Programme
Below is the programme for National Biodiversity Conference 2022 'Act Now For Nature' in Dublin Castle, June 8&9th.
This programme will be updated soon as speakers for all parallel sessions and topics are confirmed.
Final schedule will be published at the end of May. Speakers, titles and times are subject to change.
National Biodiversity Conference Session Plan
Wednesday 8th June 2022
Morning
Registration opens 08.00; Coffee, tea and refreshments will be served until 9.00am
Opening Plenary Session
09.10 – 09.30 Welcome address: Darragh O’Brien, TD
09.30 – 09.50 Malcolm Noonan, TD
09.50 – 10.10 Senator Pippa Hackett
10.10 – 10.30 Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity
10.30 – 10.50 Stefan Leiner, Head of Biodiversity Unit, EC Directorate General for Environment
10.50 – 11.30 Break and networking
11.30 – 11.50 Andy Bleasdale, NPWS – National Biodiversity Perspectives
11.50 – 12.10 Ciara Carberry, NPWS - The 2021 Strategic Review of NPWS and Government Action Plan
12.10 – 12.30 Orlaith Delargy, KPMG – Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan
12.30 – 13.30 Buffet lunch
Afternoon
Parallel Sessions Group 1
13.30 – 15.00
1. Changing Oceans: Working together to protect and restore our marine and coastal environment
Chair: Richard Cronin, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
2. Food, Forests and the Future 1: The role of forestry in driving nature recovery
Chair: Orla Fahy, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine
3. Building Partnerships for People and Nature – The Shared Island Initiative
Chairs: Shirley Clerkin, Heritage Officer, Monaghan Co. Co.; Lisa-Dee Collery, Department of the Taoiseach’s Shared Island Initiative
15.00 – 15.30 Break and networking
Parallel Sessions Group 2
15.30 – 17.00
4. Actions for Nature – NPWS partnerships and initiatives
Chair: Ciara Carberry, NPWS
5. Food, Forests and the Future 2: The role of agriculture in driving nature recovery
Chair: Pamela Boyle, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
6. Enhancing the Evidence base : Research and Data4Nature
Chairs: Jane Stout (Trinity College Dublin) and Catherine Farrell
7. Places for People and Planet: The role of Zoos, Gardens and Aquaria in supporting the NBAP
Chair: Andrew Mooney, Dublin Zoo
Afternoon Plenary
17.00 – 17.10 Ana Maria Hernandez Salgar, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
17.10 – 18.00 Panel discussion: The Biodiversity Emergency and the Media
Chair: Cara Augustenborg, University College Dublin
18.00 – 18.30 Refreshments and networking
18.30 Field excursion to Dublin Zoo
Thursday 9th June 2022
Morning
Registration opens 08.00; Coffee, tea and refreshments will be served until 9.00am
Plenary
08.30 – 09.30 NBAP Breakfast clinic
Facilitated by KPMG, NPWS, Natural Capital Ireland and Countryscape
Parallel Sessions Group 3
09.40 – 11.10
8. Financing Restoration: The role of blended finance in catalysing restoration and investment
Chair: Shane McGuinness, University College Dublin
9. Communities in Action: Villages, towns, farms, townlands
Chair: Tina Roche, The Community Foundation for Ireland
10. Connecting National Priorities 1: Biodiversity, Culture and Social Well-being
Chair: Martina Moloney, The Heritage Council
11. Connecting National Priorities 2: Climate Action and Biodiversity
Chair: Gerry Clabby, Department of Environment and Climate Change
11.10 – 11.40 Break
Parallel Sessions Group 4
11.40 – 13.10
12. Water from Mountains to Coasts: Promoting recovery in freshwater and water-dependent ecosystems
Chair: Colin Byrne, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
13. Connecting National Priorities 3: Biodiversity and the Planning System
Chair: Enda Mullen, NPWS
14. Education & Outreach – Inspiring Public Engagement
Chair: Ella McSweeney
15. Business for Biodiversity: Driving nature-positive business models
Chair: Lucy Gaffney, Ireland’s Business for Biodiversity Platform
13.10 – 14.10 Buffet lunch
Closing Plenary
14.10 – 15.00 Panel discussion: Voices for Nature – the role of NGOs
Chair: Karen Ciesielski, Irish Environment Network
15.00 – 15.45 National Biodiversity Forum: Wrap up, Feedback from sessions, and NBF perspectives
Chair: Tasman Crowe, University College Dublin and Chair of the National Biodiversity Forum
15.45 – 16.00 Closing remarks from NPWS
16.00 – 16.45 Networking and refreshments
16.45 – Departure