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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.

 

Sustainable seas inquiry launched - Environmental Audit Committee

The Environmental Audit Committee launches a new inquiry on the future of our seas – examining how they be protected from climate change, acidification, overfishing and pollution, and how the Government can create a sustainable blue economy.

Chair's comments: Mary Creagh MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, said: “We have only one ocean, and we all have a duty to care for it. The ocean plays a critical role in the daily lives of billions of people who live by it and whose livelihoods depend on it. Today it is suffering from pollution and plastic waste, climate change and acidification, as well as growing demands on its resources.  Our inquiry will shine a spotlight on the threats to our ocean, and ask what more the Government could be doing to protect it. We will look at emerging marine industries, and how the Government can build a sustainable 'blue' economy.”

Growing global reliance: In the years ahead there will be a growing global reliance on the sea for resources, driven by population growth, and facilitated by innovations in aquaculture and seabed mining.

Climate change and acidification threaten the future of marine life, and the communities which depend on the ocean. Pollution, including plastic pollution, is a growing threat to marine wildlife.

Marine industries can compound the damaging effects of global environmental problems like climate change, pollution and ocean acidification. 

 

£8 million internationally-important wilderness in Suffolk gets the go-ahead after National Lottery Funding donates large sum – The Wildlife Trusts

Creation of a 1,000 acre wetland as gateway to the Broads National Park

Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s vision for a vast new nature reserve in the Broads will become reality following a decision by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to award £4,063,000. The support will enable the Trust to complete the purchase of 348 acres of land surrounding Carlton Marshes nature reserve and create a 1,000 acre wild landscape that will become a gateway to the Broads National Park.

The grant is one of the largest ever given to a Wildlife Trust and will enable the biggest wetland creation in the Broads for a decade. Suffolk Wildlife Trust hopes it will become a National Nature Reserve in the next five years – reflecting its ecological importance as well as its social and cultural impact. Rare wildlife will get a boost from the restoration and Share Marsh, where the extremely rare American bittern was spotted last week, will be saved for posterity.

Marsh harrier at Carlton Marshes (c) Paul Sawyer Marsh harrier at Carlton Marshes (c) Paul Sawyer

A state-of-the art visitor centre will be built on the site, helping to make the reserve a national wildlife destination and one of the most accessible nature experiences in the UK. The Broads National Park is unique within the UK National Parks network in having two significant urban centres alongside nationally significant wildlife habitats and landscape: Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Julian Roughton, Chief Executive of Suffolk Wildlife Trust, says: “The support from the HLF means that Suffolk Wildlife Trust can now begin restoring this precious part of East Anglia and create a place where wildness spreads as far as the eye can see. This nature reserve will be now safeguarded forever, providing homes for some of the UK’s most iconic species.  As well as being good for wildlife the new visitor centre, new walkways and boardwalks across the marshes will help even more people explore the landscape and discover the wonders of the natural world. This nature reserve will be a flagship conservation story for the UK showing how nature can be brought back.”

 

Business and Conservation Groups get together to help the critically endangered European Eel - Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

EDF Energy has joined forces with conservation groups in the Trent valley to help migration for the critically endangered European eel.

(image: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust)At Idle Valley Nature Reserves near Retford, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked with Aquatic Control Engineering to install an ‘eel pass’ to help baby eels to migrate from the River Idle into the Belmoor Lake area of the Nature Reserve.

(image: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust)

And the Canal & River Trust has employed FishTek Consulting who are installing an eel pass on Hazelford Weir on the River Trent, between Nottingham and Newark. Both projects were organised by the Sustainable Eel Group.  These are part of a huge programme of work which is underway across Europe to help restore eel populations by restoring wetlands and removing barriers to the eels’ migration routes. Eel passes are a bit like ladders - they help eels to swim over migration barriers. 

Belmoor Lake is an ideal habitat and nursery area for eels.  It has an area of 38 acres.  It was previously a quarry but is now a nature reserve and prime eel habitat.  The pass helps baby eels to get into the lake and adults to escape.  The eels will grow there for between 5 and 20 years before migrating back to sea to spawn vas the eel pass. 

