Horizons

More than a quarter of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed, according to a new report. The causes are familiar: overfishing, pollution, global warming and tourism. The report, by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, says that by 1992, 10 per cent of reefs had been lost but, by 2000, this had increased to 27 per cent. The worst affected areas are the Indian Ocean, the Middle East and south-east and eastern Asia. The healthiest are in the Pacific and off Australia. Coral reefs are home to a quarter of ocean species, even though they cover only 0.2 per cent of the seabed. The United Nations Environment Programme has set up a Coral Reef Unit to tackle the crisis (website: www.unep.ch/ coral.html).

A DAY-LONG Earth Fair in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin, tomorrow rounds off this year's Convergence festival. Running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., it includes an organic market, street entertainment, rustic crafts and speakers for a "better world". Other events remaining in the festival include a "green map" tour of central Dublin. This free walking tour leaves Meeting House Square at noon today. There is another opportunity for walking tomorrow, when the heritage and sustainability tour leaves the front gates of Trinity College at 4 p.m. (cost £3). Or call in to the Better World culture centre at Cow's Lane, Temple Bar, this weekend to see the Fair Trade exhibit, mounted by Oxfam, and the Trees for All exhibit, run by the environmental lobby group, VOICE.

YOUNG city dwellers can learn how our ancestors - and other creatures - lived through weekend activities at the National Museum of Ireland next month. The environmental consultant Niamh Roche will reveal the wonderful world of the bat through bat games (ages six and over) at the Natural History Museum, Merrion Street, on Sunday, May 6th at 3 p.m. Gael agus Gall will create a Viking market (ages four and over) in the National Museum, Kildare Street, on Saturday, May 12th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and again on Sunday, May 13th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Who's Been Sitting in My Chair? is the clever title of a talk for children on the vernacular furniture display at Collins Barracks on Sunday, May 20th from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., while life in Egypt will be explored in the Archaeology and History Museum, Kildare Street, on Sunday, May 27th, also from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tomorrow, Liz Weir will tell stories for children aged four and over at the Decorative Arts and History Museum, Collins Barracks, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (admission free).

BAT-WATCHING is an acquired taste, but it attracts enough enthusiasts for an annual meeting. The third Irish Bat Conference takes place from May 18th to 20th at the Shannon Oaks Hotel, Portumna, Co Galway. The programme includes talks on the latest research and conservation policy, workshops and detector walks (foot-and-mouth controls permitting). Registration costs £30. More details from 087-8173073 or www.geocities.com/batconf2001

Web World

www.childrenoftheearth.org

This site is a must for all young environmentalists. It posts inspiring stories, poems, drawings and short animated sequences, all supplied by ecokids. There's an eco-gallery that welcomes submissions, a beautiful section on wild flowers and a section on earth issues. Teachers can source new ideas for the classroom - have a waste-free-lunch week, for example, or make an environmental pledge. The site was set up by Children of the Earth United, a US-based non-profit organisation.

horizons@irish-times.ie