Programme of Events

Integrating Biodiversity Research, Policy and Practice - Final Conference of the SIMBIOSYS Project

Halting the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services remains a key challenge of the 21^st century. The SIMBIOSYS Project contributed to tackling this challenge by studying the impacts of key sectoral activities in Ireland (in particular: the cultivation of bioenergy crops, road developments, aquaculture and wind farm developments) on genetic, species and landscape biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provide including pollination, biological pest control, carbon sequestration and resistance to alien species invasion. This conference aims to disseminate key results of the SIMBIOSYS Project and welcomes participants from the scientific research community, stakeholders, decision makers, and the interested public. SIMBIOSYS researchers will present key findings on the impacts of each sector and the policy implications. Discussions focused on the sustainability of these sectors will be led by a panel encouraging interactions between researchers, stakeholders and policy makers. Prof Kathy Willis (University of Oxford) will deliver a Keynote Address.