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Headlines from week beginning 22 July 2019 |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Scottish MSP launches campaign to clean up marine plastic in the North
East – Scottish Natural Heritage
Mairi Gougeon, MSP for Angus North and Mearns, today launched an
initiative to encourage people in the North East to battle the effects
of marine litter on wildlife. Part of an international campaign, Take 3 For the Sea, the initiative
will operate on two Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) national nature
reserves, St Cyrus and Forvie. The campaign encourages people to remove
three small pieces of rubbish from the beach every time they visit. They
then can place litter in the bins at the reserve car parks or take
plastics and other recyclables home to recycle. Ms Gougon said: “Forvie and St Cyrus both have wonderful beaches,
which many people enjoy and which support all kinds of wildlife. Marine
plastic poses a dangerous threat to these birds and animals. That’s why
I’m so enthusiastic about this grassroots campaign to get us all
involved in keeping our marine wildlife safe. And of course you don’t
have to stop at three: every item you pick up will make a big
difference!”
Brokenshire orders house builders to protect wildlife
- Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local
Government
Developers have been ordered to do more to protect Britain’s
cherished wildlife, Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP
announced today (Sunday 21 July). For the first time the government has set out its expectations on how
developers can protect specific species, including using ‘hedgehog
highways’ and hollow swift bricks – which are installed into the walls
of new build homes, allowing the birds to nest safely. This follows
public interest for protecting these much-loved animals, with one
petition receiving support from over half a million people. From submitting proposals to councils to then building new homes,
house builders should think about the long-term impact of their
developments on the local ecosystem, both during and after construction. This includes greater emphasis on using innovative ways to allow
nature to thrive - such as drainage areas to create attractive wetlands
for birds and amphibians to live alongside people. Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said: “Building the
new homes this country needs must not come at the detriment of our
natural heritage. It’s right that as we deliver houses for people, we
must also provide homes for wildlife too - whether that’s for hedgehogs,
frogs, newts or birds. The public have told us that protecting wildlife
is important to them – so my message to house builders is to harness
this support and get building in a way that protects the environment for
the next generation.”
New study reveals huge decline in bird species when grouse management
ends – Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Ending grouse moor management risks declines - and possible local
extinctions - of a range of ground-nesting bird species, a new study has
revealed. Published by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), the new
research looks at the impact of stopping grouse management on birds such
as curlew, golden plover, lapwing, black grouse, hen harrier and merlin
in the south west of Scotland. Its conclusions are drawn from studies in two Special Protection
Areas, Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands and Langholm/Newcastleton Hills
(which will shortly be the subject of a report from the Langholm Moor
Demonstration Project). A Special Protection Area (SPA) is a designation
under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Under the
Directive, member states have a duty to safeguard the habitats of
migratory birds and certain particularly threatened bird species. Among the key findings in the report are;
The research mirrors an equivalent study carried out in north Wales
which examined the end of grouse moor management within the Berwyn SPA.
That research showed a local extinction of lapwing, 90% loss of golden
plover and a 79% reduction in curlew between 1983-5 and 2002 (Warren &
Baines 2014). Over the same period, substantial increases in carrion
crows, ravens and buzzards were noted.
Do not disturb! The growing threat to our seals
- Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust As the summer holidays begin, millions of British and international
visitors flock to popular coastal destinations around the British Isles.
The increasing popularity of ‘staycations’ and higher numbers of
visitors from overseas, crowding around our coasts adds huge pressure
onto our wildlife, especially seals. A new report released today (Sunday 21 July) entitled ‘Please Do Not
Disturb! – issues of seal disturbance in the United Kingdom’, along with
shocking and dramatic film footage and photographs, highlights the
growing, harmful impact that human activity is having on our globally
rare and important seal populations. Funded by the Seal Protection Action Group (SPAG) and the Cornwall
Seal Group Research Trust (CSGRT) for The Seal Alliance, the report
documents case studies around the British coast where our protected seal
populations are suffering chronic disturbances from human activities,
deliberate or accidental, often causing serious injury and with
potentially fatal consequences. The report catalogues serious incidents in the South-west of England;
North-west Wales; North-east England and North-east Scotland at sites of
critical importance to these beautiful and intelligent marine mammals –
key areas seals use for resting, socialising, breeding and moulting. The researchers found compelling evidence that our seal population is
suffering chronic disturbance issues from human intrusion, both
accidental and deliberate, through recreational activities as well as
expanding tourism. These disturbances come from motorised vessels,
jet-skis, kayaks, paddle -boarders, wildlife watching tours on land or
sea, anglers, walkers, dogs on and off leashes, drones, light aircraft,
helicopters and even commercial wildlife photographers. People trying
to feed seals is also of growing concern.
