SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
"Reflections on the Past - Directions for the Future"
4th - 7th September 2000
Liverpool
……….mission statetement
The Society for Ecological Restoration is dedicated to promoting greater understanding and good practice in all aspects of habitat and ecosystem repair
The international network of SER members provides a professional platform for all those involved in ecological restoration. The 2000 Conference will be the first SER Annual Conference to be held in Europe.
Conference Objectives
To bring together as many individuals and organisations as is possible, from the USA, UK, Europe and internationally; to pool and share their experience and expertise in ecological restoration - covering both the successes and the failures;
To raise political understanding of the relevance and applications for ecological restoration and to gain further support for more effective legislative and policy initiatives;
To improve international dialogue over ecological restoration issues and to establish common understanding of the situations where ecological restoration is appropriate;
To identify priorities for the 21st Century to ensure that biodiversity has the greatest opportunity to thrive and increase. These include scientific needs, technology, new legislation and policy, community involvement, and monitoring standards.
To identify how ecological restoration can meet the needs and aspirations of ordinary people.
Conference Programme
A variety of keynote addresses, themed sessions on selected topics involving invited and contributed papers, posters, workshops, seminars and social events will provide participants with a fresh approach to knowledge of the subject internationally.
A series of one day field trips to outstanding restored sites and specialist seminars will occupy the third day. A variety of one and two day field trips and workshops will be held during the periods immediately before and after the conference. These will include training in facets of restoration ecology, technical aspects of restoration, and community-involvement.
Conference Themes and Topics
Theme 1 Philosophy - out with the old and in with the new
What are the issues which will face us in the next century and require us to shift our philosophy and approach, pointing towards new principles, legislation, policies and practices that will provide the foundations for restoration in the new millennium?
Theme 2 Legislation, policy and incentive - wise use of sticks and carrots!
Are the political support, legislative and associated mechanisms ready to ensure restoration is put into practice effectively?Theme 3 Approaches and techniques - "Don’t do it like that...do it like this!"
Best practices are generic and should be applied to all types of restoration - what tools and techniques are available to get the job done?Theme 4 Habitats and species - find the opportunities for restoration
Under what circumstances and in what situations can habitat and species restoration be successful and how can we avoid the failures of past experience?Theme 5 Restoration in towns and cities
More than half the world’s population now live in urban environments. How do we address their special requirements?Theme 6 People and restoration - problem or panacea?
Addressing solutions and providing opportunities to combine the natural and human worlds.
Conference Audience
The conference will provide an integrated and diverse experience of direct value to:
Professional conservationists (statutory, NGO, local government) Environmental consultants
Ecologists, botanists, entomologists, and agronomists Fisheries and wildlife biologists,
Native tree and wildflower nurseries Landscape architects
Engineers and hydrologists Foresters
Community and volunteer coordinators Planners
Developers and their agents Mineral operators
Landfill and waste operators Land managers
Students exploring careers in restoration and resource management
Policy makers
A Professional and Public Showcase
Some activities will be designed to improve professional competence and increase community involvement. Others will probe new concepts in restoration and point to new initiatives for the future. We hope the conference will inspire and rejuvenate participants, strengthen ties and deepen understanding between disciplines.
Conference Partnership
The conference host is SER UK in partnership with the BTCV, Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, The Groundwork Foundation, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Landlife & the UK National Wildflower Centre, The Landscape Institute Liverpool Architecture and Design Trust, The Mersey Forest and Mersey Basin Campaign, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, The Wildlife Trusts, and WWF UK.
Call for Contributed Papers and Abstracts
Those persons who wish to contribute a paper or poster session are asked to submit an abstract of not more than 200 words, if possible by email, otherwise by disk and send it to the Secretariat not later than 31 December 1999. If you would like to receive further information on the Conference as it becomes available please return the tear off slip to the following address:
SER 2000 Conference Secretariat
c/o SJS Business Services Limited
PO Box 17 Newton le Willows
Merseyside United Kingdom WA3
Email ser2000@netcomuk.co.uk
The Conference Location
Historically the starting point for many on their journey to the Americas, Liverpool’s connections are well known. Fitting then, for this city to host the annual conference in 2000 of the Society for Ecological Restoration. We are forging new links at an appropriate moment for reflection and debate on future actions. Its first conference in Europe - SER 2000 is a unique opportunity for American and European practitioners to meet together.
Liverpool was a principal port of the industrial revolution and enjoyed the wealth generated through its trade routes. Some of the earliest attempts at restoration and repair have made Liverpool a pioneering centre in applied ecology. Economic and population loss may have taken their toll, nevertheless Liverpool remains a fiercely proud city known for its creativity and strong spirit. Allen Ginsberg once described Liverpool as the centre of consciousness of the human universe.
Liverpool is now evidence of a desire to regenerate landscape alongside economic endeavour where cultural traditions and influences have an integral role. Examples in Liverpool and across many British regions show how these connections can help to restore local communities with positive solutions for people and landscapes.
Surrounded by outstanding landscapes which include the Lake District, the Pennines, the Peak District and North Wales, Liverpool is also within reach of Stratford-upon-Avon and the English Midlands, the Cotswolds and Yorkshire Moors. SER 2000 is an exciting opportunity to explore regions where culture, land use, landscape and wildlife have evolved together over many millennia.
Access to Liverpool is via a comprehensive network of rail, road and air services. Manchester and Liverpool airports have direct flights into the region and also provide a gateway to Europe.
The Venue
The Conference will be held in the heart of Liverpool’s lively and architecturally impressive centre. The main programme will be held in the Adelphi Hotel – a grand building with its own special history. The Conference Social Programme will take place in other prestigious venues in the City including St George’s Hall and Liverpool’s waterfront which has been nominated as one of the UK’s world heritage sites. Birkenhead Park provides a link to the USA. It was designed by Joseph Paxton and was the inspiration for Frederick Olmsted to design Central Park in New York.
Liverpool’s fame comes from a host of personalities and a personal touch from its people – Liverpool welcomes you and looks forward to hosting the SER 2000 Conference.
SER 2000 CONFERENCE RESPONSE COUPON
I am interested in presenting a paper/poster on:
…………………………………………………………………...
I am sending my abstract by email for consideration under
Theme…………….
[please use numbering shown on programme information]
I would like to receive more information as it becomes available on the following items
Conference Programme including details of Topics
Registration Documentation
Exhibitor Pack
Sponsorship Information
[you may attach your business card here]
Name
Organisation
Address
Post Code
Tel
Fax
Please return form to:
SER 2000 Conference Secretariat
SJS Business Services Limited
PO Box 17
Newton le Willows
Merseyside UK
Email: ser2000@netcomuk.co.uk
Please visit our website to obtain further information on the Conference
At: www.ser.org
If you do not have the possibility to access our web site and would like further information on the topics of the Conference Programme please fax back this form to
[+44] 01942 681700 – for detailed programme information.
An audio version of this information can be made available on request.
Deadline for submission of abstracts is 31 December 1999