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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Loss of old trees threatens survival of wood-dependent beetles
– IUCN Red List Brussels, 5 March 2018 (IUCN) – Almost a fifth (18%) of European
saproxylic beetles assessed so far are at risk of extinction due to
ongoing decline in large veteran trees across Europe, a new IUCN report
has found. Saproxylic beetles depend on dead and decaying wood for at least part
of their lifecycle, and are involved in decomposition processes and
the
recycling of nutrients in natural ecosystems. They also provide an
important food source for birds and mammals, and some species are even
involved in pollination. Iphthiminus Italicus - assessed as endangered (© Herve Bouyon) The new European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses the conservation status
of almost 700 species of saproxylic beetles. Around 80 European experts
across Europe contributed to the project which was funded by the
European Commission and through a LIFE grant. “The IUCN Red List gives us key intelligence for understanding the
status of saproxylic beetles and highlighting conservation priorities to
ensure their long term survival,” says Jane Smart, Director, IUCN Global
Species Programme. “Some beetle species require old trees that need
hundreds of years to grow, so conservation efforts need to focus on
long-term strategies to protect old trees across different landscapes in
Europe, to ensure that the vital ecosystem services provided by these
beetles continue.” Due to their dependence on dead or decaying wood, the loss of trees
across Europe is the main driver of decline in saproxylic beetle
populations. Loss of ancient and veteran trees, tree age structure gaps,
degraded landscapes that are unfriendly to tree growth, and
indiscriminate felling for spurious health and safety reasons all
contribute to the loss and degradation of suitable saproxylic beetle
habitat.
Parks Boosts Local Economy, Lift House Prices
– The Land Trust This week (wb 26/2), the Land Trust released a new report: The
Economic Value of our Green Spaces, which highlights the direct economic
benefits
as a result of the creation of a park. Image: The Land Trust A report published today (Thursday 1 March) by the Land Trust shows
how parkland lifts nearby house prices, creates jobs and generates
revenue for local businesses. The report, commissioned from Alliance Manchester Business School,
used evidence from the creation in 2013-14 of Port Sunlight River Park
in Wirral, Merseyside, and made comparisons with comparable nearby
areas. The study identified a range of benefits around the park’s creation,
including:
Download the report here
Mass marine death along North Sea coast – The
Wildlife Trusts Tens of thousands of animals washed up on the beaches after the storm Tens of thousands of marine animals have been washed up along the
UK’s east coast following the cold temperatures and rough weather over
the last week. Crabs, starfish, mussels and lobsters are ankle-deep in
places along the Holderness coast in Yorkshire. Most of the animals are
now dead – except for lobsters. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas
team have been working alongside local fisherman rescuing the lobsters
that are still alive - gathering them in buckets and taking them to
tanks in Bridlington for care - with the aim of putting them back in
the
sea when the weather improves. Image: Bex Lynham Similar scenes have been reported down the North Sea coast including
Norfolk and Kent. Bex Lynam, North Sea Marine Advocacy Officer, Yorkshire Wildlife
Trust, says: “There was a three degree drop in sea temperature last week
which will have caused animals to hunker down and reduce their activity
levels. This makes them vulnerable to rough seas – they became dislodged
by large waves and washed ashore when the rough weather kicked in.
Larger animals such as dolphins are more mobile and can save themselves
by swimming away when this sort of thing happens. Lobsters are one of
the few species still alive – that’s why we’re saving them with local
fisherman. This area is very important for shellfish and we work
alongside fisherman to promote sustainable fisheries and protect
reproductive stocks. It’s worth saving them so that they can be put back
into the sea and continue to breed.”
Rare mineral discovered in plants for first time
– University of Cambridge A rare mineral with potential industrial and medical applications has
been discovered on alpine plants at Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Scientists at Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University have found
that the mineral vaterite, a form (polymorph) of calcium carbonate, is a
dominant component of the protective silvery-white crust that forms on
the leaves of a number of alpine plants, which are part of the Garden’s
national collection of European Saxifraga species.
