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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Drones can detect protected nightjar nests –
Cardiff University Thermal-sensing cameras mounted on drones may offer a safer and more
cost-effective way to locate nests of the elusive European nightjar in
forestry work and construction areas, finds new research by Cardiff
University. The team from the University’s School of Biosciences conducted a
pilot study in Bryn, a Natural Resources Wales conifer plantation in
South Wales, to test the suitability of drones to detect nest sites of
the protected bird. “The current methods of searching for nightjar nests on foot are
expensive and can pose a health and safety risk for people, particularly
when accessing clearfell worksites,” said Mike Shewring, a PhD student
from Cardiff University. “Nightjars are camouflaged to look just like a
fallen log or dead wood. They nest on the ground and ‘sit tight’ when
approached to avoid detection, which makes it nearly impossible to spot
them during the day when they are inactive,” he added. To test the new method, the team used the drones to take thermal
photographs at nest sites, where observations and radio tracking
previously showed European nightjars were breeding between May and
August. Images were taken at various heights (10, 20 and 50 metres) at
dawn, midday and dusk. The nests were observed from a distance to see if
the drones caused any disturbance.
Baby seals at risk from chemicals in mothers’ milk
- Abertay University Baby seals around the UK coast are at risk from toxic chemicals
present in their mothers’ milk, new research has found
Image:
Abertay University Long-lasting chemicals from man-made contaminants have been
recognised as harmful to wildlife since the 1970s, with marine mammals
facing the biggest threat because they feed at the top of the food
chain. A substance ban designed to stop the damage has been in force since
the early 2000s and helped reduce the levels of these chemicals, which
enter the environment from the likes of paints, sealants, industrial
lubricants, electrical transformers and pesticides. However a new study, led by Abertay University in Dundee, in
partnership with the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St
Andrews and colleagues in Belgium, has now shown that ban may not go far
enough to protect wildlife. The team found that the chemicals - known as PCBs (Polychlorinated
Biphenyls) and DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) - can interfere
with the way seal blubber tissue works, even at low exposure levels,
potentially altering the way pups gain fat vital to their survival. Part of the so-called “dirty dozen” marine pollutants, these
chemicals are banned from production and release into UK waters under
the Stockholm Convention, but still make their way into the sea through
incineration, effluent and landfill, and can travel a long way from
where they were released.
Gove launches landmark blueprint for resources and waste
- Defra Businesses and manufacturers to pay the full cost of recycling or
disposing of their packaging waste under government’s Resources and
Waste Strategy Businesses and manufacturers will pay the full cost of recycling or
disposing of their packaging waste, under a major new government
strategy unveiled by the Environment Secretary today (Tuesday 18
December 2018). The move will overhaul England’s waste system, putting a legal onus
on those responsible for producing damaging waste to take greater
responsibility and foot the bill. The announcement forms part of the government’s ambitious new Resources
and Waste Strategy, the first comprehensive update in more than a
decade. It will eliminate avoidable plastic waste and help leave the
environment in a better state than we found it for future generations. Producers will also be expected to take more responsibility for items
that can be harder or costly to recycle including cars, electrical
goods, and batteries. Householders will also see the existing complicated recycling system
simplified, with new plans for a consistent approach to recycling across
England. Timings for introduction will be subject to discussions at the
Spending Review. Reaction: CPRE welcomes the long-anticipated launch of a Resources and Waste
Strategy by the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) today (18 December). It includes the
commitment, previously made by environment secretary Michael Gove, to a
deposit return system, for which CPRE has been campaigning.
The strategy aims to overhaul England’s waste system by valuing the
resources that go into packaging, and make those who produce the
packaging responsible for the cost of its recycling or disposal. CPRE
warns, however, that it’s vital to ensure they are also responsible for
the cost of its collection – otherwise, the whole system could be
undermined.
Seven
projects have been awarded a total of £140,000 to encourage more
children in Scotland to enjoy and learn about the outdoors in their
local area. Image: Scottish Natural Heritage The grants have been given in the second and final round of the
two-year Outdoor Learning in Nature (OLIN) fund, which has now awarded
over half a million pounds to 23 projects. It is administered by
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The projects will work with around 40 schools to deliver regular
outdoor learning activities to around 1600 pupils in their local
greenspaces, as well as providing professional learning to approximately
400 teachers. Pete Rawcliffe, SNH’s People & Places manager, said: “These
programmes will make a real difference to children from the most
deprived areas of Scotland, giving them regular, structured time
outdoors. This is so important to set them up for heathy life-long
habits. It will not only help them appreciate, learn about and connect
with nature, but also spending time in nature has been proven to improve
mental and physical health for people of all ages.”
