|
|
|
||||||
|
Headlines from week beginning 22 June 2015 |
|
A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Silent flights: How owls could help make wind turbines and planes
quieter A newly-designed material, which mimics the wing structure of owls,
could help make wind turbines, computer fans and even planes much
quieter. Early wind tunnel tests of the coating have shown a substantial
reduction in noise without any noticeable effect on aerodynamics.
Image: Close-up view of a flight feather of a Great Grey Owl. Credit: J. Jaworski An investigation into how owls fly and hunt in silence has enabled
researchers to develop a prototype coating for wind turbine blades that
could significantly reduce the amount of noise they make. Early tests of the material, which mimics the intricate structure of
an owl’s wing, have demonstrated that it could significantly reduce the
amount of noise produced by wind turbines and other types of fan blades,
such as those in computers or planes. Since wind turbines are heavily
braked in order to minimise noise, the addition of this new surface
would mean that they could be run at much higher speeds – producing more
energy while making less noise. For an average-sized wind farm, this
could mean several additional megawatts worth of electricity. The surface has been developed by researchers at the University of
Cambridge, in collaboration with researchers at three institutions in
the USA. Their results will be presented today (22 June) at the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aeroacoustics
Conference in Dallas. “Many owls – primarily large owls like barn owls or great grey owls – can hunt by stealth, swooping down and capturing their prey undetected,” said Professor Nigel Peake of Cambridge’s Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, who led the research. “While we’ve known this for centuries, what hasn’t been known is how or why owls are able to fly in silence.”
Chemicals from fracking could cause significant pollution and damage to
wildlife – CHEM Trust A new analysis for chemicals charity CHEM Trust finds that chemicals
from fracking sites have the potential to cause significant pollution.
This pollution with hazardous chemicals could cause damage to sensitive
ecosystems, including killing wildlife, as has happened in the US.
Image: Fracking Briefing CHEM Trust makes 18 recommendations for vital improvements that are
needed in the regulation of fracking in order to reduce risks to
the environment and human health. In addition, it warns that cuts in
regulators such as the Environment Agency in the UK could jeopardise the
effectiveness of any regulations. This publication comes days before Councillors in Lancashire, in
North West England, vote on whether to permit Cuadrilla to frack two
sites, which could potentially affect wildlife in and around Morecambe
Bay, a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention.
CHEM Trust is sending our report to the key Councillors in Lancashire
prior to this vote. The European Commission is also currently considering the
effectiveness of the current regulations on fracking, and CHEM Trust
will be sending our report to the EU’s Environment Commissioner and key
Members of the European Parliament, in order to push for stronger
regulation. We have already met officials in the EU’s environment
department to call for tighter controls on chemical use in fracking
operations.
Unique mapping project to capture the sounds of our shores –
National Trust The public is being asked to record the sounds that shape and define
our relationship with the coast across the UK in a three-month crowd
sourced sound project – ‘sounds of our shores’ – being launched today
(Monday 22 June) by the National Trust, National Trust for Scotland and
the British Library.
Sounds can be uploaded on to the first ever UK coastal sound map,
hosted on the British Library website. It could be the vibrant sounds of
a working fishing village, gulls screaming on one of the wonderful
seabird islands dotted around our coast or the kettle whistling from
inside a much loved beach hut. All of these sounds will be added to the British Library Sound
Archive – creating a snapshot of the beautiful and diverse UK coastline
that future generations will be able to hear. The coastal sound map project co-incides with the 50th anniversary of
the National Trust Neptune Coastline Campaign. Launched in May 1965, the
Trust now manages 775 miles of coast in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. Musician, producer and founder member of Human League and Heaven 17,
Martyn Ware, will be using the sounds submitted by the public to create
a brand new piece of music for release in February 2016.
