Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystems in Europe

Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystems in Europe

Fifth in the series of '10 messages for 2010', the EEA's assessment on forest ecosystems finds that while their overall area remains stable, woodlands face a variety of threats. Besides unsustainable management practices, air borne pollution and climate change, forests are also threatened by fragmentation due to rapidly spreading urban areas and transport networks. Both the healthy functioning of forest ecosystems and the biodiversity they foster are at risk.

Forests protect soil from erosion, regulate water flows and capture carbon from the atmosphere. Around and within urban areas, they are essential for providing fresh air, reducing dust and noise. They also serve as microclimate buffers against urban heat.

The wellbeing of numerous plants and animals, including many species protected by European Union legislation, is directly linked to forest ecosystems. Moreover, forest patches also play a critical role in facilitating species' movements through their connectivity with other ecosystems.

Joint Operating Environment

The Joint Operating Environment 2010
by the US Joint Forces Command

This report is intended to inform joint concept development and experimentation throughout the Department of Defense. It provides a perspective on future trends, shocks, contexts, and implications for future joint force commanders and other leaders and professionals in the national security field. This document is speculative in nature and does not suppose to predict what will happen in the next twenty-five years.

Sustainable Tourism as a Part of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

EcoRegion Perspectives on Sustainable Tourism

The EcoRegion Perspectives' series is published as part of the EcoRegion project, funded by the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013.  It documents practices and concepts on how to support sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region. Each edition focuses on a specific sustainability topic, beginning with sustainable tourism in this first issue.

Residential Training Workshop on Universities & ESD

Application time for this workshop is prolonged to April 19th.

Applying teachers are kindly asked to send an application/motivation letter (max 200 words) with a description of themselves and information on why participation in this workshop is important. The letter should be sent to the BUP secretariat in Uppsala no later than April 19^th 2010. The workshop will take place 24-28 May 2010 at the Centre of Environmental Education of Amfissa, Greece.

For more information please see the BUP web site.