Trinity academics play leading role at first official National Biodiversity Conference

Posted on: 20 February 2019

Free live streaming in Science Gallery, hosted by Trinity academics and available to students

A high-profile national conference will take place in Dublin Castle this week on February 20th & 21st, focussing on the future of our natural environment. The first official National Biodiversity Conference, New Horizons for Nature, brings together speakers and delegates from academia, the arts, industry, governing bodies, land-owners and community groups.

Leading experts addressing the conference will include Trinity’s Professor in Botany, Jane Stout. As Director of the Irish Forum on Natural Capital, Professor Stout will deliver a keynote address on “Investing in Nature” and is a panel member for the closing Plenary session.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Professor Stout says:

“Healthy, diverse ecosystems provide us with the essential fundamentals for life – from goods and materials that are bought and sold every day, to processes which could help mitigate and adapt to climate change, and landscapes that provide cultural, spiritual and recreational benefits. By recognising that these benefits have a value to society, we can start to account for them in our activities, and invest in nature conservation appropriately.”

“This is the natural capital approach to conservation: it’s not about putting a price tag on nature, but about recognising nature’s value. Engagement and action from everyone is essential if we are to succeed in creating a more sustainable environment. This conference is an opportunity to do that across many sectors.”

Professor of Zoology, Yvonne Buckley (Chair of the National Biodiversity Forum) is a key member of a plenary debate on “Bright Ideas for Conservation” and will sum up the meeting in the closing Plenary session, just before Minister Josepha Madigan, TD, announces “20 seeds for nature” – a cross-government pledge for biodiversity conservation in Ireland.

“Biodiversity conservation doesn’t just involve a few experts, it can be done in your backyard, through what you buy and eat, through activities in your neighbourhood, schools, universities and clubs and by lobbying your elected representatives for what you want your local, national and European environment to be – everyone can do one thing for nature,”  says Prof Buckley.

Professor Buckley has started twitter campaign #1thing4nature to enable as many people as possible to feed their ideas into the conference.

Adjunct Professor in Economics, John Fitzgerald (Chair of the National Advisory Council on Climate Change) will deliver a keynote address on “Planning for the Future”.

Co-organised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Irish Forum on Natural Capital, the New Horizons conference will provide an opportunity for delegates to discuss the challenges associated with biodiversity loss, explore the solutions and address how to work together to achieve the common goal of reversing biodiversity loss and implementing the National Biodiversity Action Plan. One of the key aims of the conference is to engage new audiences and communicate the importance of nature to human economies, society and well-being.

We are losing global biodiversity at a rate never before encountered in human history. In Ireland, many of our protected habitats are in poor condition and 14% of assessed species are thought to be at risk of extinction. The number of plants, insects, mammals and birds that are threatened or endangered is increasing year on year.

Loss of biodiversity is important for people as well as the planet. Natural systems provide us with goods such as food, fuel, and fibres on which our economies rely. More importantly, nature provides essential life-support systems like the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil in which we grow our crops. It can also help sequester carbon and attenuate flood waters in the face of global climate change.

The event will be live streamed on www.biodiversityconference.ie, and a free screening will take place in the Science Gallery’s PACCAR theatre, hosted by academics from Trinity including Professor of Botany Jenny McElwain and Professor Fraser Mitchell.