Putting the UK’s largest seabird under surveillance highlights the need
for a precautionary approach to development in the English Channel –
The Wildlife Trusts
A new and experimental project is launched today (Monday 22 June)
offering an unrivalled insight into the lifecycle of Britain’s largest
native seabird, the northern gannet. The project entitled ‘Track a
Gannet’, or T.A.G. for short, is jointly run by the smallest of The
Wildlife Truists; Alderney Wildlife Trust (AWT), the British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO) and the University of Liverpool. It is enabling
gannets to be put under surveillance using the 3G mobile network. The project is unique in that:
Alderney’s gannet populations are the most southerly in the British
Isles. Northern gannets are identified as ‘Amber listed’ in the Birds of
Conservation Concern 3 (Joint Nature Conservation Committee), and
perhaps one of the most charismatic of British breeding seabirds. Simon King OBE, The Wildlife Trusts’ President, said: “In the last
decade webcams and television have brought the drama of ‘the bird nest’
into millions of people’s homes. At the same time GPS tagging has
helped scientists to understand so much more about what birds get up to,
from where they forage to how they travel thousands of miles on
migration."
Conservation successes overshadowed by more species declines – IUCN Red
List update - IUCN Successful conservation action has boosted the populations of the
Iberian Lynx and the Guadalupe Fur Seal, while the African Golden Cat,
the New Zealand Sea Lion and the Lion are facing increasing threats to
their survival, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of
Today’s update also shows that over-collection and habitat
destruction are placing enormous pressure on many medicinal plants. Image: Lion (Panthera leo) Credit: Craig Hilton-Taylor The IUCN Red List now includes 77,340 assessed species, of which
22,784 are threatened with extinction. The loss and degradation of
habitat are identified as the main threat to 85% of all species
described on the IUCN Red List, with illegal trade and invasive species
also being key drivers of population decline. “This IUCN Red List update confirms that effective conservation can
yield outstanding results,” says Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General.
“Saving the Iberian Lynx from the brink of extinction while securing the
livelihoods of local communities is a perfect example. But this update
is also a wake-up call, reminding us that our natural world is becoming
increasingly vulnerable. The international community must urgently step
up conservation efforts if we want to secure this fascinating diversity
of life that sustains, inspires and amazes us every day.”
Report lays bare public priorities for the natural environment –
University of Exeter Public views on the challenges facing policy and decision makers to
manage the natural environment have been revealed in a major national
public dialogue project. Led by the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research,
the research has informed a major report explaining why the natural
environment matters to people. It also explores how current approaches
to environmental policy and decision making resonate with public
concerns and priorities. The ‘Naturally Speaking…’ public dialogue process was run in
partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Sciencewise
the UK’s national centre for public dialogue in policy making involving
science and technology issues. The report reveals that people value their natural environment for a
range of cultural and health benefits and its contribution to human
livelihoods and prosperity. As well as important for economic activity
the natural environment is viewed as a place to enhance relationships
with family and friends; encourage physical exercise; enable inner peace
and mental calm; reconnect with the past; and find meaning in life. A key finding of the report is that people support the need for
making a strong economic case for the environment, yet they emphasise we
should be careful not to think about the natural environment as a
‘bottomless pit’, but as something that helps us to function and
therefore we need to cherish and look after it. In addition the report highlights the need for more active and
creative involvement of local communities in decisions about the natural
environment. The role of government and publicly funded research in
addressing the big environmental challenges of the day is also
emphasised. People stressed that decision-making should prioritise
long-term public gain and saw risks in decisions being driven by
financial concerns and commercial interests.
Live
mealworms are a hit with chicks - GWCT
This new research, which formed part of a PhD study by Dr Mark
Whiteside, identified that the provision of a more naturalistic diet to
very young chicks in captivity, in the form of mixed seed and live meal
worms, will help to make a considerable difference to their survival
once released into the wild compared to pheasants reared with standard
chick pellets. The three-year study was initiated and supported by the Game &
Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and carried out by Dr Whiteside from
the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour at the University of Exeter.
Both the GWCT and Exeter University co-funded this important study. Mark Whiteside explains why this important study has wide-ranging
benefits, “Captive-reared animals released as a part of a reintroduction
or restocking programme typically differ from their wild counterparts in
their behavioural and physiological characteristics, which can lead to
high levels of mortality. Pheasant rearing offers an excellent model
system to help identify how we can manipulate early rearing conditions
to promote the development of important survival traits once released
into the wild.” Read the paper: Whiteside, M. A., Sage,
R. & Madden, J. R. (2015)
Diet complexity in early life affects survival in released pheasants by
altering foraging efficiency, food choice, handling skills, and gut
morphology. Journal of Animal Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12401
Dwindling pine marten population in Wales gets major financial boost
– Vincent Wildlife Trust £200k pledged towards Pine Marten Recovery Project The Pine Marten Recovery Project, established by The Vincent Wildlife
Trust (VWT), has secured vital financial support, helping to ensure the
long-term funding of this six-year project aimed at restoring the pine
marten to England and Wales.
