Proposals for the next phase of CAP reform will have a major impact on how the rural environment is managed.

The implications will be the focus of a symposium at Imperial College Wye on 27 November entitled 'Rural Land Management: Challenges for Science and Economics'. The event will mark the launch of the Centre for European Agri-environmental Studies (formerly the Centre for European Agricultural Studies) at Wye.

Key speakers will include Professor Steve Albon, Director of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Aberdeenshire, whose theme will be 'Destocking the Hills: Biodiversity Losses or Gains?'; and Dr Simon Mortimer, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, University of Reading who will speak on 'Agri-environmental Schemes: Something or Nothing for Biodiversity?'

Associate Professor David Pannell, Programme Leader, Co-operative Research Centre for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity, Western Australia, will outline 'Policy Issues: Rewards versus Penalties', while Professor Rob Fraser, Director of the Centre for Agri-environmental Studies will speak on 'The Challenge of Environmental Set-Aside.'

The symposium will start at 14.00 with an opening address by Professor Jeff Waage, head of the department of agricultural sciences at Wye.

Registration by 18 November. Email: m.sheppard@imperial.ac.uk.