1. Pearls in Peril
International EU LIFE Conference Programme Tuesday 3rd May Pearls in Peril End of Project Conference Evening Conference Dinner and Ceilidh Wednesday 4th May 2016 Project site tours on Deeside Location Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar, within the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland Pearls in Peril LIFE would like to express its thanks to all who have been involved with the project since we kicked off in September 2012, with your support the project has delivered many successful outcomes for river restoration. Thank you.

2. Conference Programme Pearls in Peril LIFE Day 1: Tuesday 3rd May 2016
MORNING
CHAIR: Sue Walker, Scottish Natural Heritage, Board Member
09.45 – Registration (tea & coffee)
Sue Walker, SNH Board member - Opening welcome
Session 1 - Integrated catchment management
FRESHABIT LIFE+ Integrated project – Pauliina Louhi, Parks & Wildlife Finland
River Basin Planning in NW England LIFE+ Integrated Project - Alistair Maltby, Rivers Trusts
11:20 - Tea & Coffee
Session 2 - Freshwater pearl mussel monitoring & research
The status of pearl mussels in Scotland – Donald Shields, Alba Ecology
Research on pearl mussels and water quality – Susan Cooksley, James Hutton Institute
Developing a European standard for monitoring pearl mussels – Phil Boon, Scottish Natural Heritage
12:50 – Lunch & opportunity to view posters
Notes:

3. Conference Programme Pearls in Peril LIFE Day 1: Tuesday 3rd May 2016
AFTERNOON
Session 3 - Pearl mussel conservation & restoration
CHAIR: Will Boyd-Wallis, Cairngorms National Park Authority
PIP Pods - Introduction to PIP and ‘surgery’ with project officers – Jackie Webley, Pearls in Peril (PIP)
Restoring rivers in order to reintroduce captive bred pearl mussels from the FBA’s Ark – Ceri Gibson, Freshwater Biological Association
Sustainable land use management for pearl mussels - Richard O’Callaghan, KerryLIFE+ project
15.05 – Tea & Coffee
Session 4 - Safeguarding the future of the freshwater pearl mussel 
CHAIR: Chris Horrill, Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland
Reviewing the success of pearl mussel reintroductions – Gavin Measures, Natural England
Good practice in forest restructuring – Neil McInnes , Forest Enterprise Scotland
Nature’s benefits: Seeing the bigger picture – Viktoria Valenta, Scottish Natural Heritage
Improving river continuity in Sweden – Remibar LIFE+ project – Sofia Pera,County Administrative Board of Norrbotten
16.50 Closing Address - Chris Horrill,  Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland
17.00 Close
EVENING
18:30 - Conference Dinner followed by Ceilidh

4. Conference Programme Pearls in Peril LIFE
Day 2: Wednesday 4th May 2016
MORNING
09.15 – Registration (tea & coffee)
Session 1 – River Restoration Support & Funding
09:45 - River Restoration Centre Introduction - Martin Janes, the River Restoration Centre
10:00 – Water Environment Fund – Charles Perfect, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Session 2 – Pearls in Peril Site Visits
10:15 – Introduction to site visits and outline for the day – Jackie Webley, Pearls in Peril LIFE
10:40 – Leave Mar Lodge
10:40 to 12:30 - Site Visits hosted by PIP Project Officers
12:30 - Lunch – Mar Lodge or Braemar
(lunch location is weather dependant)
AFTERNOON
13:30 – Leave Mar Lodge/Braemar
13:30 to 15:00 – Site Visits
Session 3 – Discussion and Close
15:10 – Discussion & Closing Address (with tea & coffee) – Iain Sime, Scottish Natural Heritage
15:30 – Conference Close
Contact Details During Conference
Mobile: +44 (0)
Landline: +44 (0)