Saxifraga
sempervivum, an alpine plant species discovered to produce "pure
vaterite" Credit: Paul Aston Naturally occurring vaterite is rarely found on Earth. Small amounts
of vaterite crystals have been found in some sea and freshwater
crustaceans, bird eggs, the inner ears of salmon, meteorites and rocks.
This is the first time that the rare and unstable mineral has been found
in such a large quantity and the first time it has been found to be
associated with plants. The discovery was made through a University of Cambridge
collaboration between the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University
microscopy facility and Cambridge University Botanic Garden, as part of
an ongoing
research project that is probing the inner workings of plants in the
Garden using new microscopy technologies. The research findings have
been published in the latest
edition of Flora.
Young Placechangers programme takes off in Year of Young People
– Greenspace Scotland Scotland’s parks and greenspace charity, greenspace scotland has
received £90,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to develop the
Young Placechangers programme over the next two years in partnership
with Youth Scotland. Young Placechangers puts young people in the lead
role – bringing together the wider community to look at local spaces,
plan and deliver improvements. Welcoming the award, Julie Procter,
greenspace scotland chief executive said “Young people are the citizens
of the future but too often they are invisible in the public realm and
the missing voice in place consultations. Blending together greenspace
scotland’s expertise in community placemaking and Youth Scotland’s
extensive youth work experience, we have worked with youth groups and
young people on a series of pioneer projects to co-develop a Young
Placechangers programme” The Young Placechangers programme will engage
and empower young people to take the lead on changing the places where
they live. The programme has three core elements drawn from community
placemaking principles and youth work approaches: Young people and youth
workers will be given training both in residential settings and in local
clusters. The Ideas Fund will support activity and deliver quick-wins.
Support from peers and ‘place professionals’ will inspire and enthuse
the young people to get involved in their local areas.
World's fastest bird making a comeback –
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) The latest population estimate, just published, shows that the
breeding numbers of Peregrine Falcon in the UK have hit a historic high,
with particularly large increases in England. In a paper, just published in the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
journal Bird Study, scientists analysed the results from the
2014 Peregrine survey with the aim of producing an up-to-date population
estimate for this aerial hunter, and the findings are interesting.
Number of songbirds illegally trapped on UK Base in Cyprus falls more
than 70% - RSPB Over 260,000 songbirds, such as blackcaps and robins, are estimated
to have been illegally killed on a British military base in Cyprus last
autumn, according to a new report by BirdLife Cyprus and the RSPB.
However, this number was down from 880,000 the previous year, a
reduction of more than 70%. This decrease in illegal hunting is due to the work undertaken by the
RSPB, working with the Sovereign Base Area Police to deter trappers. By
increasing patrols and following through with prosecutions coupled with
heavier sentences hunters now face a double deterrent.
Blackcap
in mist net (Guy Shorrock - RSPB) The songbirds are illegally trapped and killed to provide restaurants
with the main ingredient for the local and expensive delicacy of
ambelopoulia- a plate of cooked songbirds. Organised crime gangs are
driving this illegal activity on a huge scale and it is estimated they
earn millions of Euros every year from the songbirds they kill on
British territory. Birds are trapped using nets placed between acacia bushes, and
speakers playing bird calls are used to attract birds down as they
migrate. In 2016, RSPB Investigations worked with the SBA Police to
covertly film some 19 trappers, at seven sites, catching and killing
birds. All were prosecuted, with fines up to 6,600 Euros and several
jail sentences suspended for three years, meaning automatic imprisonment
if caught again during this period. More men were caught in 2017 and
cases are ongoing. Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said: “The reduction in
the numbers of birds being illegally killed is a direct result of
on-the-ground work by RSPB and Sovereign Base Area staff. The
enforcement and the severity of sentences is also adding to the risks
that would-be trappers take. We now need to finish removing the
remaining non-native acacia bushes to make sure that there are no longer
places where trappers can hide their nets. This is the long-term
solution needed for these migrant birds.”
