near Moscow. The
movement originated in the United States in 1990, and Russia
joined it in 1995. More than 1,000 residents of the Kaluga
Region, mostly schoolchildren from nearby towns and cities, took
part in the march during the first week. They cleaned up
roadsides, parks and gardens around old Russian mansions.
"Usually Marches of Parks are held to attract funds for
environmental projects. Our goal is also to attract as many
volunteers as possible and to promote environmental education",
said Lyudmila Zhdanova, a spokesperson for the Ugra National
Park. Nearly 3,000 more people are expected to participate in
the march before it ends. The Ugra National Park was established
in 1997 to protect the unique landscape of the Ugra and Zhizdra
rivers. There are 20 natural monuments and 4 ornithological
reserves, as well as architectural monuments and more than 130
archaeological sites in the park. The park was the site of a
number of major battles, from the Great Stand on the Ugra River
in 1480 to military operations during World War II. Optina
Pustyn, a well-known Russian Orthodox monastery, is also
situated there.
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Camden Chronicle Independent, Kershaw County, South Carolina
The above on-line news site has been covering a dispute between
council members, developers and officers on the future of a
proposed Planned Development District (PDD) at Springdale
Gardens. The debate followed a period of public comment. The
discussion focused on the complex issues surrounding the level
of protection given by the various planning classifications to
preserve both green-space and wetlands (part of the site is a
flood plain), protect water resources and public parks, retain
historical building and structures and take into account the
area’s commercial and residential requirements. The proposal to
create a PDD was approved at committee by a narrow majority of
three to two, raising doubts as to whether the best decision for
the site has been reached.
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Councillor Darren Johnson of the London Green Party Group
continues to press for more legislation to prevent people in
London paving their front gardens to provide parking for cars.
Councillor Johnson chaired a major investigation on behalf of
the London Assembly’s environment committee into this increasing
practice. The report confirmed that this was not only bad for
wildlife, but also could cause drainage problems. It was claimed
that London had already lost green space equivalent to
twenty-two Hyde Parks. Whilst there is now greater awareness of
the problem, Councillor Johnson suggests that legislation is
needed to enable local authorities to introduce tougher rules on
pavement crossovers thereby limiting the area that can be paved
over to provide off-street parking.
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The New York Metro reports that the Parks Department has so far
refused a request from two scientists at Rutgers University, who
have been carrying out independent research into the possible
health risks from synthetic materials, to collect and test
sample rubber pellets from athletic fields in city parks. This
form of synthetic surface, which uses recycled car tyres, is
already in use in seventy-three locations with further
installations planned. The Parks Department has told Metro of
two studies refuting the scientists’ concerns; one being funded
by the Tyre Recycling Management Association of Alberta, Canada.
Most studies have concluded that more research is required.
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The Wild Coast Sun Golf Course has become South Africa’s first
Fairways Eco-rated Course. The Fairways Golf Course Eco-Rating
Program is a South African developed initiative designed to
recognise and develop internationally recognised environmental
compliance and responsible golf-course management standards. The
Program incorporates international best practice from similar
global initiatives including Golf Environment Europe, the
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, ISO
14000 and the USAF Golf Course Management Program. Participating
golf courses are evaluated on all aspects of their operations
including procurement and purchasing; resource management; site
design and course construction; communications and awareness
programs; community development and CSR initiatives; wildlife
and habitat protection and other issues considered to reduce,
mitigate or manage the impacts that golf courses can have. The
Program is the first of its kind internationally to incorporate
an eco-funding component that assists golf club managers to
replace environmentally insensitive systems and facilities with
more appropriate alternatives and management systems and
procedures designed to ensure sustainable and environmentally
responsible management techniques and strategies by golf course
owners, managers and developers.
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On 27th March, the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Office
launched a $200million project to advance the global effort to
tackle climate change and protect the world’s forests. Working
with both developed and developing countries, the project will
have the objective of supporting new forest planning, limiting
destruction of the world’s remaining forests, promoting
sustainable forest management and encouraging contributions from
other countries. The Minister’s speech on the subject focused on
the need for green lunges to offset pollution and the role of
sustainable forest management in combating climate change. On
9th April the Australian and Indonesian Governments agreed to
work together to further this initiative. Both agreed that
unsustainable forest management and illegal logging degrade the
environment, endanger plant and animal life and adversely affect
the social and economic well-being of communities.
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The Wilderness Society (Sydney) Inc has issued a press release
welcoming NSW’s Premier Morris lemma's ministerial shake-up,
including the formation of a new mega environment department
(including environment, climate change and water) as the way
forward for ending illegal land clearing in NSW. "The Wilderness
Society has been campaigning for years to have control of land
clearing laws moved into the Department of Environment where it
belongs," said Reece Turner, NSW Land Clearing Campaigner with
The Wilderness Society. “Having a Minister responsible for
Primary Industries and Natural Resources was a proven recipe for
disaster.” Other changes include the transfer of the Soil
Conservation, Marine Parks, Catchment Management Authority and
Coastal Protection Acts to DECC. Before the election, Premier
lemma vowed to end illegal land clearing and promised $3.5m
ongoing funding for a satellite monitoring system for this
purpose. "There is still a lot more for the lemma Government to
do to ensure land clearing ends in this state but the Premier's
recent announcements and new departmental shake-up are a great
start", concluded Turner.
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Reuters News Agency reports that Segolene Royal, the socialist
politician who is bidding to be France’s first woman President,
has promised to consider opening private ministerial gardens to
the public if she is elected. She is committed to commissioning
a study of the current use of public building and assessing the
possibility of opening some ministerial parks to the public. It
is not impossible that the vast gardens of the Elysee Palace,
home of the French President, could also be opened.