This autumn will see the first pine martens brought from Scotland,
where they are thriving, to an area of mid Wales that still retains a
tiny but struggling pine marten population. This is the culmination of
almost two years of feasibility research, careful groundwork and
community liaison. Over time it is hoped that a viable, thriving pine
marten population will once again flourish in the woodlands of mid
Wales. The project has secured a total of £200,000 from four partners:
Woodland Trust, People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), a private
company called POLECAT and including £100,000 over six years from
Chester Zoo. This is a significant proportion of the £800,000 match
funding needed to finance the project. Natalie Buttriss, Chief Executive of the VWT, said “We are delighted
to have these four new partners on board. Not only have they provided a
welcome early financial boost to the project, but will also bring with
them additional expertise and resources.”
Devon wild beavers have kits! – Devon Wildlife Trust Devon Wildlife Trust is delighted to announce the birth of kits born
to the first wild colony of beavers in England. New film footage
proves that England’s only wild beaver population is growing. The
footage, taken by local film-maker Tom Buckley, shows baby beavers –
known as kits – taking their first swimming lessons and being helped
through the water by their mother at an undisclosed location on East
Devon’s River Otter. The births signal the latest chapter in a
story which has attracted great support from the local community. Watch the video of
baby beavers here!
RSPB solves the migration mystery of UK's fastest declining migrant bird
Last July, the RSPB fitted a small, light-weight satellite tag to a
turtle dove from Suffolk before it embarked on its mammoth migration
journey. In a UK science first, the RSPB was able to track Titan, the
tagged turtle dove, on his 5600km migration route from Suffolk to Mali,
and back again, all in real time. The turtle dove population has
plummeted 96 per cent since 1970, making it the UK’s fastest declining
migrant bird. This decline is so dramatic that the population is halving
in number every six years; should it continue at this rate the species
may be lost as a breeding bird in the UK within the next couple of
decades. Flying mostly under the cover of darkness, Titan flew across
epic landscapes such as the Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert and the Gulf
of Cadiz. The satellite tag also uncovered that he travelled around
500-700km per night flying at a maximum speed of 60km per hour. Dr John Mallord, RSPB Senior Conservation Scientist, said: “This is
the first time that we have ever been able to track a UK-breeding turtle
dove to its African wintering grounds. Previously we largely relied on
ringing the birds, which didn’t give us half the amount of data Titan’s
tag has. On top of his wintering grounds, we also have his migration
route, where he stopped to rest and refuel and how long he spent in
different places. “Our aim now is to build on this new information,
which will be used to help us to target our conservation efforts far
more effectively on precisely those areas the birds are using when they
leave the UK.” Titan’s outbound journey to Africa, where he wintered for six months, took around a month to complete. On his return the avian jetsetter spent two weeks making his way through France, initially following the Atlantic coast, before leaving from Dunkirk and touching down in Suffolk. The latest satellite reading shows that Titan has returned to the same area he was first found and tagged in Suffolk.