You can download the report by clicking here
First Local Plan for the South Downs National Park is adopted
- South Downs National Park Authority Landscape and the needs of local communities are central to the South
Downs National Park’s Local Plan which was adopted by Members this
month. The Plan covers the entire National Park for the next 14 years and
rather than being “target driven”, the policies in the Plan are based on
the nationally-designated landscape. The Plan sets out measures to
mitigate climate change including that any major new developments should
seek to be carbon neutral, have better drainage schemes to reduce flood
risk and limit water consumption for new developments. Margaret Paren, Chair of South Downs National Park Authority, said:
“This is a significant moment for the South Downs National Park and our
local communities. Our adopted Local Plan puts our nationally important
landscapes first and ensures that they sit at the heart of every
planning decision we make. But, while our first priority is to conserve
and enhance the landscape, this Local Plan goes one step further by
clearly outlining how we will nurture a living, thriving landscape that
benefits local people and looks to increase resilience to climate
change.”
Stronger protections for the environment move closer as landmark Bill
takes shape - Defra New measures to enhance wildlife, transform our waste system and
improve the resilience of water supplies set out in Environment Bill
policy statement. New measures to enhance wildlife, transform our waste system and
improve the resilience of water supplies have been set out today by
Environment Secretary Michael Gove (Tuesday 23 July). In an update on progress towards the introduction of the
landmark Environment Bill – the first for 20 years – the government has
published firm positions, following a range of consultations, on issues
ranging from trees to water to recycling, to boost our natural
environment. Mr Gove has set out the government’s ambitions for the full
Environment Bill in an updated summer policy statement, including
commitments to legislate on environmental governance, air, biodiversity,
water, and waste and resource efficiency. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “We know we must do all we
can to protect our precious natural environment. There is a clear need
to act to ensure we do not leave this planet to the next generation more
polluted, more dangerous and denuded of its natural riches. The measures
in our Environment Bill will position the UK as a world leader, ensuring
that after EU Exit environmental ambition and accountability are placed
more clearly than ever before at the heart of government. As we have set
out today, our plans will improve air quality so that our children live
longer, restore habitats and increase biodiversity, strive towards a
more circular economy and ensure we can manage our precious water
resources in a changing climate.”
Free mammal tracking app turns amateurs into ecologists
– The Mammal Society
Mammal Mapper App logo The Mammal Society have just launched a brand new version of their
free Mammal Mapper app, with easier recording and merging of the
functions of their two older apps, Mammal Tracker and the original
Mammal Mapper. The updated app, which previously allowed users to map an
entire route and the mammals seen along it, also now allows users to log
one-off sightings. Users of the app are therefore able to build a library of the mammals
and mammal signs they have spotted, as well as the routes they have
followed. This information can then be submitted to help scientists and
data analysts understand more about the distribution of mammals across
Britain.
Cash incentive for landowners to restore UK peatland
- IUCN OF&G (Organic Farmers & Growers) have teamed up with the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) UK Peatland
Programme to offer a new certification scheme to landowners that will
support the protection and improvement of UK peatlands. The Peatland Code sets out best practice for projects seeking to
market the climate and environmental benefits of peatland restoration.
It helps landowners secure private funding for projects, offering an
additional revenue stream, by providing investors with assurance through
third-party verification that expected climate benefits are credible and
deliverable. “A recent report from Green Alliance suggests we have an opportunity
to achieve the 2030 reduced emissions targets, in part, by restoring the
UK’s 2.7m hectares of peatland by at least 26%,” says Roger Kerr, chief
executive at OF&G, who certify over half the UK’s organic land.
“Together with the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, we aim to help landowners
restore much of the UK’s peatlands, which cover 12% of the total UK land
area, reverting damaged peatlands from large sources of carbon to
fulfilling their carbon sequestration potential, and support the wider
environment”
Rathlin could be a ‘Love Island’ for corncrakes as two pairs recorded
for first time since the ‘80s
- RSPB Two pairs of the rare ground-nesting birds recorded on island for
first time in 30 years, with one of the males potentially ‘coupled up’
with two female birds For the first time in 30 years it’s been confirmed that there are two
pairs of corncrakes on Rathlin Island.
Climate change occurring faster than birds can adapt Climate change is occurring so rapidly that many animals may be
unable to adapt, according to findings of an international study
published in Nature Communications.