Three yellowhammers, two turtle doves and a song thrush in a blackthorn
– North York Moors National Park Authority The North Yorkshire turtle dove project, funded by the Heritage
Lottery Fund, is seeking land owners large and small who may be able to
give the gift of improved habitat to native bird species in 2019.
Turtle doves, those symbols of love and friendship that we sing about
each Christmas, are now critically endangered in the UK. Due in part to
modern farming practices, the dense patches of scrub in which they nest
and the wildflowers that provide them with seed have been lost. The
North York Moors National Park is fortunate to be one of the few
remaining strongholds for the species, and the turtle dove project is
seeking individuals and community groups who can help restore some of
the birds’ natural habitat. “This autumn, nine different landowners and tenants have established
17 new turtle dove wildflower plots,” said Richard Baines, Turtle Dove
Project Officer. “These include the Sawdon Community Nature Reserve
Group, which has also planted a mixture of hawthorn, blackthorn and
hazel to create a thicket of scrub, perfect to protect the delicate
nests of turtle doves in future years. It’s a great start, but we need
many more reserves if we are going to have a chance of making a
difference.” Hen
harriers and red grouse: Finding common ground in a persistent conflict
– University of Aberdeen A conflict between those working to conserve numbers of hen harriers
and those maintaining commercial shooting of red grouse in the English
uplands has existed for decades with little sign of progress.
Image:
University of Aberdeen Drawing on work conducted in psychology, a new study published today
in the journal People and Nature investigated the underlying values that
hunters and conservationists hold that make it so hard to find shared
solutions. Ecological studies over the last 30 years have shown that hen
harriers and other birds of prey are capable of reducing the number of
grouse to such an extent that driven grouse shooting can become
economically unviable. Consequently, hen harriers, although protected
under UK legislation since 1952, are killed illegally on grouse moors. Researchers from Bangor University and the University of Aberdeen
surveyed a range of organisations that represent the interests of field
sports (i.e. hunting, shooting, fishing) or nature conservation in
England to assess their values and attitudes towards hen harriers,
grouse shooting and potential management interventions. Dr Freya St John from Bangor University said: “We found that people
who are involved in field sports and those engaged in bird conservation
hold more or less opposing views about human relationships with nature,
challenging our ability to find shared solutions. Although there is
general agreement about the evidence of the ecological relationships
between hen harriers and grouse, there is much less agreement about the
best approach to manage them.” Read the paper: St John, F. A. V.,
Steadman, J., Austen, G. & Redpath,S. M. (2018)
Value diversity and conservation conflict: Lessons from the management
of red grouse and hen harriers in England. People & Nature. DOI:
10.1002/pan3.5 (open access)
Cairngorms writing project set to be a real page turner
– Cairngorms National Park Authority
An
exciting literary project for the Cairngorms National Park is set to
come to life in the New Year with funding support from Creative
Scotland. Anyone can get involved in the various aspects of the 12 month
initiative with people encouraged to put pen to paper to share and
explore the ways in which people and nature thrive together in the Park. Image: Cairngorms National Park Authority ‘Shared Stories: A Year in the Cairngorms’ has been organised – and
part funded – by the Cairngorms National Park Authority with a funding
award of £8,000 from Creative Scotland and £10,000 from the Woodland
Trust. The financial support from partners has allowed the project to
appoint the first ever Writer in Residence for the Cairngorms National
Park, Merryn Glover from Kincraig.
Single-use plastics: Commission welcomes ambitious agreement on new
rules to reduce marine litter - European
Commission The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have
reached a provisional political agreement on the ambitious new measures
proposed by the Commission to tackle marine litter at its source,
targeting the 10 plastic products most often found on our beaches as
well as abandoned fishing gear. Today's agreement is based on the Single-use plastics
proposal presented in May by the Commission as part of the world's first
comprehensive Plastics Strategy, adopted earlier this year, to protect
citizens and the environment from plastic pollution whilst fostering
growth and innovation. The new rules contribute to a broader effort of
turning Europe into a more sustainable, circular economy, reflected in
the Circular Economy Action Plan adopted in December 2015. They will
place Europe's businesses and consumers ahead as a world leader in
producing and using sustainable alternatives that avoid marine litter
and oceans pollution, tackling a problem with global implications. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for sustainable
development said: "I warmly welcome today's ambitious agreement reached
on our Commission proposal to reduce single use plastics. This agreement
truly helps protect our people and our planet. Europeans are conscious
that plastic waste is an enormous problem and the EU as a whole has
shown true courage in addressing it, making us the global leader in
tackling plastic marine litter. Equally important is, that with the
solutions agreed upon today, we are also driving a new circular business
model and showing the way forward to putting our economy on a more
sustainable path."