Deer management provisions in Land Reform Bill welcome but fall short
– Scottish Wildlife Trust The Trust welcomes proposals to provide Scottish Natural Heritage
with more powers to compel irresponsible landowners and occupiers to
produce Deer Management Plans under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. The
Trust believes such provisions are long overdue and the Scottish
Government should be commended in recognising the need for strengthened
legislation on deer management. However, the wording of the draft legislation falls well short of
what is needed if Scotland is to tackle the widespread and often severe
impact that very high numbers of deer have on Scotland’s woodlands,
peatlands and uplands. The Bill gives Scottish Natural Heritage more powers to require
landowners to draw up and act on deer plans which could help tackle the
problems associated with overpopulation of deer such as overgrazing,
trampling and localised peatland erosion. However, under the current
draft Bill, such powers can only be used when damage is already taking
place and it is unclear what, if any, consequences there are for owners
and occupiers who fail to produce a plan. The Trust wishes to see the
deer management provisions in the Bill made much clearer. As the Bill
passes through Parliament the Trust will work with MSPs and other
partners to ensure the provisions are fit for purpose. Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jonny Hughes said:
“As currently drafted it is questionable whether we will see any
measurable improvement in the health of those habitats in Scotland
currently being severely overgrazed by deer, including internationally
important Atlantic rainforests and peatlands. As a start, it is vital
that Scottish Natural Heritage be given powers to draw up Deer
Management Plans on behalf of those owners and occupiers that fail to do
so in a timely manner. More worryingly, action by SNH can only be taken
when damage has already occurred; the classic closing the stable door
after the horse has bolted scenario. In reality, large parts of the
uplands suffer from deer damage and we urgently need realistic targets
to reduce densities in order to give our exhausted landscapes some
chance of recovery. We have a chance with this Bill to bring in sensible
management for deer that could see the return of our once great
Caledonian pine forest within a generation. Getting the wording of the
Bill right is paramount.”
Confor calls on governments to protect important forestry services -
Confor As the starting pistol is fired on the process of full devolution of
the Forestry Commission in Scotland and England, Confor has flagged up
to ministers the importance of services currently provided by the
Forestry Commission at a Great Britain level. "Recent years have seen significant growth in the forestry and wood
processing sector across Great Britain, aided by key services, including
Statistics and the National Inventory, the world renowned Forest
Research and business development support", explained Confor chief
executive, Stuart Goodall. "Given the relatively small amount of support
given to forestry compared to other sectors, and the comparatively large
benefits that the sector provides to society, not least in terms of
rural jobs, it would be counter-productive to dilute or reduce that
modest level of support. We note that the Westminster and Scottish
governments are planning to discuss these services and the wider
structure of the Forestry Commission, and look forward to getting more
detailed information on the proposals in due course. Meanwhile we
will continue to work with the Forestry Commission in each country in
the interests of Confor members" As well as core services, the Forestry Commission at the country level plays a key role in the delivery of new woodland planting. The sector urgently requires rates of new planting to increase to provide the raw material for the sector to maintain its levels of activity in future decades and new planting, of all types, contributes significantly to governments meeting their climate change targets.
Europe’s seas: productive, but not healthy or clean - European
Environment Agency The European Union’s Blue Growth agenda aims to harness further the
potential of Europe’s oceans, seas and coasts for jobs, economic value
and sustainability. A new report published today by the European
Environment Agency (EEA) shows that, despite some improvements, the way
we use our seas remains unsustainable and threatens not only the
productivity of our seas, but also our wellbeing. Human activities and
climate change are increasingly putting a number of pressures on
Europe’s seas, the cumulative effects of which threaten the functioning
and resilience of marine ecosystems. In line with the development of the European Union’s (EU) Blue Growth
objectives, which aspire to greater and sustainable use of the seas’
potential, the EEA’s new ‘State
of Europe’s seas’ report examines whether the EU is meeting its
policy goals for the quality of the marine environment. From fisheries to offshore energy production, and protection of
marine biodiversity, the EU has a range of policies related to planning
and regulating the sustainable use of Europe’s seas. The Marine Strategy
Framework Directive, adopted in 2008, aims to ensure coherence between
such EU policies and sets three goals for Europe’s seas: to be
‘productive’, ‘healthy’, and ‘clean’. Based on the data available, the
EEA finds that although Europe’s seas can be considered productive, they
cannot be considered healthy or clean. The report also looks into describing what ecosystem-based management
could mean in the marine context and how to improve our knowledge, as
well as considering future challenges in relation to the long-term
sustainability of Europe’s seas. Only a very limited number of assessments of marine habitats and species indicate favourable conservation status. Current pressures include, among others, physical damage to the seafloor (due to bottom-trawling in particular), introduction of non-indigenous species, nutrient input (mainly from agricultural fertilisers), hazardous substance pollution and marine litter. Climate change induced temperature increases and potential ocean acidification can further weaken the ecological resilience of Europe’s Seas.