The River Trent has many weirs along its length, often to provide locks or to feed the canal for boat navigation. These weirs, being walls in rivers, are serious barriers to migration for fish such as salmon, trout, lampreys and eels.  An eel pass at Hazelford is the first of many to come to help eels migrate into and fully populate the Trent, the second longest river in England. As part of this project, Fishtek has also prepared designs for eel passes on nearby Stoke and Gunthorpe weirs on the Trent.

Both projects will help to reverse the declining trend in eel populations in the UK and across Europe. 

 

Even familiar birds at risk of extinction, new study finds – BirdLife International

The 2018 State of the World’s Birds report, which provides a comprehensive look at the health of bird populations globally, has found that the extinction crisis has spread so far that even some well-known species are now in danger.

A number of well-known bird species are now at risk of extinction.

This is the chief conclusion of State of the World’s Birds 2018, a new report from BirdLife International which looks at the health of bird populations worldwide. Instantly recognisable and beloved bird species including Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus, Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica, and European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur are all now globally threatened with extinction.

The European Turtle Dove is one of many familiar bird species that now find themselves Globally Threatened [Photo: Revital Salomon]The report, which was five years in the making, is BirdLife International’s flagship science publication. The major global assessment uses the health of bird populations to “take the pulse of the planet”.

The European Turtle Dove is one of many familiar bird species that now find themselves Globally Threatened (Photo: Revital Salomon)

Unfortunately, the global picture painted in the report is a dire one for many birds around the world. Overall, it shows that 40 percent of the world’s 11,000 bird species are in decline, and one in eight bird species is threatened with global extinction.

These statistics aren’t just bad news for birds, they are also warnings for the planet as a whole. The health of bird species is a good measure of the state of ecosystems in general. Because birds are so widespread, being found in nearly every type of ecosystem, and one of the most studied groups of animals, they are excellent indicators of the state of the environment.

Access the report: To read more about how these changes could be enacted as well as how birds are doing globally, read the complete State of the World’s Birds 2018 report here.

 

Saving the earth – a sustainable future for soils and water - The Rivers Trust

Soil is currently being destroyed ten times faster than it’s being created. This is not only putting the farming sector at risk and costing England & Wales £1.2 billion a year, but is affecting the health of our rivers.

soil filled river (image: The Rivers Trust)(image: The Rivers Trust)

A new report by WWF, The Rivers Trust and The Angling Trusts shows that spending approximately £10 million a year on soil protection measures would ensure a future for agriculture and reverse the decline of our precious rivers. 86% of England’s rivers are currently classed as unhealthy, with pollution from agriculture as one of the main causes. The report also shows that using current farm subsidies to encourage farmers to turn small areas of farmland into grassland, woodland and/or wetlands would create huge benefits for nature and society.

WWF research has found that up to one third of farmers are currently non-compliant with England’s water protection laws, which has led to widespread soil degradation, agricultural pollution of our rivers, increased flood risk to homes and businesses, and higher costs for local authorities and water bill payers. The problem has been made worse by a lack of enforcement, as the Environment Agency’s current resources only allow them to visit and inspect less than one per cent of farms each year.

The Rivers Trust Chief Executive Arlin Rickard commented “this report sets out in stark terms the reality on many farms, together with environmental failings under the current system. In the future we must properly support our farmers with the guidance, incentives and funding necessary, not only to produce food to the highest standard, but also the vital ecosystem services that support community health and well-being and underpins sustainable socio-economic development”, while Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said that “this report shows how the government really could make good on its promise to use public payments for public good to safeguard future food production and reverse current declines in fish and other wildlife that depend on healthy, unpolluted waterways.”

Read the report on the WWF website (PDF) 

 

First hand-reared godwit returns to UK - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Delph returns (image: WWT)A black-tailed godwit has returned to The Fens in East Anglia where it was hand-reared after migrating as far as Portugal for the winter.

The bird is one of 26 black-tailed godwits raised at WWT Welney and released into the wild last summer. The wader, a male, has been named Delph after the river bank where he was sighted.

It is welcome news for conservationists at RSPB and WWT who have formed an innovative partnership called Project Godwit which aims to help black-tailed godwits, a species in decline in the UK.

