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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Campaigners call on Government to demonstrate commitment to protecting
England’s National Parks - CPRE Short-term economic priorities are overriding
long-established protections and allowing inappropriate development in
England’s National Parks, says a new report, published today by Campaign
for National Parks, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the
National Trust. The new report is based on research commissioned
by the three organisations and conducted by Sheffield Hallam University.
The research looked at the national policy to restrict ‘major
development’ in National Parks, which has protected these iconic areas
since they were created in the 1940s. The research found that interpretations of ‘major
development’ vary between the National Parks, and decisions to approve
planning applications often reflect the Government ‘mood’ at the time,
with policy changes that lean toward economic growth rather than
environmental protection. This varying approach has led to a number of
recent major developments being granted permission that threaten the
protected areas’ beauty, along with their cultural and environmental
significance. The major development test is the central planning
protection for the landscape in National Parks, and applies to
developments such as mines, wind farms and large scale housing
developments. It states that planning applications should be refused for
major development unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’. Campaign for National Parks, CPRE and the National
Trust are calling for a renewed commitment from Government to make sure
National Parks are protected against inappropriate, damaging
development. Ruth Bradshaw, policy and research manager at the
Campaign for National Parks said: “It is essential the Government
confirms that protecting our National Parks from inappropriate, damaging
development remains a national priority. Our National Parks are special
because of the beautiful landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage they
contain and the recreational opportunities they offer. But they are also
important to the rural economy and have huge potential to help improve
our nation’s health and wellbeing. These assets must be protected and
enhanced for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.” Access the
National Parks: Planning for the Future report
We call on
the Government to demonstrate its commitment to protecting National
Parks – Campaign for National Parks Last year the world’s largest potash mine in the
North York Moors was granted planning permission. If the mine goes
ahead, this huge development will disfigure the landscape, negatively
impact on wildlife and cause an increase in HGV traffic during its
construction. It is predicted it could result in a 13% reduction in
visitor numbers and could cause a loss of £35 million in direct tourism
expenditure per year.
Survey says National Park landscape is main motivation for walkers
– Pembrokeshire National Park More than half of visitors to the Pembrokeshire
Coast National Park are walking country paths on every day of their
stay, according to a recent Footpath User Survey conducted by the
National Park Authority. From August 2015 to July 2016 2,959 questionnaires
were collected from 12 survey boxes located around the National Park’s
1,100km network of public rights of way, which includes the
Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail. The condition of the paths maintained by the
National Park Authority was described as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ by 95% of
respondents; while 88% of people said their main reason for walking was
to enjoy the natural landscape. National Park Authority Access and Rights of Way
Manager, Anthony Richards said: “The survey demonstrated the economic
importance of the Coast Path and public rights of way to the tourist
industry of Pembrokeshire, with visitors accounting for more than three
quarters of respondents. The high levels of satisfaction with the
condition of the paths should help to encourage repeat visits to the
county. These results also show that the public value the work
undertaken by the Authority to manage the Coast Path and other public
rights of way, with 98.5% of respondents stating their walk had met
their expectations."
Northern Ireland raptor deaths rise, new report reveals
– National Wildlife Crime Unit A report into the illegal killing of Northern
Ireland’s native birds of prey has been published by the Partnership for
Action against Wildlife Crime. It reveals there were nine confirmed
illegal poisoning or persecution incidents, affecting 11 protected birds
of prey, in Northern Ireland in 2014. This report follows on from the
2009 – 2013 Persecution Report published last year. Between 2009
and 2014 there is now a total of 44 confirmed reports of native birds of
prey being illegally killed, plus one confirmed incident of illegal nest
destruction. The report examines occurrence and trends in
persecution of these birds, which has allowed PAW to produce ‘hot-spot’
maps to identify areas where crimes against birds of prey are occurring.
Of the nine confirmed cases in 2014, four of these occurred in County
Down, two in County Tyrone and one in each of counties Londonderry,
Armagh and Antrim. The report shows that the most frequent casualties
were buzzards and the recently re-introduced red kite, with four of each
of these species killed. Red kites and buzzards are particularly
susceptible to poisoned baits as they will scavenge on carrion
routinely. There were also two peregrine falcons and a sparrowhawk
killed. The report lead author, Dr Eimear Rooney (Raptor
Officer for NIRSG) commented: “This is the second report which maps the
confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents in Northern Ireland.
