Natural Environment
Supported by:
Thursday 15th March
2012, Strand Palace Hotel - London, 09:00 - 15:00
Securing the Future of Our Natural Environment
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Overview
The natural world is critically important to our well-being and economic prosperity. A strong, vibrant natural environment will improve our health, our economic production and our social interactions. Yet in recent years the natural environment has suffered under the demands of an increasing population and coordinated action is now necessary if we are to protect and promote the future of our surroundings.
Professor Sir John Lawton's independent review, Making Space For Nature (September, 2010), concluded England's wildlife areas were “fragmented” and “non-resilient”. Equally as worrying was the National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA, June 2011) which showed that over 30% of the services we get from our ecosystems are declining. In response, the government released the Natural Environment White Paper: 'The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature' (June 2011), setting out their environmental priorities for the next 50 years. The White Paper places the value of nature at the centre of the choices our nation must make: to enhance our environment, economic growth and personal wellbeing. The government's priority will be to restore sustainable economic prosperity for all and to protect the environment accordingly.
As part of the Natural Environment White Paper, the government has outlined plans to introduce Local Nature Partnerships which will run schemes at community level. This will be accompanied by a one-off £1million fund to support capacity building activities for those applying to be recognised as a Local Nature Partnership. Improved access to outdoor space will help to save an estimated £2.1 billion in health care costs as well as improving individual well-being and productivity. A set of key indicators will be developed by spring 2012 to track progress on the ambitions of the Natural Environment White Paper and the government will also periodically publish a single, concise and integrated report about the state of the environment on land to ensure that improvements are being made.
This essential conference will consider the development of the Natural Environment White Paper and how its proposals can be taken forward. Featuring input from government policy makers and leaders in the field, delegates will be a part of the vital discussion to find out how the government, public sector, academia, and private sector can collaborate to protect the natural environment, and promote its benefits to all.
| 09:00 | Coffee and Registration |
| 09:30 | Chair's Welcome and Address Professor Guy Poppy, Head of School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton (CONFIRMED) |
| 09:40 | Morning Keynote: Securing the Value of Nature: Moving Forward With the Natural Environment White Paper
David Cooper, Head, Natural Environment Strategic Unit, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (CONFIRMED) |
| 10:00 | Questions and Answers Session |
| 10:10 | Investing in the Green Economy
Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Member, Environmental Audit Committee (CONFIRMED) |
| 10:30 | Case Study: Promoting Action through Local Nature Partnerships, The Sussex Wildlife Trust
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| 10:50 | Questions and Answers Session |
| 11:10 | Coffee and Networking |
| 11:40 | Securing Funding for Environmental Development in Austere Times
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| 12:00 | Translating strategy into delivery: short and long-term challenges
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| 12:20 | Questions and Answers Session |
| 12:40 | Lunch and Networking |
| 13:40 | Afternoon Keynote: Supporting the Movement of People: Minimising the Effects of Population Change
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| 14:00 | Moving Forward with Green Infrastructure
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| 14:20 | Case Study: Working Together to Protect the Natural Environment
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| 14:40 | Questions and Answers Session |
| 15:00 | Chair's Summary and Close |
*programme subject to change without notice
Supported by
Audience
Delegates will be drawn from central and local government departments and bodies including: regional development specialists, directors of regeneration and planning, heads of environmental teams, heads of waste and recycling services, directors of infrastructure and transport networks, directors of rural and consumer groups, scientists and researchers, representatives from farming organisations, environmental groups, academics and researchers, and all those interested from the public, private and charity sectors.