Northern Ireland: Re-imagining our Cities and our Relationship with Nature
This webinar considered environmental resilience, from two different perspectives: a city-based approach and a topic based approach. We specifically looked at the re-imagining of Belfast and our relationship with Nature through Biodiversity, which is this year’s theme for World Environment Day.
This webinar considered environmental resilience, from two different perspectives: a city-based approach and a topic based approach. We specifically looked at the re-imagining of Belfast and our relationship with Nature through Biodiversity, which is this year’s theme for World Environment Day.
We were joined by Heidi Curran, Principal Environmental Consultant at Jacobs, Donncha Madden, Senior Ecologist at Arup, Keith O'Flynn Project Environmental Manager at Graham Farrans Joint Venture A6 – Randalstown to Toome and Craig Johnson, Senior Environmental Consultant at Mabbett. They covered the following topics:
On re-imagining Belfast:
1. Future Proofing Belfast; and
2. A bold plan to ‘Re-imagine’ Belfast city centre;
Please note: Both of these plans were developed prior to COVID-19; this kind of thinking is now more important than ever as we consider a post-lockdown world and how we can build back better for the environment and communities.
Biodiversity:
1. Biodiversity Net Gain; and
2. Implications for nature and biodiversity during the COVID-19 lockdown
These presentations focused on a specific topic and its future and current role as we re-imagine nature and our future relationship with it.
*This event is recognised as 1 hour of IEMA CPD
Presentations
Re-Imagining Belfast and Biodiversity - H, Curran, Jacobs - CLICK HERE
Implications for nature and biodiversity during the COVID-19 lockdown - C, Johnson MIEMA CEnv, Mabbett - CLICK HERE
Biodiversity Net Gain - D, Madden, ARUP - CLICK HERE
A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling - K, O'Flynn MIEMA CEnv, Graham Farrans - CLICK HERE
Republic of Ireland: Current Bog Restoration in Ireland
Our special event was hosted by the IEMA Republic of Ireland regional network, looking at bog restoration in Ireland.
How green is your site and could you make it more beneficial for your staff and nature? Our Midlands event welcomed guest speakers to discuss the importance of encouraging your workforce to engage with biodiversity in a way that deepens understanding and morale within your organisation.
How can we find solutions to the complex challenges that we, and our natural environment face? Our Wales webinar helped attendees gain insight and updates on the work of Natural Resources Wales, who have been developing a series of innovative Area Statements covering seven separate yet hugely diverse parts of the country.
Our Yorkshire and Humberside coffee morning looked at an introduction to biodiversity net gain (BNG) and how a minimum 10% BNG can be achieved on new development, with real project examples in the Yorkshire region.
This digital event was run by the North Wales regional group where three organisations presented on their biodiversity work and how they assist in Wildlife Preservation in North Wales.
The event helps attendees to better understand what Natural Capital, Environmental and Biodiversity Net Gain are, providing an update on the current position with respect to the 25 year plan; introduce good practice in designing development projects to follow Biodiversity Net Gain Principles, an update on DEFRA’s new Biodiversity Metric 2.0 and emerging British Standards.
In this session we discussed biodiversity net gain and how a wide-scale conservation project is aiming to reverse the decline in farmland biodiversity in Scotland.
