NI Environment Week: Valuing the Marine Environment in Northern Ireland

As part of Environment Week 2018, this conference will focus on the role of the marine environment in Northern Ireland and the importance of protecting and sustainably managing our marine and coastal ecosystems to ensure healthy and productive oceans. Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’ alludes to this balancing act, required to harness both the environmental and economic potential of our marine environment.

Given the challenge of managing our marine environment for the benefit of the environment, economy and people, this conference will consider the natural capital approach as a way of re-framing how we value, use and protect our marine environment. It is particularly timely given that the natural capital concept has gained new status in UK environmental policy and is considered central to the delivery of the DEFRA’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

Expert speakers will provide insights into policy, economics and marine science to further understanding and stimulate discussion around the potential of the natural capital approach and its applicability to a Northern Irish marine and coastal context.

Please arrive at 9:45am sharp for registration.

AGENDA

09:45 – 10:15: Registration and Refreshments

10:15 – 10:30: Welcome – Ellen MacMahon, NMTF Officer

10:30 – 11:10: Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Alec Taylor, WWF

11:10 – 11:50: Valuation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – but what do we mean by value? – Daryl Burdon, Hull University

11:50 – 12:50: Lunch

12:50 – 13:30: North Devon’s Marine Pioneer and the natural capital approach – Chrissie Ingle, Devon Marine Pioneer Project

13:30 – 14:10: Henk Van Rein, Joint Nature Conservation Committee

14:10 – 14:30: Coffee Break

14:30 – 15:10: Fernanda Balata, New Economics Foundation

15:10 – 15:45: Panel Discussion

15:45: Close

Admission is FREE! Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

If you have any dietary or accessibility requirements please contact connor@nienvironmentlink.org

Photograph by Dave Wall