Protecting Turtle Doves at home and away –
North York Moors National Park Authority Protecting Turtle Doves at home and away: Yorkshire team head to
Israel to help prevent illegal slaughter of migratory bird species A team of four Yorkshire wildlife enthusiasts are heading to
Israel to take part in an international bird-watching competition while
raising thousands of pounds for conservation.
‘Champions of the Flyway’, which takes place in the Israeli coastal
city of Eilat on 26 March, is a race to record the most species of birds
in a 24 hour period. While the challenge itself may be fun, the wider
context of the event is far more serious, involving the illegal hunting
and trapping of migratory birds during their vast journeys across
continents. Richard Baines, Turtle Dove Project Officer at the North York Moors National Park and member of team ‘Zeiss Yorkshire Terriers’, said: “In the National Park we’re very fortunate to have one of the largest populations of Turtle Doves in England, but these long-distance flyers must complete an extremely perilous journey to reach their winter home in Africa. Illegal hunting in parts of southern Europe, the Mediterranean and Middle East mean many of our much-loved migratory species are at-risk, including the nightingale, cuckoo, flycatchers and yellow wagtails.”
Impact of climate change on rivers
– Scottish Government Project to protect wild Atlantic salmon. River managers will be able to limit the impact of climate change on
Scotland’s rivers and fisheries by using a new online mapping tool to
plan mitigation work Scientists at Marine Scotland and the University of Birmingham have
developed a river temperature model to predict the maximum daily river
temperatures and sensitivity to climate change throughout Scotland, with
interactive maps made available through the National Marine Plan
interactive website. Scotland’s rivers account for around 75% of the UK and 30% of
European wild salmon production, with freshwater fisheries and
associated expenditure contributing more than £79 million a year to the
Scottish economy. However, with Atlantic salmon sensitive to changes in river
temperature and temperatures expected to increase under climate change,
there are concerns Scottish rivers could become less suitable for
salmon. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “We know a number of complex factors, including climate change, are affecting wild salmon numbers in the north east Atlantic region. This research identifies areas where our famous salmon rivers are at risk due to climate change and will help fisheries managers target work to protect stocks and increase the resilience of our fresh waters. It is vital we take decisive action to safeguard wild salmon stocks and we will continue to work with Fisheries Management Scotland and their members to do so.”
Our comments on the Climate Change Plan –
Keep Scotland Beautiful The Climate
Change Plan, sets out proposals and policies for how Scotland will
meet annual climate change targets between now and 2032. Building on the previous reports published in 2011 and 2013, it is
part of the strategic framework for the transition to a low carbon
Scotland and includes policies and proposals to reduce emissions from
electricity generation, buildings, transport, industry, waste, land use
and agriculture. Derek Robertson, our Chief Executive commented: “Across Scotland, and
around the world, people are already feeling the impacts of a changing
climate, particularly more extreme weather events. So, we welcome
the recently published Climate Change Plan, in particular its links to
the global ambitions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the
proposed support of communities and young people and increased focus on
public engagement and behaviour change. The Plan is strong on
Natural Capital and our general environment, including the importance of
biodiversity and makes good links to the importance of the quality of
the places we live through the Planning Bill. We are delighted to see
that The Plan presents routes for our communities across Scotland to
become more engaged and take action by accessing the Climate
Challenge Fund, and via the promotion and use of tools such as
Climate Conversations and the use of the ISM
model. We will continue to work in partnership with the
public, private and community sector to help us meet future climate
change targets which will also deliver sustainable economic development
and associated wider community cohesion benefits.”