It is great to have the partner agencies working closely together to
combat raptor persecution. This report helps us all to understand
the scale and distribution of the problem. It is heart-breaking to think
of the deaths of these birds but it is particularly shocking to see the
continued usage of highly toxic Carbofuran.” Download the
2014 report into the illegal killing of Northern Ireland’s native birds
of prey. (PDF) Download the
Bird of Prey Persecution and Poisoning Report Northern Ireland 2009 –
2013. (PDF)
New Report on Lion Conservation - WildCRU Lions, the iconic symbol of the African wilderness, are in grave
trouble – they have disappeared from over 90% of their range and there
are now fewer lions left than rhinos. Global interest in lion
conservation – and particularly the role of trophy hunting in their
decline – peaked in July 2016 with the killing of Cecil the lion (a
WildCRU study animal). Given that the UK imports up to three lion
trophies a year, in 2016 Rory Stewart, the British government’s then
Under Secretary of State for the Environment, invited Oxford
University’s Professor David Macdonald to review trophy hunting and to
suggest how the Government could act to enhance lion conservation,
including identifying the criteria that might be applied to applications
to import lion trophies to the UK, and mindful of the need for hunting
to avoid detriment to, and encourage enhancement of, lion conservation.
UK scientist to lead US$60 million global nitrogen management initiative
– Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Professor Mark Sutton from the UK’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
(CEH) will lead a new global initiative aiming to spearhead integrated
management
of the nitrogen cycle for clean water and air, reduced greenhouse gas
emissions, and better soil and biodiversity protection. Image: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Indispensable to life on earth, reactive nitrogen is a dangerous
pollutant of air, water and soil, when released in large quantities. The United Nations and scientists and institutions from around the
world are bringing together US$60 million for a new international
management system to fight nitrogen pollution. The initiative was
launched in Australia on Monday morning, 5 December 2016 (Australian
time). Many of the world’s nitrogen experts, including Professor Mark
Sutton, are currently in Australia for the International Nitrogen
Initiative conference. Almost 80% of the air we breathe is made of nitrogen in the form of
unreactive N2. This gas stabilises the atmosphere by ensuring that the
oxygen is limited to a safe amount to sustain life on earth. However,
since the industrial revolution, reactive nitrogen has been entering
into the atmosphere as a by-product of burning fossil fuels and has been
discharged into the earth as nitrogen fertilizer.
Conifer Conservation Programme trees stolen
– Forestry Commission Scotland Forest Enterprise Scotland is working with Police
Scotland to identify the thieves that stole five rare Serbian Spruce
from Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park last week.
The stolen trees (Picea omorika), although an
extremely rare species, have no commercial value. However their genetic
material was a priceless component of the Perth and Kinross Countryside
Trust’s (PKCT) Big Tree Country Conifer Conservation Programme, part of
the world-leading International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP)
based at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The ICCP works in partnership with PKCT to
conserve specimens of conifer species that are at risk of extinction in
their native range. Because of the nature of these collections, the
trees are irreplaceable: there is no way to recover the missing genetic
material. Forest Enterprise Scotland's Beat Forester, Robin
Lofthouse, who looks after Kinnoull Hill, said; "At a time when
biodiversity around the world is increasingly under pressure, projects
such as this play an invaluable part in conserving genetic material.
“This pointless theft is extremely frustrating not just because of the
loss but because the trees are likely to have been killed: the thief had
tried to dig them up but left most of the roots in the ground. “Sadly,
we are now in the situation where we are forced to look at where we
could site wildlife cameras to protect other species in the project. I
would urge anyone with any information about this crime to contact
Tayside police, or the local Forest Enterprise Scotland office."
UK’s major environmental organisations unite to highlight “once in a
generation opportunity” for the environment as UK exits the EU Thirteen major environmental organisations including WWF, the National Trust, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and Friends of the Earth have united through a new Greener UK coalition to ensure that the UK uses the pivotal moment presented by the forthcoming Brexit negotiations to restore and enhance the UK’s environment. Greener UK (image: The Wildlife Trusts)
In a letter to the editor of the Times today, Greener UK states that
leaving the EU presents significant challenges but also important
opportunities for the UK’s environment. It calls on the Prime Minister
to state her commitment to using the forthcoming Brexit negotiations to
restore the UK’s environment and maintain its protections, many of which
have been developed with the EU. They have welcomed the government’s
environmental ambitions but say that the UK’s natural environment is at
risk, with over half of species declining, temperatures rising and poor
air quality damaging people’s health.
