September 4th 2010, EU House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2

A one day conference hosted by the EU Commission Representation in Ireland and in association with the Celsius research group, Dublin City University

Ireland's National Biodiversity Plan [3.4MB] was launched in April 2002. The plan sets out the framework through which Ireland will provide for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity over a five-year period. Under fifteen themes and sectors, it details actions that will be pursued to achieve this objective.

On September 11th at 3pm history will be made when 5 seal pups are released back to the wild from Strandhill beach in Sligo.

Two of the pups were rehabilitated by the Irish Seal Sanctuary (ISS) volunteers and staff at the new home of the Irish Seal Sanctuary in Courtown Harbour, Co Wexford; the other three were nursed back to health by the ISS volunteers, at the .ISS satellite operation in Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary, Co Kerry.

Where: Industries Hall of the RDS in Dublin City
When: Saturday, 30th October (ALL-DAY)

Minister Batt O'Keeffe will officially open Co. Corks first Master Composter Demonstration site in Quartertown Industrial Estate at 2pm on Saturday 18th September and all are invited.

The opening will also mark the graduation of thirty one Master Composter volunteers who are now available to present talks and host information stands at events around Co. Cork. The Master Composter initaitive is part of the EPA's National Food Waste Prevention and Home Composting Programme.

In keeping with the seasons, in September courses and events at Sonairte will focus on making the most of the nature's bounty... so if you want to learn to make your own preserves, make cider from scratch, or learn how to forge for wild food please visit us.

Comhar's newsletter is designed to provide a platform for information sharing for local authorities and communities on best practice on local sustainability. It is also available as a .pdf on their website www.comharsdc.ie.