Protecting natural heritage – Scottish Government Environment Minister launches biodiversity route map. Details of the Scottish Government’s plans to deliver the ‘2020
Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity’ over the next five years were
announced today (Thursday) by Minister for the Environment Aileen McLeod
during a visit to the Wild Flowers and Water Voles Project in Glasgow. Scotland’s Biodiversity – A Route Map to 2020 will set out the
priority work needed to meet the international Aichi Targets for
biodiversity and improve the state of nature in Scotland. Speaking at the Grow Wild site in Easterhouse, Dr McLeod said: “Our
awareness of the importance, value and fragility of nature is growing
year on year. Through an impressive body of evidence, we are building up
a clearer picture of what needs to be done to care for and restore
biodiversity. The Route Map, published today, sets out six ‘Big Steps
for Nature’ and a number of priority projects that focus on
collaborative work, which the Scottish Government and a range of
partners are committed to taking forward to help deliver the 2020
Challenge. Many of our habitats and wildlife are internationally
important. Scotland’s peatlands, mountain landscapes, coastal cliffs and
seas, machair and diversity of woodland ecosystems are exceptional by
European standards. These support a fantastic range of species, as well
as being key assets for public health and wellbeing. We want to improve
the state of nature across Scotland and to ensure more people draw on
its many benefits.” The Six Big Steps for Nature are:
Download the
full report. (pdf)
Trust welcomes Scottish Government’s Biodiversity Strategy Roadmap –
Scottish Wildlife Trust The Trust supports the Scottish Government’s priorities published
today which will help Scotland meet global biodiversity targets by 2020. Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jonny Hughes, said:
“The Scottish Wildlife Trust would like to commend the Scottish
Government on outlining these key priorities that will lead Scotland
closer to reaching the internationally agreed Aichi Biodiversity Targets
and ultimately towards a better Scotland. Including natural capital as a
key focus in the Roadmap is particularly welcome in the year the World
Forum on Natural Capital takes place in Edinburgh on November 23 and 24,
when the international spotlight will shine on Scotland. The Trust
believes first and foremost that we have a moral obligation to protect
and restore nature in Scotland, but by also explaining that a healthy
natural environment underpins a healthy, more equal and more prosperous
Scotland, we may just begin to see the political buy-in we need to
reverse ongoing wildlife loss. The natural capital debate helps explain
that nature is directly relevant to everyone’s daily lives.”
Securing the future of soil and the good & services it provides us -
Rothamsted Research Rothamsted Research, in collaboration with other leading UK research
institutions, have been awarded £1.6M for research into Soil Security. Scientists at Rothamsted Research, in collaboration with the Centre
for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Lancaster University, the University of
Aberdeen and Imperial College London have been awarded £1.6M from the
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Soils Security Programme,
to investigate how we can ensure sustainable soil management practices
in the face of current and future environmental change. The earth’s soil resources are being put under increasing pressure
and there is an urgent need to ensure that soils found across different
landscapes continue to deliver vital good and services for humans. These
goods and services, which nature freely provides us and which we often
take for granted, have been termed ecosystems services. Soil ecosystems
service include, for example, the physical stability and
support of plants, allowing us to grow and consume crops, and the
buffering and filtering of the hydrological cycle, which gives us clean
water. The study will see the collaborative team of scientists investigate
how soils in different ecosystems, ranging from intensive agriculture
through to extensive, semi-natural systems, support ecosystem services,
and to what extent they are robust to environmental pressures from
climate change and human activity. During the project, the team will investigate how soil in each of
these ecosystems respond to change, and how management might be used to
improve the delivery of the vital ecosystem services provided by soils.
The team aim to identify which management practices will benefit the
widest range of services, and where trade-offs, such as improving soil
fertility but decreasing water quality, might occur.
