The diversity of Scotland’s animal and plant life will come under the microscope at an afternoon event to be held at the University of Aberdeen tomorrow (Wednesday 8 October).
The event - open to everyone with an interest is biodiversity - is being hosted by ACES (Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability), which is a joint initiative of the University of Aberdeen and the Macaulay Institute.
Nick Hanley, Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Stirling, will speak on Economic drivers of long-run biodiversity change, looking back 400 years at the role economic factors such as agricultural prices have played in the loss of biodiversity in Scotland.
Professor Hanley will present the findings of his recent survey of 11 areas of farm land across the Highlands and Borders of Scotland, which revealed that levels of biodiversity have fallen and risen in line with changes in the profitability of livestock over the decades.
These levels have a direct impact on the environment as higher biodiversity means the environment is more capable of dealing with variants such as climate change.
Dr Rene Van Der Wal Senior Lecturer University of Aberdeen and part of ACES, said: "Biodiversity levels and the direct impact they have on the environment is a highly topical subject and we are delighted to welcome Professor Hanley to the University of Aberdeen to present what promises to be an extremely enlightening and informative seminar."
The event starts at 2pm in the King's College Conference centre on the Old Aberdeen campus. Those wishing to attend the event are asked to register by emailing aces@abdn.ac.uk.</p>
ACES is a joint initiative which combines the skills and experience of leading academics in natural and social sciences to position north-east Scotland at the frontier of research in protecting our planet for the future. Key to the ACES approach is the bringing together of experts from different disciplines in environmental, social and economic science, with the overriding aim of tackling a diverse range of pressing environmental issues, from the sustainable management of biodiversity to the impact of climate change. ACES will work with policy makers and stakeholders to help develop solutions to some thorny issues.