ORC awarded two new research projects by Defra
– Organic Research Centre ORC investigates how organic ideas can help make UK farming a world
leader
The
Organic Research Centre has been a pioneer of many techniques such as
agroforestry, the use of diverse ley mixtures, cover crops and
intercropping, which are being adopted by conventional farmers (ORC) The Organic Research Centre (ORC) – the UK’s leading research charity
in this field, has been awarded two new research projects by Defra to
gather robust evidence on organic farming. Both projects aim to identify
how organic food production techniques can help the UK build on its
position as a world-leading food and farming nation. The first project will look at how a selection of organic farming
practices can deliver wider sustainability benefits for conventional
farming systems. The second project will help provide an evidence base
for future policy direction of organic agriculture in the UK following
EU exit as well as exploring the issues surrounding the potential
implications of introducing an independent organic labelling system. Dr Susanne Padel from the Organic Research Centre said, “This a
fantastic opportunity to see how some of the well-proven farming
techniques developed by the organic sector can provide the impetus for
mainstream farmers to become more sustainable. Although organic farming
accounts for a relatively small proportion of UK food production the
sector has emerged as hugely innovative, employing novel solutions to
reduce reliance on inputs while maintaining production but with limited
resources.” The ORC will collaborate with the GWCT’s Allerton Project, the Soil Association, Organic Farmers and Growers, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming). During the course of the research the project will identify and actively involve the farming community and relevant industry stakeholders. A key element is to develop future actions to promote sustainable farming practices across all agricultural systems. Results from this research will be widely shared with all interested farmers via a project ‘hub’ on the Agricology website and promoted using social media and events.
Pine
Martens confirmed as key to reversing grey squirrel invasion
- University of Aberdeen A new study published today (March 7) has shown that pine martens can
help in the conservation of red squirrels - by reversing the spread of
invasive grey squirrel populations. Scientists from the University of Aberdeen, Waterford Institute of
Technology and the University of Massachusetts Amherst have published
their study ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend: native pine marten
recovery reverses the decline of the red squirrel by suppressing grey
squirrel populations’, in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society –
B.
The
study, which was led by Dr Emma Sheehy and Professor Xavier Lambin from
the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences, used DNA
forensics and state of the art analyses to test the hypothesis that pine
martens are suppressing grey squirrel populations in Scotland. (image: University of Aberdeen) The research took place in the Scottish Borders - an area which pine
martens have recently begun to recolonise, Central Scotland - where
there is a more established pine marten population - and in the
Highlands, where there are no grey squirrels but a long established pine
marten population coexists with native red squirrels. 223 multi-species feeders were deployed throughout the three regions,
baited with a mixture of nuts and seeds. Sticky patches placed under the
lid collected hair samples from squirrels and pine martens that took the
bait. Trail cameras were also used to improve detectability of red
squirrels in particular, who often didn’t leave hair behind as pine
martens had saturated the sticky patches with their hair before red
squirrels got there. The study built on evidence from a 2014 study, which suggested that
pine martens may be responsible for the decline of grey squirrels in
Ireland, and confirms that the relationship between red and grey
squirrels in the UK is clearly altered in the presence of a native
predator. Access the paper: Emma
Sheehy, Chris Sutherland, Catherine O'Reilly, Xavier Lambin
The enemy of my enemy is my friend: native pine marten recovery reverses
the decline of the red squirrel by suppressing grey squirrel populations
Proc. R. Soc. B 2018 285 20172603; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2603.
Please click here to read about our featured charity, The Vincent Wildlife Trust, who have been involved in extensive Pine Marten research for the past 30 years
Government is now considering applications for shooting badgers in
Derbyshire – Derbyshire Wildlife Trust The Government is now considering applications for shooting badgers
in Derbyshire, yet new evidence shows that Derbyshire badgers have
extremely low levels of bovine TB. Over the past 18 months a total of 57 badgers killed on the roads
were collected by the Derbyshire Badger Groups (1). The dead badgers
were collected from across the county. These badgers were then analysed
for the presence of bovine TB by Professor Malcolm Bennet at the School
of Veterinary Medicine at Nottingham University. Only one badger was
found to be infected. These results come at a time when the Government seems determined to
press ahead with further badger culls across England. Applications to
shoot badgers in Derbyshire are now open for consultation. Tim Birch, Head of Living Landscapes North at Derbyshire Wildlife
Trust said “We do not believe shooting of badgers is ever an appropriate
way of controlling bovine TB in cattle. The findings from the analysis
of dead badgers indicates that there is no justification, based on
claims that badgers are a source of TB, for a cull in Derbyshire. The
level of bovine TB in badgers is very low indeed and vaccination of
badgers in Derbyshire is the way forward. Vaccination is also better
than culling even where there is evidence of TB in badgers.”