Volunteers
recognised for work on butterfly conservation
- South Downs National Park Authority Work by the South Downs Volunteer Ranger Service to support local
butterfly populations around Winchester and Petersfield has been
recognised by Hampshire & Isle of Wight branch of Butterfly
Conservation. (image: Neil Hulme) Volunteer John Walton, who volunteers at the western end of the
National Park, collected the branch Conservation Award 2018 ‘in
recognition of an outstanding contribution to Lepidoptera conservation’.
The award is for chalk grassland management tasks that the volunteers
have carried out on Butterfly Conservation reserves. The Volunteer Rangers can often be spotted on sites such as Magdalen
Hill Down and Bentley Reserve where their work to conserve rare chalk
grassland habitat supports 34 species of butterfly, including major
breeding colonies of brown argus, green hairstreak and chalkhill blue.
First ever Eagles’ Schools initiative raises young conservationists
- Scottish Natural Heritage
News
release from the Golden Eagles in South Scotland Partnership The groundbreaking South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has
launched what is believed to be the UK’s first-ever Eagles Schools
initiative to help safeguard the future for Golden Eagles in Scotland. (image: Scottish Natural Heritage) Sixteen primary schools in the Scottish Borders and the Highlands are
among the first to take part in the new initiative, which gives pupils
the opportunity to learn first hand from experts working with the golden
eagles about this iconic species and its importance to the natural
environment. Since the launch of the new scheme 324 pupils have had the opportunity to take part in a range of fun and inspiring activities, which reflect the Curriculum for Excellence and take an innovative approach to individual learning. Some even got to meet a golden eagle. The project is also now facilitating links between Eagle Schools in the south of Scotland and those in the north to provide exciting opportunities that are beneficial to both schools.
New environment protections set out in flagship bill
- Defra Draft clauses for the first Environment Bill for 20 years have been
published by the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove Today the Environment Secretary
published draft clauses on environmental principles and governance
to be included in an ambitious, broader Environment Bill set for
introduction next year.
(image:
Defra) Announced by the Prime Minister in July, the Environment Bill will be
an essential step to put environmental ambition and accountability at
the heart of government. It will create a new framework for environmental governance,
demonstrating this government’s strong commitment to maintain
environmental protection as we leave the EU. The body will provide independent scrutiny and advice, and hold
government to account on development and implementation of environmental
law and policy. The government believes the independent body should have
a clear remit, acting as a strong and objective voice for environmental
protection. It builds on one of the largest responses to a Defra consultation on
the requirements for this draft legislation. The level of public
interest in the Environment Bill is clearly demonstrated through the
176,746 responses. Environment Secretary, Michael Gove said: “Today we have published
our draft clauses for the Environment Bill which place our environmental
ambition and accountability at the heart of government. They set out how
we will create a pioneering new system of green governance, placing our
25 Year Environment Plan on a statutory footing. We will explore options
for strong targets to improve our environment, and provisions on air
quality, waste and water resource management, and restoring nature. Our
ambition is to be the first generation to leave the environment in a
better state than that in which we found it. We will keep building on
our successes by enhancing our environmental standards and delivering a
Green Brexit.”
Reaction:
Draft Environment Bill Published Today
- The Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trusts call for major improvements to draft Environment
Bill to put nature into recovery The draft Environment Bill published today by the Government does not
go far enough to tackle the serious environmental challenges we face or
provide legal certainty for the future of our natural world, say The
Wildlife Trusts. And nor does the accompanying policy note. The Bill and policy note fall short in a number of ways:
The Government has committed in its manifesto to being the first
generation to leave the environment in a better state than it found it.
Leaving the E.U. and then introducing a weak Environment Bill will not
achieve this. The Wildlife Trusts believe that this Bill, so far,
is not good enough.
High-altitude forest to save rare trees and help mountain wildlife
- Trees for Life A new high-altitude forest of 10,000 rare mountain trees supporting
wildlife including golden eagles and mountain hares is to be planted
near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands by Trees for Life next spring.
The
waist-high trees form a unique and important wildlife-rich habitat
called montane scrub. This should be common between woodlands and open
hilltops, but it has now almost disappeared from Scotland – largely due
to grazing pressure from sheep and high deer numbers over the centuries. Image: Golden eagle © Mark Hamblin
scotlandbigpicture.com The project involves collecting seed from trees such as dwarf birch
and downy willow on precipitous mountain ledges and rocky crags,
sometimes with the help of qualified climbers. Planting the woodland itself will be challenging because the location
– at Beinn Bhan on the charity’s Dundreggan Conservation Estate in
Glenmoriston – lies at more than 500 metres above sea level. But the
site is perfect for the tough small trees – known as ‘montane’ species
because they can grow near mountain summits, despite high winds and
dramatic temperature changes.
