UNESCO has an outstanding record for protecting the world's natural and built heritage. Recent projects include the re-introduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the US, conservation work on the Skellig Islands in Co Kerry, and the reconstruction of the old town of Dubrovnik, a World Heritage Site, in Croatia, following the war in former Yugoslavia.
A new, full-time course for those interested in the conservation and management of world heritage sites begins in October in University College, Dublin. The course, the first of its kind in the northern hemisphere, is organised jointly by the Conservation Education Trust and UCD's Continuing Professional Education programme with UNESCO's World Heritage Centre in Paris, France. Students can take a one-year diploma or higher diploma, or two-year masters course.
Organisers say both courses impart the necessary expertise to conserve and manage heritage sites.
The Conservation Education Trust is a voluntary, non-profit-making charity in the field of environmental education. For further information and application forms, contact Continuing Professional Education, University Industry Programme, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4. Phone 01-7168714 or e-mail tina.jones@ucd.ie
Champagne glasses will clink as dinner party guests chat in the Long Gallery of Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare, for the first time in living memory on Wednesday evening. This special dinner party in one of Ireland's finest country houses will be hosted by the Irish Georgian Society and the American Ireland Fund.
The dinner will be preceded by a tour of the house, which is currently being restored by the Office of Public Works.
Also on hand will be skilled conservators, demonstrating their expertise in furniture restoration, gilding, decorative plasterwork and textile restoration. Tickets (€199) for the event are available from the Irish Georgian Society at 01-6767053.
A last-minute reminder of the Herb Weekend at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim, this weekend. Today's focus is on culinary and medicinal herbs, with a practical session on making tinctures, ointments and creams (10 a.m.-5 p.m.), while tomorrow's open day will feature talks on creating a spiritual and magical herb garden, celebrating rites of passage with plants and herbs, and how to make a herb alter. (11 a.m.-5 p.m.). Phone 072-54338 for bookings.
The annual Mallow Home and Garden Festival in Mallow, Co Cork - already a mecca for gardeners all over Ireland - will attract a good number of environmentalists this weekend with its increased emphasis on conservation issues. The thatching of the straw bale house built last year and the building of another eco-house are among the events scheduled.
Also the local community and environmental group, Blackwater Resource Development is leading a number of fun educational events for children with competitions and games on waste recycling and wildlife issues. Children can also see bees at work in a beehive and have their photograph taken with falcons.
The Mallow Home and Garden Festival continues today and tomorrow at Mallow Racecourse, Mallow, Co Cork. See also www.mallowhomesandgardens.com
A well-managed site of interest for those keen to keep up to date with government transport policies for road, rail, regional and city public transport.
The site aims to influence government to consider all transport developments in the context of environment and social concerns. It includes press coverage and its own responses to government policy.