Surprise
Baby Bat Born at Secret World – Secret World Wildlife Rescue Staff at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill were
surprised when one of the bats in their care gave birth. The pipistrelle bat has been in the care of Secret World since
December and was brought in having been disturbed from hibernation and
found to be severely underweight – too underweight to be released
immediately. (image: Secret World Wildlife Rescue) While the bat was recovering, staff were surprised by how many
mealworms she was eating – double the amount for a bat her size and sex. Bats have delayed fertilisation and only fertilise their eggs and the
semen when the weather is favourable. It is thought that the bat was
pregnant when she came to Secret World last year and being kept in a
warm vivarium triggered the fertilisation. Once they give birth, bats
keep the baby tucked under the wing hidden from view. The bat has been cared for by Secret World animal carer Sarah
Tingvoll Sarah said: “We kept her on her own away from the other male bats we
had in. She was scoffing all her food, eating double the amount the
other bats were, but last Sunday it made sense why. We spotted a baby
had appeared! “Mother and baby will stay at Secret World until April and we will
take them to a flight pen before releasing them. The baby needs to learn
to fly and self-feed from live food and the mum will need to build
strength back up, so a period in a purpose-built flight pen will enable
them to do this. Then a suitable release site will be found.”
Animals shield their families from a harsh world
– University of Bristol Animals living in volatile habitats can gain major evolutionary
benefits by shielding their families from the changing environment, new
research suggests. Biologists from the University of Bristol, the University of Exeter
and UCL investigated an overlooked reason for widespread cooperation
amongst animals. In a study published today in Nature, the team showed
that when the environment is prone to fluctuate unexpectedly, staying at
home to help raise relatives can be much better than going solo. Patrick Kennedy from the University of Bristol’s School of Biological
Sciences, who led the study, said: “In the last few years, biologists
have noticed that high levels of animal cooperation are often found in
very harsh and unpredictable places – from birds on African savannahs to
bees in the Alps. We wanted to find out whether evolution might work
differently in these changeable habitats. “Explaining the existence of sterile worker bees was a big problem
for Charles Darwin. Why should any bee sacrifice the chance to reproduce
in order to raise sisters or nieces? Scientists now understand that
helping behaviour evolves because the helper is related to those she
helps.” Recently, however, this explanation for helping behaviour has been
challenged. Co-author Professor Andy Radford, also from Bristol’s School
of Biological Sciences, added: “Often, when biologists have measured
outcomes in the wild, either helpers weren’t closely enough related, or
they could have had their own offspring quite easily, or they didn’t
make much difference to the survival of their siblings.” By including the turbulent nature of environments in the maths, the
team showed that helping behaviour was in fact easier to evolve than
previously thought: helpers don’t need to be very closely related to
those they help if the environment is highly unpredictable. Access the paper: Patrick Kennedy,
Andrew D. Higginson, Andrew N. Radford & Seirian Sumner
Altruism in a
volatile world Nature doi:10.1038/nature25965
New Greenpeace Research Finds Microplastics in Scottish Seas
– Greenpeace Last year, Greenpeace sailed around the coast of Scotland to
investigate the impact of ocean plastic pollution on iconic Scottish
wildlife. Starting in Edinburgh, the MV Beluga II sailed through the
Caledonian canal to the Outer Hebrides. On the way there, we encountered
many marine wildlife hotspots like Bass Rock which is one of the largest
seabird colonies in the world. There we found thousands of gannets but
we also found plastic in their nests and beaks. This was a pattern that
was repeated throughout the tour.
Whether
it was the Shiant Isles or the most remote beaches in the Outer
Hebrides, we kept finding stunning landscapes and iconic marine wildlife
along with plastic bottles, packaging, microbeads and debris on beaches,
in nests and in seabird beaks. (image: Greenpeace) Along with documenting landscapes, wildlife and plastic pollution, we
also wanted to investigate the amount of microplastics in the seawater.