Seal pup numbers increase on Farne Islands -
National Trust Atlantic grey seal pup numbers at one of the largest colonies in
England have reached a record high thanks to a good supply of food and
lack of predators, the National Trust can reveal. The number of seal pups born on the Farne Islands, off the
Northumberland coast, has increased by 50 per cent from 1740 in 2014 to
2602 this year. The grey seal is a protected sea mammal with global numbers estimated
to be around 300,000 half of which live in British and Irish waters. The rangers, who live on the Islands for nine months of the year,
count the seals every four days in the autumn once pupping season
begins, weather permitting. Once born, they’re sprayed with a harmless
vegetable dye to indicate the week they are born. Using a rotation of
three or four colours allows the rangers keep track of the numbers. Ranger Thomas Hendry commented: “Once all the seabirds leave in late
summer, our attention turns to the seals. The seal breeding season on
the Farnes is usually mid to late September until December, with the
majority of pups being born in October and November.
HS2 Ltd approach to natural environment is derisory
- The Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trusts condemn HS2 Phase 2b draft Environmental
Statement. Public consultation closes Friday 21st December. On Friday 21st December 2018 the public consultation into likely
environmental impacts of the building and operating of Phase 2b of HS2
closes – it covers Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds. HS2 Ltd’s own figures for the latest phase of the Phase 2b route show
it will have a devastating impact on important places for wild plants
and animals. 12 highly protected areas for nature conservation known as
Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 111 Local Wildlife Sites and 19
ancient woodlands will be seriously damaged. Katherine Hawkins, Senior Living Landscapes Officer at The Wildlife
Trusts says: “HS2 Ltd’s work on this latest phase of the HS2 route is
derisory in its assessment of the environmental impact. It is
incomplete, there isn’t enough detail, there are significant omissions,
it lacks sufficient proposals to compensate for nature’s loss, and to
make matters even worse, there’s very little information about the
impact on species. On the evidence, we have been given, this phase will
result in an unacceptable level of damage to wildlife along the route.” Wild and precious landscapes including ancient woods and rare peat
bogs are under threat from the latest phase of the high-speed rail link
– wildlife such as barn owls, otters, skylarks and endangered water
voles will lose their homes as 176 miles of track is constructed. Today (21/12) The Wildlife Trusts challenge HS2 Ltd to create and
restore more wild places than are being destroyed and damaged by the
construction of the route, and to save irreplaceable habitats like
wetlands, and ancient woodlands from destruction. Katherine Hawkins continues: “Due to the inadequate environmental
statement, it’s hard to understand how HS2 Ltd will compensate for the
damage that it will cause. Furthermore, it is unacceptable that HS2 Ltd
has only committed to ‘no net loss’ for biodiversity. At this
rate, there will be a huge loss of wild habitats and species along the
entire route of this £56 billion project at a time when HS2 Ltd should
be committing to creating a ‘net gain’ for nature."
Call for progress on protected status for Scotland’s beavers
- Scottish Wildlife Trust Several leading Scottish wildlife charities and individuals with an
interest in conservation have signed an open letter to the First
Minister calling for a firm commitment to finally granting protected
status to beavers in Scotland. This comes one year after the
announcement that legislation to secure European Protected Species
status for beavers would be laid down in the Scottish Parliament in the
first half of 2018. Beaver at Loch of the Lowes © Ron Walsh Click through to read the Open Letter:
Scotland’s beavers need protection
Industrial fishing in marine protected areas poses significant threats
to endangered sharks and other species -
Dalhousie University What began as a Dalhousie PhD student’s investigation into North
Atlantic shark populations turned into an eye-opening discovery that
shows a number of European Union-designated marine protected areas
(MPAs) are falling short of protecting threatened biodiversity. The
research will be published in the leading international Science journal
this week (Dec. 21). While governments are rapidly expanding MPA networks across the globe
— and that’s considered a positive step for ocean health — this
Dalhousie-led research team is recommending the development and
enforcement of minimum biodiversity protection standards for MPA
designation in light of their findings. The biologists investigated a network of 727 MPAs in European Union
territory. They show that industrial fishing activity is present in at
least 432 of the 727 MPAs, or 59 per cent. That’s approximately 43,812
square kilometres of protected ocean. “Industrially-fished marine protected areas will not adequately
protect the species that most require it, such as sharks, skates and
rays. These are among the most endangered marine animals today,” says
first-author Manuel Dureuil, who is also president and co-founder of
ShARCC. “Even though many of these MPAs were not established to protect
sharks and rays, our findings question their effectiveness for
biodiversity protection under current policy.” Read the paper: Manuel Dureuil,
Kristina Boerder, Kirsti A. Burnett, Rainer Froese, Boris Worm.
Elevated
trawling inside protected areas undermines conservation outcomes in a
global fishing hot spot Science21 Dec 2018 : 1403-1407
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