Working with Nature: Focus on Forests

Attendees at our first TBS “Working with Nature” event will hear from experts on the potential for transforming our extractive economy to a ‘nature-positive economy’ – with a focus on new projects in re-forestation and forestry-based enterprises.  In addition, there will be time to chat with Trinity researchers and Irish nature-based enterprises working in this area and a chance to network with others interested in this important agenda while enjoying nature-positive refreshments. Speakers: Jane Stout:  Professor of Ecology and Vice-President for Biodiversity and Climate Action at Trinity College Dublin – will talk about Trinity’s plans for transforming itself to a nature-positive campus; ML Rhodes:  Co-Director of the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) in the Trinity Business School – will talk about the ‘nature-positive’ programme of research in the CSI, the UForest project and the upcoming community tree-planting event in Darndale. Martha O’Hagan-Luff: co-Principal investigator in FOREST project – will talk about the environmental, societal and economic impacts of recovering native forest biodiversity and innovative financial instruments to support afforestation. Ian Whitehead:  Member of the European Forest Institute (EFI) Resilience Team in Bonn, DE – will introduce the audience to the new UF Alliance and the potential for transformation through Forestry-related Nature-based Solutions. Kieran Farrell:  Responsible for the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform at Horizon Nua, speaking about the different nature-based enterprise communities of practice currently bubbling up across Europe.