Events: May 2009

Second European Bombina Song Contest

10 May 2009, Baltic region

Following the success of the 2007 “European Bombina Song Contest”, the LIFE-Bombina project (LIFE 04 NAT/DE/000028) has announced a second edition for 2009.

On the 10th May, live recordings of different populations of B. bombina will be made in ponds in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Latvia and presented on the project website, where the public will be able to vote for thir favourite ‘songs’ (in a similar fashion to the popular, televised Eurovision Song Contest). Voting will possible either on the website and also on-site.

A sophisticated technical set up had to be developed in order to allow the recording and transfer of sound files from the festival locations.

The 2007 event received widespread media coverage in the participating countries, as well as elsewhere in Europe, and was reported on the main national TV news in Sweden, which won the first round.

More details on the LIFE-Bombina website. Listen to the Participants of the 2007 edition.

Sustainable management of NATURA 2000 designated military lands

18 - 20 May 2009, Hasselt, Belgium

From 18 - 20 May 2009, the Belgian Ministry of Defence and the Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB) will organise the second international colloquium of the DANAH LIFE project (LIFE03 NAT/B/000024), a nature project focusing on military lands in Flanders.

Conference themes will include: Sustainable nature management on military land; stakeholder involvement and dealing with public access; geographical information systems: zoning and planning of military training in NATURA 2000 areas; and large scale nature management after LIFE.

The programme includes an attractive mix of presentations and field visits. For more information see the project website.

LIFE+ information seminar in Northern Ireland

28 May, Ballymena, Northen Ireland

The Department of the Environment Northern Ireland (DOENI) will be hosting a LIFE+ information seminar in Ballymena on 28 May 2009. The event will focus on raising awareness of LIFE+ in Northern Ireland and informing potential applicants about the programme in the context of the 2009 call.

In particular, it will help potential applicants decide whether or not to submit a LIFE+ proposal, and highlight the requirements and key issues to help avoid common problems encountered during proposal development.

The target audience is therefore those who:

• Have little or no knowledge of the LIFE+ Programme;
• Are submitting their first proposal; or who
• Have submitted an unsuccessful proposal in the past.

The event will take place on Thursday, 28 May 2009 from 11.00am – 4.00pm at the ECOS Centre, Kernohan’s Lane, Broughshane Road, Ballymena BT43 7QA. Guest speakers will include Mr Joaquim Capitao, Acting Head of the Commission’s LIFE Unit.

For further information or to register, contact:
Mr Alan Hamilton
Department of the Environment, Planning and Natural Resources.
E-mail: alan.hamilton@doeni.gov.uk

Dutch seminar links river restoration and river management

28-29 May, Lelystad, Netherlands

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the LIFE project ECRR: European Centre for River Restoration (LIFE99 ENV/DK/000619) is organising a special seminar on the theme “Synergies between River Restoration and River Management, focussing on Natura2000 and Ramsar sites”. ECRR’s mission is to enhance and promote river restoration and sustainable river management throughout Europe.

The seminar, organised in collaboration with the Rijkswaterstaat – Centre for Water Management in The Netherlands – aims to discuss the constraints, possibilities and opportunities of implementing the EU Directives applying to river restoration, such as the Water Framework Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives. Conclusions and recommendations will be formulated.

Download the press release and programme. Please Visit the website for registration details or contact the ECRR secretariat for more information:
ECRR, c/o Centro Italiano per la Riqualificazione Fluviale (CIRF)
Viale Garibaldi 44/A 30173 Mestre (Venezia) ITALY
Telephone and Fax: +39 041 615410
E-mail

LIFE-Platform meeting 2009

28-29 May, Gotland, Sweden

Following last year’s meeting in Rudbøl (SW Denmark), the LIFE project "Restoration of the Wetland Area of Hejnum Kallgate" (LIFE06 NAT/S/000113) is organising the 2009 Platform meeting in Gotland (Sweden). The LIFE Platform Meeting is an annual get together of Swedish and Danish LIFE Nature projects to exchange experiences on the content and management of their LIFE projects. It is also open to participants from other Nordic-Baltic countries.

This meeting will focus on the LIFE Hejnum Kallgate project, with visits on the project's site and discussions about conservation issues regarding the Euphydryas aurinia. The programme will also include exchanges on technical, financial and communication issues. An excursion to the botanic grasslands on the island Stora Karlsö is also planned.

Read the programme. Register on-line before the 15th of May. View the website.

TOP