ENSA Meeting 2011 in Tulln

The Tulln University and Research Center hosted an international conference on the topic of awareness of soil, which shall contribute to a linking of associations, organizations and administrational institutions, on October 13 and 14, 2011. More than 70 representatives from ten European countries and also from overseas presented successful examples and initiatives, which aim at increasing awareness of the precious resource of soil.

The event took place in cooperation between the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, the European Commission, the European Land and Soil Alliance ELSA, the German Federal Soil Association, the Austrian Ministry of Life, the Environment Agency Austria, and the Province of Lower Austria. Beside an exchange of experience, the meeting dealt with the development of new projects for soil protection and an increase of soil awareness, mainly with the partners in the Danube region, in order to provide practical contributions to the recently passed EU Strategy for the Danube Region.

Presentations:

• Franz Rennhofer
  Member of Lower Austrian Parliament, Mayor of Lichtenegg and Chairman of BIENE association (Bioenergy and Soil Network)
• Walter Wenzel
  Head of Institute of Soil Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria New opportunities for soil - plant research and teaching at the BOKU campus Tulln"
• Thomas Strassburger
  European Commission, DG Environment Soil Protection in Europe
• Gabriele Broll
  University of Osnabrück, Germany President German Soil Association The European Network on Soil Awareness – Steps into the Future
• SONDAR - Soil Strategy Network in the Danube Region
  Franz Rybaczek, Bioenergy and Soil Network
• Soil network in Ottensheim – best practice exemple from Upper Austria
  Ulrike Böker, mayoress of Ottensheim, Upper Austria
• Soil protection in Czech municipalities
  Antonin Okenka, mayor of Nova Lhota, Czech Republic, Jana Urbancikova, Centre of Learning and Information, The White Carpathians
• Cristine Muggler, Brazil
• Pandi Zdruli, Mediterranean area
• Beata Houskova, Slovakia
• Willie Towers & Rachel Creamer, UK and Ireland
• G. Broll: Summary and next steps for ENSA

About ENSA

On 28th of September 2009 the European Network on Soil Awareness ENSA has been founded at the kick off conference in Osnabrück/Germany.

The European Commission as well as local and international experts from 14 countries supported the new initiative of ENSA.

The main objective is to bundle experts and other stakeholders working on soil awareness raising in a European network.

ENSA addresses to all institutions, organisations and persons who are interested in enforcing soil protection or who are already involved in awareness raising activities - soil experts as well as users.

ENSA supports the implementation of regional networks and knowledge exchange.

Teachers, trainers, scientists, regional institutions or consultants, municipalities or regions are welcome to join the network.

ENSA is strongly connected to the European Land & Soil Alliance (ELSA e.V.) and the working group on Soil Awareness Raising of the European Soil Bureau Network (ESBN).

About the conference

The 2nd meeting of ENSA aims at connecting municipalities, teachers, planners and soil experts to exchange knowledge and enforce soil awareness raising activities in Europe.

For more information about the conference, venue and ONLINE-Registration please visit our website:

http://www.eu-ensa.org