Delph returns (image: WWT)

Project Godwit Aviculturist at WWT Louise Clewley made the discovery. She said: “It was right in front of WWT Welney’s main observatory for everyone to see! Migration is fraught with danger and the successful return of the first of our UK hand-reared batch gives us hope for the future of these birds.”

Although some black-tailed godwits return to their breeding site in the first year, it’s not unusual for others to stay in their wintering grounds for the summer too.

Hannah Ward, RSPB Project Godwit Manager, said: “We weren’t necessarily expecting any of the hand-reared birds to return this summer so this is a wonderful and welcome surprise. We may have to wait until next summer before this young bird breeds but this is a fantastic moment for the Project Godwit team and great news for this magnificent but threatened species.”

 

People should be brought to the centre stage to deliver more environmental and social benefits - CCRI 

One of the key recommendations coming out of a recently completed EU funded project is a new approach that would bring the social dimension – people – to the centre stage to deliver more environmental and social benefits.

The project findings also recommend promoting cooperative ways of working, including a greater commitment to help actors on the ground develop a collective, multi-actor, approach, that builds on the engagement and commitment of farmers and foresters.

In addition, a more flexible and joined up use of the policy mix, better adapted to local needs is needed, which requires a local translation of national and EU rules so that there is a focus on results rather than compliance.

The project, PEGAGUS – an acronym for ‘Public Ecosystem Goods And Services from land management: Unlocking the Synergies’ – investigated the provision of public goods and ecosystem services from agriculture and forestry and undertook 34 case studies, each of which used a different approach to unlock the connections between economic and environmental benefits for society.

One of the key case studies involved the WILD project (Water with Integrated Local Delivery), for which the CCRI was part of a partnership that brought about environmental improvements to the rivers and other watercourses of the Cotswold Water Park by bringing local communities and landowners together in understanding and getting involved in the management of local watercourses. With input from the farmers, landowners and the local community, it also devised and delivered a plan of enhancements over a three-year period aimed at improving water quality and the infrastructure surrounding the management of water flows.

The PEGASUS project also developed a Toolkit for Practitioners, which provides guidance and useful tips to stakeholders wishing to be involved in a collective action to enhance the provision of environmental and social benefits from agriculture and/or forestry.

Click through for summary of key points.

  

Hungry birds as climate change drives food ‘mismatch’ - University of Exeter

Warmer springs create a “mismatch” where hungry chicks hatch too late to feast on abundant caterpillars, new research shows.

With continued spring warming expected due to climate change, scientists say hatching of forest birds will be “increasingly mismatched” with peaks in caterpillar numbers.

The researchers, from the RSPB and the universities of Exeter and Edinburgh, used data collected across the UK – largely by citizen scientists – to study spring emergence of oak tree leaves and caterpillars, and timing of nesting by three bird species: blue tits, great tits and pied flycatchers.

They also tested a theory that some bird species in southern Britain may suffer most due to a greater mismatch effect – but they found no evidence of this.

“Forests have a short peak in caterpillar abundance, and some forest birds time their breeding so this coincides with the time when their chicks are hungriest,” said Dr Malcolm Burgess, of the University of Exeter and the RSPB. “With spring coming earlier due to climate change, leaves and caterpillars emerge earlier and birds need to breed earlier to avoid being mismatched. We found that the earlier the spring, the less able birds are to do this. The biggest mismatch was among pied flycatchers – as migratory birds, they are not in the UK in winter and therefore are much less able to respond to earlier spring weather.”

Access the publication: Malcolm D. Burgess et al  Tritrophic phenological match–mismatch in space and time.  Nature Ecology & Evolution (2018)  doi:10.1038/s41559-018-0543-1

 

Chester Zoo to open brand new 60,000m2 nature reserve - Chester Zoo

Conservationists at Chester Zoo are set to unveil a 60,000 square metre Nature Reserve – providing protected habitat for threatened British wildlife.

  • Zoo conservationists have created the new habitat for threatened UK wildlife  - from kingfishers to hedgehogs
  • Wildlife haven is adjacent to the main zoo
  • Site will be free for visitors to enter
  • Zoo’s Wildlife Connections campaign also helping public create their own wildlife friendly habitats

(image: Chester Zoo)The new wildlife haven - located outside the boundary of the main zoo - will be free for visitors to enter when it opens on Friday 27 April.

