he Aquatic Ecology Centre, Kathmandu University, and Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University in collaboration with the Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric), University of Life Sciences, Norway, invite papers and posters from scholars and researchers to be presented at the symposium on “Mountain Resource Management in a Changing Environment”. The Symposium represents the culmination of the second phase of the NUFU supported project “Education, Research and Training for Sustainable Management of Himalayan Watersheds” (HIMUNET), which has been a network project among four universities in the Himalaya and University of Life Sciences in Norway.

Greenhouse gas emissions are warming the planet, affecting the global carbon cycle, and changing the chemical composition of the ocean. These fundamental changes can have serious consequences for oceanic productivity and species composition. Marine ecosystems are being disrupted by overfishing and pollution at various scales and the consequences might become serious. This symposium will address: sea level rise, changes in thermo-haline ocean circulation, acidification, oligotrophy of temperate seas, changes in species abundance, distribution and phenology, loss of biodiversity.

The International Water Association (IWA) is a professional membership association of leading water professional with over 10,000 members in 130 countries. Recognising the importance interlinked importance of water, climate and energy IWA’s Water, Climate and Energy (WCE) programme addresses both the adaptation and the mitigation aspects of climate change and water. It is at the forefront in raising awareness of the critical WCE linkages within the water sector and advocating at the United Nations COP series focussed on the urban water industry in both developed and developing countries. The Dublin 2012 Congress will crystallize and build on the outputs of preceeding conferences and workshops that have focussed on mitigation or adaptation and progress debate towards a truly integrated discussion.

Water systems in the urban environment comprise supply networks as well as sewage and storm drainage systems. They interact with each other and with water bodies such as rivers,
lakes and aquifers, and this interaction affects the quality and quantity of the different systems. The conference topics would include: Surface water and ground water sources, Water supply networks, Coping with water scarcity, leakage and losses, modelling systems, Optimisation and control, Safety and security of water systems, Maintenance and repairs, Water quality, Water and sustainability, Water savings among others.
 

In occasion of “2011 - the International Year of Forests”, the Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia is hosting the International Conference on “The role of biobanks for research and protection of forest biodiversity”. The Conference will highlight cutting-edge advances in all major disciplines of forest genetic resources, biodiversity conservation, and DNA/biobanks as a fundamental tool of connection. This three-day event will feature recent findings from leading academic scientists, in the form of oral communications and posters.