20 October 2010

ANPC: Hurry places still available for Translocation Workshop, 5 November

The Translocation of Threatened Plants Workshop

When: Friday 5th November, 2010
Where: Tweed Bicentennial Environment Park, Centennial Park, Pottsville, NSW

Have you been involved in, or would you like to be involved in, the planning, approval or implementation of a translocation project for threatened flora? Then this workshop is relevant to you.

Registrations close Thursday 28th October
For further information regarding content, costs, registration etc can be found at: www.anpc.asn.au and go to the current workshops.
Or phone the ANPC Office: 02 6250 9509

18 October 2010

GRANTS: National Science Week Project Grants (2011)

Australians interested in running a science event or activities for their local community are being urged to apply for a National Science Week grant for 2011.

The National Science Week 2011 grants round opens on Friday 1 October 2010 and closes on Friday 22 October 2010 at 5:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

Grants are available to individuals and organisations interested in delivering a science event or activity for their local community. Applications regarding new and exciting event ideas are always welcome. Grant applications and further information can be found on the National Science Week grants website or contact your State or Territory Coordinating Committee for advice on running a Science Week event.

In 2011, National Science Week will run from 13-21 August.

OPEN DAY: Australian National Botanic Gardens, 40th Anniversary - 24 October

40th Anniversary Open Day, Our Garden Party
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Sunday 24 October (10am – 4pm)

Listen to live music on the Eucalypt lawn, journey behind the scenes to visit the nursery, cryptogam herbarium, Australian national herbarium, display glass house and library.

Events include market stalls, live entertainment on the Eucalypt lawn main stage, talks, workshops and entertainment at the Rock Gardens Focus Tent, children’s craft activities and discovery walks, Friends of the Gardens talking about their contributions to the Gardens and behind the scenes talks in areas such as the nursery, the herbariums and the display glass house.
Be entertained explore, indulge, discover and relax at the Open Day Garden Party and dress up in your favourite spring outfit and enjoy high tea in the gardens.

For lots more information and details about programmes, transport etc can be found here.

BIODIVERSITY: Convention on Biological Diversity – Nagoya, Japan 18-29 October

The 193 signatory nations to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will be meeting in Nagoya, Japan from 18-29 October after pledging eight years ago to cut species loss “significantly” by this year. With studies showing that global diversity is reaching crisis point, conservation leaders are hoping this meeting will give the green light to a new set of international agreements to help protect biodiversity.

Lack of money for conservation projects is a key reason why governments have failed to meet their 2010 targets. Several proposals for mustering funds are up for discussion this week.

Agreement on the general ambitions looks likely, but large international rifts over conservation funding and access to the genetic resources of ecologically rich nations are threatening to derail the negotiations over how to achieve them. One fundraising mechanism gaining support is the phasing out of subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity.

But there is likely to be tense debate on a proposed legally binding agreement to tighten rules for access to nations' genetic resources, such as plants that potentially produce pharmaceuticals. Developing countries want the rules to cover products that have been generated in the past, but companies and developed countries say that only products worked on after the regulations are legally implemented should be affected.

Djoghlaf (executive secretary of CBD) is optimistic that countries will agree to a set of core principles, and then set a timetable for hammering out the finer details by 2012. "I can't imagine closing the meeting without agreement on the access and benefit sharing scheme," he says.

Notes from http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101011/full/467764a.html