(image: Chester Zoo)

The site is already known to be home to a variety of species of local and national significance, such as kingfishers, hedgehogs and harvest mice, with reported occasional sightings otters and many other species.

Part of the reserve is designated as a Local Wildlife Site for the important plants, birds and invertebrates recorded there.

Designed as a community place for relaxing and wildlife space for learning, Chester Zoo first built a small Nature Reserve in 2013. The new area is a 600% expansion, providing new and larger protected habitats for vulnerable species, and a bigger community space. Over the coming years the area will develop further as plants and wildflowers begin to flourish.

The Nature Reserve will also provide a boost to British wildflowers. Wildflowers are key to healthy habitats, bring colour to the countryside, and are important in their own right. Yet one in five of Britain’s wildflowers is threatened with extinction in the UK and our flora is the least protected, invested in and acknowledged part of the country’s wildlife heritage.

 

Bat Habitats Regulation Bill [HL] 2017-19 – Bat Conservation Trust

The Bat Habitats Regulation Bill sponsored by Lord Cormack is scheduled to receive its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday 27th of April 2018. We believe that this bill is impractical and would be damaging to bat conservation.

The bill states that its aims are to make provision to enhance the protection available for bat habitats in the vicinity of a building site and to limit the protection for bats in buildings used for public worship. After examining the details contained within the Bill, we believe that it is unnecessary, impractical and, as drafted, it fails to take into account both the complex nature of bat ecology, and the legislation and processes that are already in place.

Bats and their roosts are legally protected because of the severe declines they have experienced in the past through habitat loss, agricultural intensification, roost destruction, pesticides and deliberate killing. It is our view that the Bat Habitats Regulation Bill would be disastrous for those bat species that rely on churches. Diluting or requesting exemptions to current legislation will certainly harm wildlife and will not be a positive way forward for churches either. We recognise that in some churches, the presence of bats presents significant problems for users, as well as for the fabric of the church through bat droppings, and that bat urine can cause damage to furniture and fittings. However, church and heritage bodies, Natural England and the Bat Conservation Trust are already engaged in a project (Bats in Churches Project Partnership) that aims to address the issue of large roosts to safeguard bat roosts in England’s churches, whilst reducing their negative impact on these historic buildings and the people who use them. The development phase of this project (funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and AllChurches Trust) has worked with pilot churches to test different approaches to manage the impact of bats in churches where this is needed.

 

UK businesses make world-leading pact to tackle plastic pollution - Wrap

Unnecessary single-use plastic packaging will be a thing of the past as businesses sign up to a world-first pact, which aims to transform the plastic packaging system in the UK and keep plastic in the economy and out of the ocean.

The UK Plastics Pact, launched today by sustainability experts WRAP, is a unique collaboration which brings together businesses from across the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle the scourge of plastic waste.

Today 42 businesses*, including major food, drink and non-food brands, manufacturers and retailers right through to plastic reprocessors and packaging suppliers have made their commitment to the Pact. These Pact members are responsible for over 80% of the plastic packaging on products sold through UK supermarkets**. In addition, 15 other organisations have also shown their commitment to the Pact.  

This powerful collective has committed to hit a series of ambitious targets by 2025:

  • Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (re-use) delivery models.
  • 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
  • 70% of plastic packaging effectively recycled or composted.
  • 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging.

The UK Plastics Pact is the first of its kind in the world. It will be replicated in other countries to form a powerful global movement for change as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative. It is being led by WRAP, the sustainability experts. 

 

The Breeding Bird Survey – 2017 - JNCC

A northern powerhouse for UK songbirds

The latest survey results show that Spotted Flycatchers and Willow Warblers are thriving north of the England-Scotland border, whilst struggling south of it. Spotted Flycatcher ©Edmund Fellowes/BTOThe latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report, published today, shows a 66% increase for Spotted Flycatcher during 2011–2016 and a 21% upturn for Willow Warbler in Scotland over the last 23 years. In England, both of these birds are in trouble.