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Visitors to Penang Botanic Gardens are being advised not to
carry plastic bags in order to avoid being attacked by monkeys
who associate colourful plastic bags with food. A survey based
on 300 complaints showed that most visitors who were attacked
were carrying plastic bags. Despite signs warning people not to
feed the monkeys, this continues to pose a real risk and it may
prove necessary to prevent visitors bringing any food into the
gardens. Six months ago, the Park planted 1,000 fruit trees on
the green area outside the gardens in the hope that this will
encourage some of the monkeys to move to a new habitat.
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A break in the drought at the end of April has provided some
welcome respite for Melbourne’s parks and gardens. However, a
significant period of sustained rainfall will be needed in order
to replenish depleted water storage levels.
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www.nparks.gov.sg
The National Parks Board (NParks) announces the opening of the
Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE), a key milestone in
the development of the landscape industry. A one-stop training
and knowledge hub in urban greenery and ecology, CUGE offers a
comprehensive range of skills training programmes for landscape
and horticulture professionals in Singapore and the region. CUGE
will provide skills training to all levels of the workforce,
from new entrants, to mid-career workers and Professionals,
Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs). It will also
provide professional certification for specialisation in areas
such as arboriculture (tree care), horticulture, nursery
management, turf management and irrigation management, to name
but a few, and short skills courses for continuous training and
professional development which will enhance the career
progression of the landscape industry workforce. To train
specialist professionals in the industry, CUGE will also build
niche specialist schools in various landscape fields. Later this
year, CUGE will introduce the Certified Practising
Horticulturist programme, Advanced Certificate in Landscape
Supervision and the Diploma in Landscape Management. CUGE will
also work with industry associations, training organisations,
learning institutions, Government agencies, and overseas
institutions to develop comprehensive skills training
programmes. CUGE plans to provide e-learning facilities at
www.cuge.com.sg to make learning more accessible. Courses will
also be conducted at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, public parks
and HortPark when ready.
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The 2007/2008 Membership Subscriptions are now due, and
reminders will, where appropriate, be included with the June 07
edition of Ifpra World. If subscriptions are paid through the
banking system, please ensure that:
- Your membership number is quoted on the bank transfer
details – a number of payments have been received without
the membership number being quoted and it has not been
possible to identify the member that is paying. These
payments are being held in a suspense account.
- That the bank ensures that the membership subscription
is transferred in full to Ifpra, as an increasing number of
subscriptions are being received that are less than the
amount due as bank charges have been deducted from the
payment.
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2007 May 22-26
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2007/index.asp
2007 May 31
Closing date for Registrations in the 2007 LivCom Awards
http://www.livcomawards.com
Contact: info@livcomawards.com
2007 June 5-7
EMIT 2007 Environmental Management in Tourism Conference
“Touch Africa Lightly” Towards caring and sustainable tourism in
Africa
http://www.emit.co.za/
2007 July 3-8
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
http://www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt/2007/index.asp
2007 Aug 26-28
IFLA 2007 44th World Congress of the International Federation of
Landscape Architects in Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur
www.ifla2007.com
2007 Sept 3-6
Ifpra World Congress, Dublin Ireland
The World Congress will be opened by the President of Ireland,
Mary McAleese. The key Presentations will be based on: The
influence of climate change; The diversity and benefits of parks
in the context of UNEP and the world agenda; Landscape diversity
and the urban economy.
Breakout sessions will examine the values of: Visual impact and
the environment; Heritage; Health and wellbeing; Economic and
engineering of parks; Social and community issues; together with
a session on the Urban Parks Forum.
Technical and cultural visits will be made to: Dublin’s Centre
City Parks; Parks in Dublin and Belfast.
The opening of the Congress will be at a State Reception in
Dublin Castle, followed by an optional, ‘Irish Night’.
The Gala Dinner will be held at the Concert Hall in Dublin.
Contact: Dr. Christy Boylan +353 1 414 9039;
cboylan@sdublincoco.ie
For full Programme see www.ifpraworlddublin.ie
2007 Sept 16-19
PLA National Conference, Townsville, Queensland
Contact: office@parks-leisure.com.au
2007 Sept 25-29
NRPA Congress and Exposition, Indiana Convention Centre,
Indianapolis, U.S.A.
http://www.nrpa.org/
2007 Oct 24-26
EMAN Global Conference 2007:
“Integrated environmental management accounting for sustainable
development”.
Pretoria, South Africa
www.eman-africa.com
2007 Nov 22-26
International Awards for Liveable Communities, Finals, London UK
Contact: Alan Smith, Tel: 0044 (0) 118 946 1680
info@livcomawards.com
2007 Nov 28-30
NZRA National Conference, Rotorua, New Zealand
Contact: Brendon Ward Tel: 0064 (04) 801 9364
b.ward@nzrecreation.org.nz
2008 Sept. 15-18
Ifpra Asia Pacific Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand
Contact: Paul Wilson. Tel 0064 3 441 0467.
paulw@qldc.govt.nz
2009 Ifpra European Congress, Mikkeli, Finland
Contact: Viljo Muuronen
viljo.muuronen@mikkeli.fi
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For the best selection of books Featuring Open Spaces, Parks
and the Environment go to
http://www.booksand.info
For details of the
Ifpra International Professional Qualification,
contact the General Secretary
on 0044 (0) 118 946 1680 or
go to www.ifpra.org
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