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Books on Biodiversity, Conservation and the Environment

Proceedings document now available

Introduction

The conference was held in the Great Hall at Chateau on the Park, Christchurch, New Zealand, on Tuesday 21st to Friday 24th October 2003.

The conference was launched on the evening of Tuesday 21st, with Dr Morgan Williams (Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, New Zealand) delivering a keynote address The Ecologies of Liveability - Why Cities Need Biodiversity.

On the evening of Wednesday 22nd, the Canterbury Branch of the RNZIH hosted the 2003 Banks Memorial Lecture (a free lecture open to the public). Colin Meurk (of Landcare Research) spoke on Cities are cultural and ecological keys to biodiversity futures. The venue was Christchurch Girls' High Auditorium, 10 Matai Street, Christchurch, 7.30 pm.

There was an optional field trip to Hinewai and Akaroa on Saturday 25th October.

Rationale

The important role of cities as a repository for biodiversity is increasingly recognised within New Zealand and overseas, along with the need to focus on sustainable development, triple bottom-line accounting, and the function of green environments in maintaining community health and cohesion. In New Zealand, recent reports by the Parliamentary Commission for the Environment and the Ministry of the Environment have drawn attention to these issues. The conference was based on these and other themes, with an emphasis on practical outcomes.

The conference was held in the Garden City of Christchurch, where there is much collective expertise on urban biodiversity. Complementing our local experts were several world authorities on the Greening of Cities, Landscape Architecture, and Town Planning acting as keynote speakers.

These topics are very timely as the Christchurch City Council puts into place its Biodiversity Strategies.

Keynote speakers included:

Who attended?

• Community and Restoration Groups
• Conservation Groups
• Educationalists
• Horticulturists
• Landowners
• Landscape and Building Architects
• Local and Regional Councillors
• Researchers
• Town Planners
• Others involved in Urban Biodiversity

For further information, please contact David Moyle

Conference sponsored by:

British Council New Zealand
Christchurch City Council
The Community Trust
Landcare Research
Environment Canterbury
Pyne Gould Guinness Limited

Follow this link to view other organisations that supported the conference

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