Spotted Flycatcher ©Edmund Fellowes/BTO

Since the start of the BBS in 1994, the UK has lost over a third of its breeding Spotted Flycatchers, and the decline in England has been a whopping 65%.  The species is Red-listed and of the highest conservation concern, based on its longer-term decline.  The Willow Warbler has fared better, with 9% of the UK breeding population being lost since 1994 - but the decline in England has been a worrying 40%.

The upturn in both of these long-distance migrants in Scotland, and the stark contrast with their fortunes in England has been tracked thanks to record levels of coverage undertaken by volunteer recorders. A fantastic 2,814 people took time to survey birds during the breeding season in their allocated survey squares across the UK, allowing scientists at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to build a very accurate picture of just how our bird populations are doing.  The BBS Report gives long-term trends for 117 common and widespread bird species, providing vital evidence to underpin the conservation of the UK’s birds.

Access the report here

 

UK increases commitment to protect oceans from plastics and fight illegal wildlife trade - Department for International Development

At the Global Environment Facility conference, the UK joined 29 other international donors to recommit for a further four years to help developing countries tackle global environmental degradation.

The UK is stepping up its support to fight global environmental challenges, with a greater focus on protecting the world’s oceans and tackling the illegal wildlife trade, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Environment Secretary Michael Gove have announced today (Thursday 26th April).

At the Global Environment Facility conference in Stockholm, the UK joined 29 other international donors to recommit for a further four years to help developing countries tackle global environmental degradation.

Following pressure from the UK, this year’s Global Environment Facility replenishment will result in more funding to protect the marine environment, including from plastic waste pollution, and to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

With this seventh round of support, the GEF is planning to protect around 600 million hectares of land and marine habitats – an area equivalent to 24 times the size of the UK – and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1600 million metric tonnes – the equivalent of an average car driving 4 million miles.

The UK’s commitment of up to £250 million over the next four years is an increase on the last pledge of £210 million from 2014-2018, and maintains the UK’s leadership on tackling environmental challenges that threaten global stability and security. Twenty per cent of the UK’s support is also conditional on GEF making continual improvements to achieve maximum impact.

   

Government gives green light for landscape apprenticeships - Landscape Institute

The Landscape Apprenticeships Trailblazer group of employers has received government approval to develop new landscape apprenticeship schemes in England

The 20 employers came together last year, with the support of the Landscape Institute, to develop proposals for employer-led landscape apprenticeships. The proposals were also supported by the Institute of Place Management. The two approved schemes are the landscape assistant scheme, a Level 4 qualification, and the landscape professional scheme – a Level 7 qualification leading to Chartered Membership of the Landscape Institute.

The Trailblazer group will now begin designing the apprenticeship standards to define the competencies required for each apprenticeship. The group plans to consult on the draft standards in May this year, with the aim of having the schemes ready for delivery in early 2019.

Poppy Smith, Head of External Affairs at the Landscape Institute, welcomed the government’s approval of the proposals. ‘We have had great support in developing this initiative from our board of trustees, advisory council and members, all of whom agree that apprenticeships can help us to develop new skills and talent for the profession and increase the diversity of new entrants,’ she said. ‘This is really exciting opportunity and we look forward to supporting the Trailblazer Group in their ongoing work to prepare these apprenticeships for delivery’.

Colin Pill of lead employer Tyler Grange LLP chairs the Trailblazer group. He said: ‘Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to combine work experience with off-the-job training and give employers the opportunity to bring new talent into their business. We now have a lot of work to do now in making sure the apprenticeship standards reflect the requirements of employers across the landscape profession. We look forward to the challenge and the opportunity ahead.’

 

Taffys Trails: new campaign to make our countryside accessible - Outdoor Industries Association 

Taffys Trails is on a mission to make the countryside accessible to all, by gathering information, maps, routes, trails and attractions and stating the types of wheelchairs/scooters they would all best accommodate.

Mark Turner, who has been a wheelchair user for seven years, launched the national campaign with the support of his wife Lyn, his trainee assistance dog, Rex, and Oscar – the mascot.

Taffys Trails aims to list thousands of fully documented routes, trails and attractions on the platform, enabling people of all abilities to have a one stop place for all the information needed for a great day out or a well-planned holiday itinerary.

