The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Glasgow City Council are hosting a "Habitat Enhancement Conference" at the Glasgow Thistle Hotel on 12 April 1999.

The conference will be a prime opportunity to demonstrate the current approach to managing Scotland's water habitats.

Around 200 delegates will attend including practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds, including engineering, development, flood protection and planning a well as environmental management and protection. A number of highly respected speaker from these areas will address the conference, and the key note address will be given by Stuart Housden, Director of RSPB Scotland.

Speakers will address a range of issues, including an outline of SEPA's own involvement in Habitat Enhancement, farming, pond, standing water and wetland protection as well as planning issues. There will also be case studies, looking at how habitat enhancement has already been successfully implemented in Scotland. The links between aquatic management issues, biodiversity and sustainable development will be addressed, and the need for partnership between organisations to tackle aquatic habitat issues before development work is carried out, will be highlighted.

Press are welcome to attend the conference and the site visits the following day. The site visits are arranged for 13 April and will look at two areas in Glasgow that have benefited from habitat enhancement awareness. Coaches will leave from the Glasgow Thistle Hotel at 10.00 hours and will visit ponds in Hoggansfield Park and Robroyston Park. The work on these ponds have been carried out by Glasgow City Council. Both SEPA and Glasgow Council employees will be available on the day to answer questions.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

• There are examples of Habitat Enhancement initiatives in your area. If you would like to visit a site and speak with a member of staff on the topic, please get in touch with us at the number below.
• SEPA has statutory duties to promote the conservation and enhancement of the inland and coastal water and the land associated with such waters, and the conservation of flora and fauna which are dependant on the aquatic environment (Environment Act 1995)
• We have statutory duties regarding water quality and sustainable development, and when section 24 of the Environment Act comes into force, we will be required to be consulted on drainage works
• SEPA is committed to the strategic objective of conserving and, where possible, enhancing biological diversity within the UK (UK Biodiversity: Action Plan 1994).
  

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