Trees help to combat climate change

A “Trees Store Carbon Seminar” jointly organised by the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and the Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) will take place at CAFRE, Loughry Campus, Cookstown, on 27 January 2010, commencing at 9.30 am.

The main theme of the seminar is to discuss the potential of trees to play an important role in capturing and storing carbon and therefore help mitigate climate change. Furthermore trees also provide oxygen, help keep our air and soils clean, prevent water runoff and soil erosion, keep us cool in warm weather and act as wind breaks in the cold seasons.

An exciting range of speakers have been arranged for the morning session. These include Geoff Smyth, Northern Ireland Director of the Carbon Trust, Dr Bill Mason, Senior Silviculturalist from Forestry Commission UK and Patrick Cregg, Director of the Woodland Trust NI.

The afternoon session is a conducted tour of AFBI, Loughgall, demonstrating the current R&D programme with regard to tree and biomass systems for Northern Ireland conditions.

For further information on the seminar please contact Denise Andrews at 02894 426756 or email at denise.andrews@dardni.gov.uk

Teresa Maguire, Horticulture Technologist, beside a nine year-old oak tree with accelerated growth in AFBI, Loughgall

Raja Harun, Senior Horticulture Technologist beside an eight year-old holly with accelerated growth at Greenmount Campus