Mark said: “My first aims are to get the idea out there and get as many sponsors as possible to provide the necessary kit and support to get this project off the ground. Some of the things needed are items such as mapping software, waterproof bags for phones, tablets and other electronics, suitable jackets/coats and wet weather clothing through to website and blog building etc. We are not asking for money – only products, information and advice.  

The project will be a large undertaking and will involve many hours of both collating existing information and actually being out on various routes and trails ourselves in all weathers. If you are able to support us, it would certainly help us to get the Taffys Trails dream out there, in front of the ever-growing group of wheelchair/scooter users that want to brave our great outdoors. With the right information and right equipment we can open up the great countryside for thousands of regular and new users of all ages and all abilities. Some for the very first time.”

For further information about the campaign, please visit www.taffystrails.com.

  

Further restrictions on neonicotinoids agreed - defra

restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides have been approved following a vote in the European Commission.

The UK voted in favour of the proposals that will see a ban on outdoor use of three neonicotinoids - Clothianidin, Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam.

bumblebee on lavender (image: defra)image: defra

Currently, their use is banned for oilseed rape, spring cereals and sprays for winter cereals, but they can be used to treat sugar beet, various horticultural crops and as seed treatments for winter cereals.

A Defra spokesperson said: "We are committed to enhancing our environment for the next generation, and welcome the vote today in support of further restrictions on neonicotinoids. The Government has always been clear we will be led by the science on this matter. The weight of evidence now shows the risks neonicotinoids may pose to our environment, particularly to the bees and other pollinators is greater than previously understood. We recognise the impact a ban will have on farmers and will continue to work with them to explore alternative approaches as we design a new agricultural policy outside the European Union."

The current restrictions will stay in place until the new measures comes into force following a phasing out period of around eight months, giving farmers and businesses time to adjust.

Unless the scientific evidence changes, the government will maintain these increased restrictions post-Brexit.

 

 EU vote on neonicotinoids - NFU reaction

The European Commission’s extension of the ban on the use of neonicotinoids to all outdoor crops is a regrettable decision that is not justified by the evidence, the NFU said today.

Guy Smith, NFU Deputy President, said: “This decision doesn’t change the fact that farmers will continue to face challenges to maintain sustainable and productive cropping systems and the pest problems that neonicotinoids helped farmers tackle have not gone away. Most agronomists agree that without neonicotinoids many crops grown in the UK will become less viable and a ban could simply mean we import more crops from parts of the world where there is no political desire to ban these key insecticides. So we will be looking to both the UK Government and the Commission to work with the industry to mitigate the effect of a ban on both food production and the environment. The NFU believes a risk-based approach should be taken on this issue, where the impacts of potential changes are fully understood and recognised as providing genuine opportunities to improve bee and pollinator health. There is a real risk that these restrictions will do nothing measurable to improve bee health, while compromising the effectiveness of crop protection."

 

EU Member States Approve Enhanced Insecticide Ban - Buglife

Today EU Member States endorsed the Commission's proposal to completely ban the outdoor agricultural uses of the three neonicotinoids.  

Today’s ban may represent a turning point for the toxins, with the USA currently undertaking a review and other countries with pesticide regulation processes will be under pressure to achieve the EU’s levels of environmental protection. 

Even in the EU neonicotinoid pollution may continue to harm wildlife, a Buglife report last year identified that half of rivers and lakes monitored in England were chronically polluted with neonicotinoids, and that alongside agricultural pollution a significant source was pet flea treatments.  In addition it is well known that greenhouse use can cause water pollution.  Both use on pets and in greenhouses will be allowed to continue for the moment. 

“Today is a red letter day for the continent’s pollinators, we salute and thank all of the organisations, members of the public and politicians who have stood up for the bees and secured this much needed decision.  This has been a long haul, arguably the ban should have come in years ago, but the NFU and pesticide industry have been wholly obstructive and have managed, mainly by use of misleading propaganda, to sustain the harm to bees and other wildlife for several years.”  Said Matt Shardlow, CEO of Buglife.

 

Scientific Publications

Bellier E, Kéry M, Schaub M. Relationships between vital rates and ecological traits in an avian community J Anim Ecol. 2018;00:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12826

 

Gaston KJ, Holt LA. Nature, extent and ecological implications of night‐time light from road vehicles J Appl Ecol. 2018;00:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13157

 

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