Trust welcomes decision to retain Nature Directives
– Scottish Wildlife Trust The Scottish Wildlife Trust is delighted that EU
Commissioners have decided to retain and strengthen implementation of
the laws that provide vital protection for Europe’s threatened species
and habitats. Many Trust members and supporters were among the
half a million people from all over Europe who called on the European
Commission not to weaken wildlife laws. The European Commission's Regulatory Fitness and
Performance programme (REFIT) has now concluded that the vital Birds and
Habitats Directives are fit for purpose. These laws protect Europe’s
threatened species such as the otter, wildcat and red kite, as well as
vulnerable species with Scottish strongholds, such as freshwater pearl
mussels. Our Chief Executive Jonny Hughes said: “It's very
welcome news that the European Commission’s ‘fitness check’ of the
Nature Directives has finally concluded that these vital laws are both
important and fit for purpose. I’d like to thank the 500,000 people from
across Europe who to took action and gave their voice to the Defend
Nature campaign."
Vaccinating badgers against TB does not change their behaviour
– Zoological Society of London ZSL-led study dispels claims that badger vaccines
could encourage spread of TB Fears that vaccinating badgers against bovine
tuberculosis (TB) could actually increase transmission rates of this
devastating cattle disease have been diminished by a study showing no
discernible behavioural impacts from this treatment and offering hope of
a practical alternative to the UK Government’s controversial cull
policy. The research, led by ZSL’s Professor Rosie
Woodroffe and published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, examined the
behaviour of 54 GPS-collared badgers across four separate study sites in
Cornwall. Scientists found that of these animals, the 15 that had
received the TB vaccine at least once during the course of the project
showed ranging behaviour that was indistinguishable from those that were
unvaccinated. Attaching a collar to a badger (image: Seth Jackson, ZSL) Confining badgers overnight in humane traps to
enable vaccination was also found to have no impact on their behaviour.
These findings show how the effects of vaccination differ from those of
culling, which can encourage the spread of bovine TB by disrupting
established social groups and encouraging wider movement of infected
animals across the countryside. Lead author Professor Woodroffe said: “The results
of this study indicate that badgers’ ranging behaviour is not impacted
by TB vaccination, and therefore vaccination cannot encourage the spread
of disease by causing the wider ranging of infected individuals.
Our findings challenge recent claims that vaccinating badgers changes
their behaviour and so spreads TB to cattle. Those claims were not based
on scientific evidence, but on speculation by a handful of individuals.
Now that we have been able to test their ideas with scientific data, I
hope that farmers and vets will be reassured that badger vaccination is
not harmful. Farmers and land managers battling bovine TB on the front
line deserve an effective solution to the terrible problems this disease
causes – one that’s based on hard scientific evidence rather than
speculation. Compared with the Government’s current culling policy,
badger vaccination is less risky, more humane, and cheaper. Hopefully
our findings will therefore open the door for greater exploration of
badger vaccination as a tool to control TB in cattle.” Read the paper (open
access) Woodroffe, R., Donnelly, C. A., Ham, C., Jackson, S. Y.
B., Moyes, K., Chapman, K., Stratton, N. G. and Cartwright, S. J.
(2016),
Ranging behaviour of badgers Meles meles vaccinated with Bacillus
Calmette Guerin. J Appl Ecol. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12837
Kittiwake decline signals
troubled times for St Kilda’s seabirds Kittiwake numbers on St Kilda have plummeted to
their lowest level ever, with experts fearing that the population is at
risk of collapse. The National Trust for Scotland carries out yearly
monitoring of the archipelago’s bird population. Across the seven
monitoring sites this season there was just one kittiwake nest, and one
chick hatched – which later died. Now the heritage and conservation charity fears
that it is witnessing the decline of the Atlantic’s most significant
seabird sanctuary. After a century of growth, populations are rapidly
falling. As well as kittiwakes, the populations of fulmars, guillemots,
puffins and razorbills are also threatened. Dr Richard Luxmoore, Senior Nature Conservation
Adviser at the Trust said the decline signalled ongoing changes in the
marine environment, particularly the plankton that are vital to the
marine food chain. “Seabirds are essentially part of the marine
ecosystem. Although they breed on land they spend most of their life out
at sea and they can tell us a lot about its health,” he said. “In the
last 30 years plankton communities have shifted northward by 1000
kilometres, more than the distance from Edinburgh to Paris, and it’s
having huge impact. If vegetation shifted by a similar distance there
would be pandemonium, but because it’s happening in the sea we tend not
to notice.” This year’s seabird survey recorded significant
declines across most species. Seven of the seabird species found
on St Kilda are geographically significant and four of them - the
northern gannet, Atlantic puffin, great skua and Leach’s storm-petrel –
are important on a world-wide scale. Monitoring looks at breeding
abundance as well as breeding success. The first shows more gradual
changes to an overall population while the seasonal success - or not -
of fledglings can indicate short-term fluctuations.