Larger pieces of plastics in the ocean breaks down over time into
microplastics which are pieces of plastic that are 5mm or less in any
direction. To help us study their presence in Scottish waters, we
collected 49 seawater samples during the expedition using a mantra trawl
that skims the top surface of the seawater mimicking the feeding motion
of marine wildlife. The samples were then frozen and taken to our
laboratory at the University of Exeter where they were analysed firstly
for the presence of microplastics and secondly for any chemical
contaminants attached to the microplastics.
World-first report on how climate change impacts Scotland’s geology
– Scottish Natural Heritage A report assessing which of Scotland’s protected geological features
are at risk from climate change was published today by Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH). The report, believed to be a world-first, analysed important
geological and geomorphological features on all legally protected Sites
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Scotland. The researchers found that 97% of sites are in a favourable condition
currently, with 73% at relatively low risk when it comes to climate
change. However, 17% could be at moderate risk and 10% could be at high
risk from climate change impacts. These impacts include increased
erosion, coastal flooding, changes in rainfall and storm frequency and
intensity, changes in vegetation cover, and reduced freezing of the
ground in winter. Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate
Change and Land Reform said: “This new tool will help to identify the
risk of climate change in some of our most precious sites which is
crucial so we can understand what we need to do to adapt and adjust to
the impact of climate change. Kath Leys, SNH’s Ecosystems & Biodiversity unit manager, said: “This report will be a great tool to help us, the Scottish Government
and our partners make plans to combat the effects of climate change on
Scotland’s geology and landforms. There are over 850 nationally and
internationally important geological and geomorphological features in
Scotland and this ground-breaking research will help protect them.” Read the report here
Government promises no effective action on UK’s mountain of coffee cup
waste – Environmental Audit Committee The Environmental Audit Committee publishes the Government response
to the Committee's report on Disposable Packaging: Coffee Cups
Read the Committee's Report: Disposable Packaging: Coffee Cups The Government has refused to take any decisive action on the complex
issue of coffee cups – including the introduction of a ‘latte levy’ –
and has instead chosen to rely on voluntary commitments.
Image:
Parliamentary copyright The Environmental Audit Committee has also announced today (9 March)
that it has asked the National Audit Office to inquire into the
Government’s oversight of the Packaging Recovery Note scheme, to further
scrutinise UK recycling policy Chair's comments Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Mary Creagh MP: "The UK’s
throwaway culture is having a devastating impact on our streets, beaches
and seas. Our report recommended practical solutions to the disposable
packaging crisis. The Government’s response shows that despite warm
words they plan no real action."" "Latte Levy" The Committee's key recommendation was the introduction of a 25p levy
on the use of disposable coffee cups, to reduce their use and help to
fund recycling measures. The Government response suggests that coffee shops should offer
discounts for customers with reusable cups, instead of a levy on
disposable cups. In its inquiry, the Committee heard that a charge –
such as that introduced on plastic bags – was the most effective way to
change consumer behaviour.
CFE survey reveals how farmers go above and beyond to care for the
countryside - NFU A survey of more than 500 farmers by the Campaign
for the Farmed Environment (CFE) shows significant improvements in
the way England’s farmland is being managed to benefit the environment,
but many farmers are unrewarded for delivering these ‘public goods’.
The survey findings highlight the diversity and extent of measures
being implemented to help protect water quality, soil health and farm
wildlife. Some 90% of respondents had improved their soil management,
81% had increased their efficiency in using pesticide and fertilisers,
and 73% had adopted nutrient management planning. However, the findings also reveal how much work is currently
undertaken without any payment from the current stewardship schemes.
For every farmer receiving an agri-environment payment for sowing a
pollen and nectar mix, another farmer is doing the same voluntarily.
About twice as many arable farmers are providing supplementary feeding
for birds and about four times as many are sowing catch and cover crops
at their own expense outside any scheme. The appetite for improved and simplified agri-environment schemes was
strong with three-quarters of those surveyed stating that better
financial support would encourage them to make further beneficial
changes. Over 90% felt that responding to land conditions was highly
important in their decision making and over half would like to see
options that better fitted within businesses, suggesting a desire for
more flexibility in future schemes and something that can be addressed
at policy level as UK government looks to new support mechanisms
post-Brexit.
