Below is info about the first major activity of this group. This is early notice & I'll give you more info as time goes on. However, an idea of the level of interest in the Group would be useful, so please let me know if you are interested. Please publicise this as well. I'll do a mail shot later on.

(This has gone to the old email list as well as the jiscmail as I know some people have had trouble subscribing to the latter. Please contact me if you have had such problems)

James

Issues in Agricultural Ecology
The inaugural workshop for the BES Agricultural Ecology Group

Tuesday 9th October 2001

Aim:    through talks by invited speakers and discussions on the floor to define current issues in agricultural ecology in terms of research needs, application of this research and the policy background. 

Background
The BES Agricultural Ecology Group was started with the remit to be a forum for exchange of information between ecologists, conservationists, agricultural researchers, land managers and policy makers. It will consider conservation in the farmed landscape, using ecological theory to address agricultural problems, economic and ecological sustainability of farming systems, and the implications of agricultural policies. 

This workshop will discuss these subject areas. Invited speakers will provide the context for specific topics and subsequent discussion (20 minutes per talk + 15 minutes discussion) will highlight areas of particular interest and debate, information needs and differences in approaches among the communities. The workshop will produce a discussion document (possibly for publication as a forum article) and will suggest subjects for future workshops or symposia.

Workshop details
The workshop will be held at MAFF Whitehall Place West, London on 9th October 2001. There will be small charge for refreshments. You must book in order to attend and contact James Bullock directly to do so: NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, CEH Dorset, Winfrith Technology Centre, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8ZD, UK. [log in to unmask] The deadline is 5th September 2001. Further details will be available at the BES website. 

Timetable
10:30   Arrive and coffee
11:00   Welcome - James Bullock

Using ecological theory in agriculture
Chair: James Bullock (CEH)
11:05   Population and community ecology approaches in managing farmed systems - To be confirmed
11:35   Behaviour and ecology of livestock: using an understanding to achieve production and biodiversity objectives- Glenn Iason (MLURI) 
12:05   Discussion

Conservation in farmed landscapes
Chair: Val Brown (CAER)
12:25   The biodiversity of agricultural systems: farms as habitats in the wider landscape - Jeremy Wilson  (RSPB)
12:55   Lunch
13:55   Reversing biodiversity losses: environmentally sustainable farming - Jerry Tallowin (IGER)
14:25   Discussion

Policy and technology transfer
Chair: Steve Peel (MAFF)
14:45   Integrating conservation and farming: do agri-environment schemes work? - To be confirmed
15:15   Tea
15:45   Impacts of future farm structure on biodiversity: does size matter?- Gareth Edwards-Jones & Dave Elliott (Bangor)
16:15   Discussion
16:45   Depart