Waikato Sustainability series being held at the University
An audio recording of the first lecture by Prof. Al Gillespie is available through the following link. Please continue to check this site for subsequent recordings of lectures on Sustainability. http://events.waikato.ac.nz/events/UniPR/2008/07/22#u5MIgkl6W5g3DIJ3vXfFqihX9
Response to the first three seminars has been extremely positive. Nearly 500 members of University staff and the wider community have attended so far and the rigorous Q + A sessions have been very popular! We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday to hear Mike Pratt discussing:
Sustainable enterprises: How can they do well by doing good?
TODAY'S FREE SEMINAR
Date: Tuesday 12 August
Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue: WEL Energy Academy of Performing Arts
Sustainable enterprises: How can they do well by doing good?
Sustainable Enterprise is about how enterprises can do well by doing good. Waikato Management School Professor Mike Pratt focuses on making the world a better place through enterprise, looking at 10 pioneering companies that have been founded on sustainability principles. A developed theory and practice of sustainable enterprise to assist other enterprisers will be presented.
A cash bar will operate from 6.30pm and tea and coffee will be provided after the session for those who would like to engage in further discussion.
Thursday 21 August 2008
Royal Society of New Zealand, Waikato Branch
The 2008 Charles Fleming Lecture
All welcome
"Science for Conservation"
Professor Mick Clout
University of Auckland.
Room S.1.02, Waikato University at 7.30 pm.
(Near the Library)
Invasive alien species now rank as one of the most serious threats to natural ecosystems and native species, worldwide. In isolated archipelagos such as New Zealand, invasive species may in fact be the most serious threat of all. This land was one of the last to be settled by humans and their associated cargo of invasive animals and plants, and we are still witnessing the impacts of consequent changes. Here, active conservation is necessary, involving direct intervention to aid the recovery of threatened species and to remove or reduce the threats of invasive species. This talk will use a series of examples, including research on kakapo, invasive mammals and island ecosystems to illustrate how ecological science can help with the practical business of conservation.
Mick Clout is Professor of Conservation Ecology at the University of Auckland, and served on the previous Biosecurity Council. He is also the founding Chair of the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, through which he is involved in a wide range of international biosecurity initiatives to prevent, eradicate and manage invasive species. Before joining the University of Auckland in 1993, Mick Clout was Research Manager and Acting Director (Protected Species) at the Department of Conservation. From 1977-1989 he was a scientist with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research's Ecology Division at Nelson. Professor Clout is a vertebrate ecologist and has worked extensively on the behaviour and control of brushtail possums and the conservation biology of native birds that are threatened by introduced pests.
A campus map is available at http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf. There is no charge for this event.
For further information: Paul Taylor, NIWA Hamilton, 8591 854 DDI, 0274950525 mob, p.taylor@niwa.co.nz
Friday 22 August 7.00 p.m.
An evening with Amos Brandeis
‘Ecotourism on Maungatautari'
The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust cordially invites you to spend an evening with renowned Israeli ecologist, architect, and regional planner Amos Brandeis.
In 2006 Amos inspired us with his heartfelt presentation on the award winning restoration and peace project along the Alexander River - a project he is involved with. He described how Palestinian and Israeli communities had worked together to remove pollutants from the river and create parks, including a children's peace park, along the river banks.
Now, due to popular demand, we have invited Amos to give us his perspective on ecotourism on Maungatautari. This is a timely topic for the Trust as throughout August we are seeking feedback from the community on their views and preferences on future developments on the mountain.
Please bring your friends, mix and mingle with other Maungatautari supporters and be inspired!
Where: Seminar Room, Cambridge Community Centre, 22A Taylor Street, Cambridge
Please RSVP by 18 August to Linley O'Neill at the Trust office on (07) 823 9256 or email mail@maungatrust.org
Comments
Re Maungatautari. My personal feeling is to keep it natural rather than as a "tourist attraction" with a hideous visitor centre and cabins - maybe a pool? Having said this, education is important but in a low key kind of way - maybe brochures under a little kiosk or glass but I guess they will do the whole tourist bus thing. Donations are probably necessary to keep things going. They could try having an honesty box system like at the quarry in Te Puna with a suggested donation and see how that goes.