First tree planted in the Future Forest This week Woodland Trust Chief Executive Beccy
Speight visited Sylva Foundation to discuss the various collaborative
projects running with Sylva Foundation. After discussions with CEO
Gabriel Hemery concluded the pair planted the first tree in the Sylva
Future Forest; a wild pear! We’re very grateful to various funders for
supporting the creation of this new woodland at the Sylva Wood Centre,
among them the Woodland Trust. The main area of the Future Forest will be planted
with our Forest Friends in the New Year. It will contain some 40
species, including locally-sourced native trees, native trees with
‘exotic genetics’ (i.e. matched to projected climate), and exotic
species from around the world. Read more about the
Future
Forest.
Prosecution leads to £20,000 fine for damaging trees in the Peak
District National Park – Peak District
National Park A Sheffield man has been prosecuted for removing
and damaging trees in the Froggatt Conservation Area. An area of 530
square metres (about a tenth of an acre) of woodland, including 16
mature trees and 9 young trees, was destroyed in September 2015. Developer Mark Boulby purchased the plot, which
lies in a belt of woodland below Froggatt Edge, in mid-September 2015
and two days later moved heavy machinery onto the site to clear the
trees. The illegal activity was reported to Peak District National Park
tree conservation officers who investigated the case. In September 2016,
Boulby pleaded guilty to illegally cutting down and uprooting trees from
woodland in the Conservation Area at Froggatt. He was convicted and
fined on 6 December 2016. Sheffield Magistrates Court imposed the fine of
£20,000 and ordered Boulby to pay costs of over £5,000 to the National
Park Authority. In addition, Boulby is to restore the site to an agreed
Restoration Plan by 31 July, 2017, and must not take heavy machinery
onto the cleared area for five years to enable the land to regenerate. John Scott, director of conservation and planning in the Peak District National Park, said: “This is the first time we have prosecuted a landowner for harming trees but the damage was so severe and deliberate it was our duty to pursue it. It’s a landmark victory and sends out a clear message that we do not tolerate the wilful destruction of protected trees and habitat in the National Park. Criminal damage to the environment is a serious offence and this case demonstrates that serious penalties can be incurred."
Scientific Publication Arnberger, A. et al (2016)
Elderly resident’s uses of and preferences for urban green spaces during
heat periods. Urban Forestry & Urban
Greening. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2016.11.012
Rachel D. Cavanagh, Stefanie Broszeit, Graham M. Pilling, Susie M. Grant, Eugene J. Murphy, Melanie C. Austen Valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services: a useful way to manage and conserve marine resources? Proc. R. Soc. B 2016 283 20161635; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1635. S. Naeem, Case Prager, Brian Weeks, Alex Varga,
Dan F. B. Flynn, Kevin Griffin, Robert Muscarella, Matthew Palmer,
Stephen Wood, William Schuster.
Biodiversity as a multidimensional construct: a review, framework and
case study of herbivory's impact on plant biodiversity. Proc. R.
Soc. B 2016 283 20153005; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.3005.
Yang, E. et al (2016) Water striders adjust leg movement speed to optimize takeoff velocity for their morphology. Nat. Commun. 7, 13698 doi: 10.1038/ncomms13698 Hoang Vu Phan, Thi Kim Loan Au, Hoon Cheol Park Clap-and-fling mechanism in a hovering insect-like two-winged flapping-wing micro air vehicle R. Soc. open sci. 2016 3 160746; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160746.
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