Monday 7th

Official opening of the Scottish Environment Week exhibition

Garden Lobby

2pm

Handover of The Holyrood Declaration

Public Entrance,
Sarah Boyack MSP

Launch of Environment Review

Holyrood Magazine

Tuesday 8th

12.30–2pm

Holyrood Park Education Centre

Celebrating our natural and cultural heritage

Kicking off a series of events through the week, this session will focus on the value and diversity of our rich natural and cultural heritage in Scotland. What is so special about Scotland’s environment?

• Keynote speaker: Magnus Magnusson KBE

• Peter Burman, Director of Conservation, The National Trust for Scotland

• Helen Todd, Ramblers Association Scotland

Finger buffet and refreshments will be provided.

Hosted by LINK

Chaired by Alex Johnstone MSP

2.15pm

From Public Entrance

TAKE 30 – Short walk for health

Celebrate the new access legislation and keep fit at the same time.
 
Walking is the closest thing to perfect exercise and doctors recommend 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week for good health. 
 
Meet at the Visitors’ Entrance to the Scottish Parliament at 2.15 pm.
 
We guarantee to get you back to the office by 3 pm, feeling the benefits of a walk in the fresh air. No boots required but waterproofs may be.

5.30–7pm

Committee Rm 3

Our environment, global context

Taking care of the environment that sustains us is not just important in a local setting but must be considered in a global context as well. This session widens the focus to consider our role in the wider world.

• Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland

• Dr Richard Dixon, WWFScotland

• Elizabeth Leighton, WWF Scotland

Wine and nibbles will be provided.

Hosted by Richard Lochhead MSP

Wednesday 9th

Morning

Environment and Rural Development Committee

11am

Meet outside the Public entrance to Holyrood

A Walk in the Park for MSPs

Guided walks round Holyrood Park from the Rangers, more about the cultural and natural heritage around the Parliament – 2 options.

1–2.30pm

Committee Rm 4

Our environment, who cares?

Across Scotland, people are not just saying they care about their environment – they are actively out there trying to improve it!

This session will find out what is going on out there, the role of the environment in our culture, for our quality of life and getting out and about with the new access legislation.

• Cameron McNeish, Ramblers Association Scotland

• Shaheen Safdar, Black Environment Network

• Margaret Davison, Castlemilk Economic Development Agency

• Andrew Bachell, Scottish Natural Heritage

Finger buffet and refreshments will be provided.

Hosted by Nora Radcliffe MSP

2.30pm

Meet outside the public entrance

A Walk in the Park for MSPs

Guided walks round Holyrood Park from the Rangers, more about the cultural and natural heritage around the Parliament– 2 options.

Members Business debate

Nora Radcliffe: Responsible Deer Management

That the Parliament notes the collaborative work on responsible deer management being undertaken in Scotland and the vital role of deer management groups and their use of the Deer Commission for Scotland’s best practice guidance; acknowledges the importance of culling deer using such guidance to avoid poor condition of deer in late winter and unnecessary death by starvation or as a consequence of inadequate habitat and shelter to support them; notes the support of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in ensuring that culling is carried out professionally and humanely; recognises the contribution that sustainable deer management can make to sustaining rural development, with increased rural employment and public benefits such as habitat regeneration, enhanced biodiversity and reducing risk of road accidents; considers that deer management groups should take the issue forward constructively, implementing deer management planning and setting targets that can be monitored to ensure progress, and concludes that deer management groups should be supported by representation from wider public interests, including local community, recreational and conservation interests, which would be particularly useful during preparation and review of deer management plans.

See LINK Briefing

6-9pm

Garden Lobby, Holyrood

Scottish Environment Week Reception

Invited audience including business, community groups, environmental organisations and others.

• Keynote address: Jack McConnell MSP, First Minister

• Fred Edwards, President, Scottish Environment LINK

• John McIntosh, Director Scotland, National Grid Transco

Holyrood,
First Minister

Thursday 10th

12.30-2pm

Committee Rm 4

Sustainable Development

Progress, success and jobs – long term
What is sustainable development and how can it work in practice? This session checks out some of the successful innovative and enterprising work around the country, considers where Scotland could be leading the way and what we need to do next to develop sustainably.

• Iain Gulland, Community Recycling NetworkScotland

• Brendan Turvey, Business Environment Partnership

• Dave Anderson, Renewable Devices

• Gordon Black, Scottish Industrial Symbiosis Programme

Finger buffet and refreshments will be provided.

Hosted by Shiona Baird MSP

Friday 11th