Australia -- Forum on wetland obligations and incentives (13/08/04)

Greetings. In Sandra Hails's absence, I am forwarding news of any upcoming meeting in Australia. Best regards, Dwight Peck.

The Wetlands Innovation Series:
Innovations, Obligations and Incentives
Tuesday 21st September 2004

The Wetlands Centre
Shortland, New South Wales

The Wetlands Centre Australia is launching The Wetland Innovation Series through a National Forum. Titled Innovations, Obligations and Incentives, the Forum will be held on Tuesday 21st September 2004 at The Wetlands Centre, 10 minutes from Newcastle in the lower Hunter Valley. The Forum will focus on:

Interpretation and update on all significant legislation and reforms affecting development adjacent to wetlands in NSW.
Providing central access to cutting-edge approaches for managing activities in wetland catchments, including planning and policy-making; urban design; assessment and prioritisation; incentives and tools.

The Wetland Innovation Series is designed to challenge current thinking and practice. It will provide direct access to up-to-date knowledge, tools and technology, and key players and specialists in the field of wetland management from across Australia.

Who should attend
The Forum is targeted at individuals and organisations that manage or potentially impact upon wetlands, including:

Local government officers - Planners, Engineers, DA Assessors, Compliance Officers, Environmental Managers and Ecologists;State and Federal agency Natural Resource Managers and Wetland Specialists;
Development industry representatives involved in subdivisions and developments within wetland catchments.
Wetland neighbours and those who have a special interest in wetlands.

What participants will receive

A clear understanding of current legislation, reforms and statutory obligations of organisations and individuals managing or impacting on wetlands.
Detailed information on some of the newest and most innovative tools and approaches to wetland management available.
Direct contact with leading wetland management researchers and practitioners so that innovations may be tailored to meet individual needs and interests.
A CD-rom of the proceedings containing a range of innovative wetland management research, information and tools.
Networking and partnerships amongst government, community and industry representatives who have an interest in managing development in wetland catchments and wetland management itself.

The brochure attached (http://ramsar.org/australia_hunter_innovation.pdf) provides detailed information on the Forum and a registration form to attend. Alternatively, log onto the website: www.wetlands.org.au/forum.htm

For further information about the Forum, please contact Kylie Yeend, Hunter Ramsar Project Officer, on (02) 4951 6466.
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Kylie Yeend
Project Officer
Hunter Ramsar Communication Strategy
The Wetlands Centre
Sandgate Road
Shortland NSW 2307
Telephone: 0249 516466
Fax: 0249 501875
Email: ramsar@wetlands.org.au
Website: www.wetlands.org.au

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Dwight Peck, Communications Officer
The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971)
Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
peck@ramsar.org, http://ramsar.org