Scientists disappointed at results from GM wheat field trial -
Rothamsted Research The results of the GM wheat field trial held by Rothamsted Research
in 2012-2013 are published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports
today (25 June). The data show that the GM wheat did not repel aphid
pests in the field as was hypothesised and was initially seen in
laboratory experiments conducted by scientists at the Institute. Aphids are serious pests of wheat and other arable crops cultivated
in the UK, transmitting viruses and reducing yield. Farmers spray
insecticides to control aphids when infestations become severe due to
lack of an alternative approach. Scientists at Rothamsted Research
conducted experiments to discover whether wheat could be genetically
modified (GM) to produce an aphid alarm pheromone and whether it would
repel aphids in the lab and field. This would allow farmers to reduce
insecticide spraying, benefiting the environment and making farming more
sustainable. Although the GM wheat did not repel aphids in the field, the
five-year project did score some notable successes. The use of genetic
engineering to provide wheat able to produce the aphid alarm pheromone
(E)-β-farnesene (Eβf) was successful and robust - this is a world first
and an important proof of concept in plant science overall. GM wheat
plants produced the pheromone in significant quantities without major
unexpected changes seen in the appearance or performance of the new
wheat plants, which looked and yielded as normal. In addition, in laboratory experiments aphids were successfully
repelled by the Eβf signal. Scientists went on to test the GM plants in
open field conditions. However, in the field trials there was no
statistically significant difference in aphid infestation between the GM
wheat and the conventional wheat used as a control (both of the same
variety, Cadenza). Professor Huw Jones, senior molecular biologist at Rothamsted
Research with oversight for the genetic changes in the plants said: "As
scientists we are trained to treat our experimental data objectively and
dispassionately but I was definitely disappointed. We had hoped that
this technique would offer a way to reduce the use of insecticides in
pest control in arable farming. As so often happens, this experiment
shows that the real world environment is much more complicated than the
laboratory." Professor Jones added: "However, many aspects of this experiment were
highly successful. The genetic engineering component worked very well
and GM wheat plants performed as hoped during cultivation. It would have
been a fantastic outcome if the experiment had given positive results in
the field too but this was not the case and for a first attempt, this
was not entirely unexpected.” Read the publication here Bruce et al. (2015)
The first crop plant
genetically engineered to release an insect pheromone for defence.
Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/srep11183
First spawned salmon found in River Dearne for 150 years –
Environment Agency Salmon spotted in a South Yorkshire river for the first time in 150
years in what was once part of Britain's most polluted river systems.
An Environment Agency fish survey team spotted the 14cm juvenile when
carrying out routine checks last week. The discovery is the first
evidence of salmon spawning in the river, which is a tributary of the
River Don, for more than 150 years.
Once in abundance, salmon populations began to dwindle with the
growth of industry. Weirs which were built to power industry or provide
deep water for boats also acted as barriers to the fish reaching their
spawning grounds. By the mid 19th Century salmon were all but gone from
South Yorkshire’s rivers. Last year the construction of a fish pass was completed at
Sprotbrough Weir opening up 55 kilometres of the River Don - almost half
the length of the river - to salmon and other migratory fish. Jerome Masters, Environment Agency fisheries technical officer said:
'Our rivers are the healthiest for more than 20 years and otters, salmon
and other wildlife are returning for the first time since the industrial
revolution. But there is still more to be done. The construction of the
fish pass at Sprotbrough Weir is a significant step in getting salmon
back to rivers across South Yorkshire.' The River Don already supports a healthy population of coarse fish,
and adult salmon have been caught in the river in the recent past, but
the discovery of this juvenile salmon in the River Dearne is hugely
exciting. The size of the fish indicates that it was born in early 2014,
which means that its parents probably used the fish pass at Sprotbrough
Weir shortly after it opened.
Now is the time to strengthen seabird protection, says RSPB
RSPB Bempton Cliffs, in East Yorkshire, is a Special Protected Area
under the Birds and Habitats directives - EU legislation to protect the
most important wildlife species and habitats in the UK and Europe. But
the 250,000 seabirds that flock to the cliffs at Bempton each year are
facing ever increasing threats.
Disruption to the marine environment is one of the primary threats
facing seabirds in Europe. This is largely down to inappropriate
developments at sea and the effects of climate change on the marine
environment. Increased protection for wildlife at sea is seen as the
first step in improving our oceans and helping marine wildlife. Although the European Commission’s REFIT ‘fitness check’ of the Birds
and Habitats Directives could result in a weakened set of laws
protecting UK and European wildlife. The RSPB is one of 100 voluntary
organisations across the UK who have raised concerns that the Directives
are under threat of being weakened by those who mistakenly regard them
as a block on business and economic growth. Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said: “The seabird colony
at Bempton is spectacular – it’s home to vast numbers of seabirds such
as puffins, kittiwakes and gannets which provide an attack on the senses
with their sights sounds and smells. It is important that these much
loved species are protected by laws from the threats that they are
facing. The cliffs at Bempton are safeguarded by strong legal
designation and the fact they are on a RSPB reserve means it is a
protected area – but at sea it is a different story. The areas at sea,
where the birds feed, are not protected meaning they are open to many
different kinds of threats, such as the application for an addition 360
wind turbines at Hornsea only 89km off the Yorkshire coast.”
