DYFI BIOSPHERE CONFERENCE 2004
Wed. 9 - Fri. 11 June
Weds evening at Y Tabernacl, Machynlleth; Thursday at Celtica, Machynlleth and Thursday evening an optional conference dinner (details to be confirmed). Friday: field trips. |
PUBLIC MEETING Wednesday 9 June: evening
Setting the scene for the Dyfi Valley - making the most of our assets:
Aimed at all local people and delegates wishing to find out about the area. |
7:00 | Welcome from Chair - Aled Owen Griffiths, Co-Chair at ecodyfi |
7:10 | Where are we now? Charles Arch and Andy Rowland, ecodyfi |
7:25 | What does the community want? Observations led by Dyfi Valley Communities First |
7:40 | Development paths: Does the Dyfi Valley have a distinctive "selling point"? Brainstorm led by Andy Rowland, ecodyfi manager |
8:00 | The Dyfi Valley Biosphere Area / Reserve: Presentation by Peter Frost, of the Countryside Council for Wales, on the opportunities this United Nations designation can bring, including short contributions from:
- Charles Arch, ecodyfi Board member - Horticulture
- Peter Jones, Celtica manager - Culture and language
- Andy Jeffery, Aberdyfi Outward Bound - Outdoor activities
- Chris Edwards, Forestry Commission - Community involvement in forestry
- Sir John Houghton, former Chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution - The proposed Aberdyfi Ecocentre
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9:00 | Questions and discussion |
9:30 | Close |
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MAIN DAY Thursday 10th June
Aimed at main stakeholders; advance booking essential. Held in Celtica, Machynlleth |
09:00 | Register |
09:15 | Opening from Chair - Sir John Houghton |
09:20 |
Peter Frost, Countryside Council for Wales: The Biosphere concept,
UNESCO's role and the requirements for re-designation.
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09:40 | Learning from the experience of others - recent developments in a similar area:
Andy Bell of the Braunton Burroughs Biosphere Reserve: Case
study 1 -Braunton Burroughs, UK
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09:50 | Questions and discussion |
10:00
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Learning from the experience of others - what benefits has
the designation brought about?
Doris Pokorny of the Rhön Biosphere: Case study 2 - The Rhön Biosphere, Germany |
10:30 | Questions and discussion |
10:45 | Tea and coffee. Delegates to choose which two afternoon workshops they prefer |
11:15 | Engelbert Ruoss of the Entlebuch Biosphere: Case study 3 - Entlebuch Biosphere, Switzerland |
11:45 | Questions and discussion |
12:00 | Some developments and opportunities in the Dyfi Valley - Peter Harper from the Centre for Alternative Technology |
12:15 | Alister Scott of Aberystwyth University: Involving stakeholders in sustainable land management |
12:45 | Questions and discussion |
13:00 | Lunch |
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WORKING GROUPS - Thursday afternoon |
14:00 | Chair introduces afternoon |
14:10 | Workshop session 1, including a 10 minute introduction |
15:05 | Workshop session 2, including a 10 minute introduction |
Each workshop will consider the opportunities (and threats) relating to its specific topic and explore how these might be affected by an expanded Biosphere Reserve.
Topics:
- Tourism in the Dyfi Valley. Introduction by Teresa Walters of ecodyfi and facilitation by Andy Rowland
- Land-based industries in the Dyfi Valley. Introduction by Charles Arch and facilitation by Tom Brown
- Culture in the Dyfi Valley. Introduction by Allan Wynne Jones and facilitation by Arfon Hughes
- People's involvement in nature: Introduction by Nerys Wyn Davies of Gwynedd Council and facilitation by Cyril Evans
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15:45 | Tea and Coffee / a chance to see the outputs of the workshops and to contribute comments to them
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16:25
| Discussion on the way forward led by Andy Swash of Defra and the UK MaB (UNESCO) Committee |
16:50 | Summary from the Chair |
17:00 | Close |
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FIELD TRIPS Friday 11 June
Advance booking is essential. It will be possible to leave at Machynlleth at lunchtime or at 14.50 |
08:45 | Plas Dolguog pick up |
08:55 | Machynlleth car park pick up |
09:15 | Cors Fochno (Borth Bog, Dyfi NNR) viewpoint (Erglodd) |
09:40 | Ynyslas Visitor Centre sand dunes and estuary (NNR) |
10:20 | Leave |
10:45 | Ynyshir RSPB Reserve |
11:25 | Leave |
11:30 | Dyfi Furnace former water-powered smelting site |
11:50 | Leave |
12:10 | Dyfi Eco Park and Recycling site, Machynlleth |
12:30 | Coach back into town and see solar installations on foot |
13:00 | Buffet lunch in Machynlleth |
14:00 | Leave for community wind turbine |
14:15 | 75 kW wind turbine, Cilgwyn |
14:35 | Leave for the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) via Cemmaes Road and Machynlleth |
15:00 | CAT Visit |
17:30 | Leave for Machynlleth train station and car park |
17:45 | Arrive Machynlleth train station for 18:07 train |
Please note: Details may be subject to change |