Conservation charity gets a ‘buzzing’ boost –
Bumblebee Conservation Trust The award, revealed this week at the Royal Botanic Gardens in
Edinburgh, will allow the Trust to achieve a step change in its ability
to manage growth, infrastructure and sustainability over the next 3
years. As the Trust faces the exciting challenge of growth, with this comes
the need to invest in the organisation from its very ‘core’. The award
from players of People’s Postcode Lottery will allow the organisation to
start investing in its people and infrastructure to continue the amazing
work already undertaken to halt and reverse the decline of bumblebees in
the UK. The funding award will provide resource to ensure four key outcomes; implementation of its organizational strategy, managing its reputation, safeguarding financial stability for future challenges and ensuring their back office systems are fit for purpose. Helping to set the Trust on a sustainable pathway through the recruitment of Fundraising Managers, roles that would be at a strategic level to enable planning the work towards sustainable funding rather than pursuing funding, and raising awareness through recruiting a Public Engagement Manager upholding our reputation and position in the market is both innovative and leading in the conservation charity sector. Gill Perkins, CEO of the Trust said “our strategic aims continue to
be acting to reverse the declines in our UK bumblebees using science and
appropriate practical action; to educate and inspire people across
society and work as trusted advisers to all the devolved governments,
ensuring that the pollinator strategies produce real results for all
pollinator”.
Litter Innovation Fund: Government backs new community projects
- Defra The first tranche of funding has been awarded to innovative
litter-fighting projects across Britain A range of innovative projects to tackle litter louts in local
communities have been awarded funding by the government, Environment
Minister Thérèse Coffey has announced today (9 March).
The first round of funding sees a number
of councils, charities, businesses, and public projects awarded
almost £125,000 to take innovative steps to tackle littering in their
communities. The successful projects include developing bins to prevent seagulls
from scattering litter on beaches and working with river users to reduce
plastic getting into rivers, helping to tackle the issue of litter
getting into our marine environment. The funding builds on the Government’s wider Litter
Strategy for England, as well as the recent launch of the 25
Year Environment Plan setting out how Government will protect and
enhance our natural environment. Welcoming the new projects, Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said:
“We want to be the first generation to leave our environment in a better
state than we found it and these innovative new projects will help
reduce the amount of litter which so often plagues our streets, parks,
countryside, rivers and marine environment. We have all seen the
damaging effects that litter can have on wildlife and the environment,
and I encourage people to do their bit, take responsibility for their
litter and recycle more.” We are pleased to announce the publication of the British Woodlands
Survey 2017 report. We adopted a ‘360-degree’ research method for British Woodlands
Survey 2017, whereby stakeholders were engaged in designing the survey,
providing data, and reviewing outcomes. Forty-eight workshop delegates
ranked priority themes provided by 221 respondents in an initial survey,
for UK countries: England, Scotland and Wales. Overall, Societal
attitudes ranked highest, followed by Climate change adaptation,
and Pests and diseases. Within countries, additional top-ranking themes
included: for England, Tree Planting and Timber Production; for
Wales, Private woodland owner engagement; and for
Scotland; Profitability and Natural capital. The main survey, based on these themes, was conducted online during
summer 2017. Responses were received from 1,630 people, distributed
across the UK. The majority of respondents (660) were private woodland
owners, who together with 180 forestry agents, controlled 3,629 woodland
properties covering 645,370 hectares. The response represented 28% of
all private sector woodland area in the UK (2.30Mha), and one-fifth of
the total UK woodland area (3.17Mha). Some headlines
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Biggs, J., Samways, M. J., Usio, N., Takamura, N., Krishnaswamy, J. and
Wood, P. J. (2018),
New policy directions for global pond conservation. Conservation
Letters, e12447. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/conl.12447 Glasby TM, West G. Dragging
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