RCT Councillors unanimously vote for sky lantern ban as no-fly zone
reaches 50% - RSPCA RSPCA Cymru has welcomed the unanimous backing given by Councillors
in Rhondda Cynon Taf to a ban on the use of sky lanterns on Local
Authority land. Councillors voted in favour of the action at a full council meeting
on Wednesday evening (June 24th), and also urged the Welsh Government to
implement legislation restricting the use and sale of sky lanterns
across Wales. The Notice of Motion debated by RCT Councillors showed clear support
for RSPCA Cymru’s long-standing campaign on the issue, which saw
supporters of a ban across South Wales send messages of encouragement to
the Council ahead of the vote. The move means that 11 of Wales’ 22 Local
Authorities have acted on sky lantern releases – half of all Councils. Speaking outside the Council chamber after the vote, RSPCA Cymru’s
public affairs manager, Chris O’Brien, said: “Sky lanterns pose
potential threat and harm to animals in numerous ways.We’re delighted
RCT Council has taken this important step for local animal welfare.
They’ve delivered a powerful statement to their local community and
beyond by implementing this voluntary ban.RSPCA Cymru has worked closely
with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council on the issue and held productive
discussions with Council leader Cllr Andrew Morgan and Cabinet Member
Cllr Ann Crimmings. Councillors in RCT also unanimously called upon the
Welsh Government to legislate on this issue. RSPCA Cymru believes a
Wales-wide ban is the most effective means to end the threat posed to
wildlife, livestock and other animals by these devices.” County Borough Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf
County Borough Council said: “The Council has received strong
representation from residents to decisively deal with the dangers Sky
Lanterns can pose. The RSPCA has long highlighted the dangers associated
with the use of Sky Lanterns and the Council supports their call upon
the Welsh Government to implement an outright ban on their use across
Wales. Our decision to ban their use on Local Authority land will reduce
the risk of fire, harm to animals and damage to our local environment;
only an outright ban delivered through legislation can deliver the
necessary protection for wildlife and our countryside we as a Council
and the RSPCA want to see.”
Scientific Publications Hamilton, J. A. & Miller, J. M. (2015)
Adaptive introgression: A resource for management and genetic
conservation in a changing climate. Conservation Biology.
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12574 Gruby, R. L., Gray, N. J., Campbell, L. M. & Acton, L. (2015)
Toward a social science research agenda for large marine protected
areas. Conservation Letters. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12194
|
|
|
|
CJS is not responsible for content of external sites. Details believed correct but given without prejudice. Disclaimer: the views expressed in these news pages do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CJS. |
|
|
Important
UK wildlife sites are threatened, which could harm a wide range
of species such as butterflies, dragonflies and bats.
Image:
Martyn Ware on Brighton beach recording sound for the sounds of our
shores project. Credit: Tim Stubbings
Gannets
image credit Vic Froome
Threatened
Species™. Ninety-nine percent of tropical Asian slipper orchids – some
of the most highly prized ornamental plants – are threatened with
extinction.
A
ground-breaking new study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology,
which used hundreds of reared pheasant chicks as the model, could have
invaluable implications for important wildlife reintroduction programmes
in the future.
Image:
Vincent Wildlife Trust
The
migration route of a UK breeding turtle dove has, for the first time,
been revealed by the RSPB today [Wednesday 24 June 2015] – providing
valuable data in the conservation fight to help save the species from UK
extinction. 
A
major engineering project helping salmon return to what was once one of
Britain’s most polluted river systems, has achieved a historic success
after a young salmon was discovered in the River Dearne, South
Yorkshire. 
One
of the UK’s largest seabird colonies celebrates 150 years of protection
this year and with an increasing number of threats facing seabird
colonies in the UK, the RSPB is urging that the laws protecting them are
strengthened. 