Copyright: Bernard Castelein “These are common birds that were previously thought adaptable to
climate change, so this is quite worrying” stated the co-author of the
study, Dr Thomas Reed, Senior Lecturer in Zoology at University College
Cork (UCC). In wildlife, the most commonly observed response to climate change is
an alteration in the timing of biological events such as hibernation,
reproduction or migration (phenological traits). Changes in body size,
body mass or other morphological traits have also been associated with
climate change, but – as confirmed by this study – show no systematic
pattern. The researchers extracted relevant information from the
scientific literature to relate changes in climate over the years to
possible changes in phenological and morphological traits. Next, they
evaluated whether observed trait changes were associated with higher
survival or an increased number of offspring. “The findings are both good and bad”, continued Dr Reed. “On the one
hand, the data show that many species are changing in ways that increase
survival and reproductive success. But on the other, the models show
that this may not be enough for populations to stay in the game long
term, because the rate of adaptive change is too slow. The fear is that
the prognosis for species of conservation concern, for which we had
little data, could be even worse”. Read the paper: Radchuk V et. al (2019:) Adaptive responses of animals to climate change are most likely insufficient. Nature Communications doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10924-4
London's last working shire horses drafted in to protect zone 4 meadows
- National Trust The National Trust is replacing heavy machinery with a 17th-century
technique of using shire horses to cut rare hay meadows in the heart of
the capital. London’s last remaining herd of working heavy horses have been called
in by the conservation charity to cut the hay on its Ham House estate,
near Richmond, as part of efforts to manage the land in a more
sustainable way. The towering horses, which belong to charity Operation Centaur, weigh
up to a tonne each but are a lighter alternative to tractors, reducing
compaction of the soil which encourages wildflowers to grow and in turn
provides habitats for wildlife. Horse-powered mowing also reduces noise pollution, carries a lower
carbon footprint and controls flooding, something that’s especially
relevant in the tidal setting of Ham. “Horses have been used in this way for hundreds of years,’ explains
Ham House Head Gardener Rosie Fyles. We know these flood meadows have
been part of the London landscape since the 17th century and would have
been used for grazing and ploughed for hay and feed. We’ve come back to
using these traditional methods of managing the land because they have
so many benefits for nature, and the community. And there’s something
really special about witnessing the sights and sounds of this
centuries-old rural tradition in the heart of London today.”
A pilot Woodland Trust scheme is offering expert advice and grants of
up to £4,000 to landowners who want to create small, new native woods. TRUSTwoods is open to people looking to create between one and three
hectares of woodland in a trial area of Bedfordshire, Berkshire,
Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire,
Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. TRUSTwoods can help landowners in ten pilot areas
get more trees in the ground (Photo: Jill Jennings) Director of woodland outreach John Tucker said: “We need new woodland
like never before. Government has recently committed to net zero
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The expansion of the UK’s tree canopy
cover from 13% to 17% is an essential part of the solution, but for the
country to reach that target we need to see a three-fold increase in
current woodland creation levels. Locking up carbon isn’t the only
reason to plant trees though. The right tree in the right place can
improve soil quality and stability, reduce the impact of flooding,
provide shelter for crops or livestock, vital habitat for wildlife or a
place for us to simply get away from it all.”
Avon Wildlife Trust begins vaccinating badgers against bovine TB -
Avon Wildlife Trust Avon Wildlife Trust has today begun vaccinating badgers for the first
time on one of the conservation charity’s nature reserves, as a way to
help tackle the problem of bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) in badgers,
and demonstrate an alternative to the cull policy which has so far
killed 68,000 badgers over the last few years across England. The Trust – which manages 30 nature reserves across the Avon region –
is initially vaccinating badgers at one woodland site but aims to roll
out an extensive programme of vaccination over the next four years,
working with farmers and landowners to jointly find a way to control the
risks of bovine TB. The charity is launching a fundraising campaign to
pay for the vaccines, equipment and training needed to continue
protecting badgers through this work and needs to raise at least £20,000
to cover the programme. Unlike large parts of England including the rest of the South West,
culling has so far not taken place in Avon but it’s possible that
culling licences may be issued by DEFRA in the future which would mean
thousands of wild badgers being killed. Avon Wildlife Trust
remains opposed to the policy of culling badgers, believing that
vaccination provides a viable, cost effective and long-term alternative
to control the spread of bovine TB.
Five new wildflower trails open across Scotland
- Scottish Natural Heritage Five new wildflower trails - specially designed to benefit Scotland’s
vital pollinators – have opened at Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
nature reserves this year.
The trails have been created on national nature reserves across
Scotland from Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire, St Cyrus
in Angus and Creag Meagaidh in the Highlands to Taynish in Argyll and
Bute. The trails are short walks and easily accessible.
There are information signs along the paths for visitors, telling them
more about pollinators and wildflowers and giving tips on how to help
pollinators. David Pickett, SNH's Forvie reserve manager, said: "Whenever I stroll
along our trail, I'm astonished by the number of wildflowers, such as
bluebells, wood anemone, violets, stitchwort and celandine. It's
wonderful to walk among flowers and see all the insects that are
benefiting from the trail - and to take time to smell the flowers!
There's lots of fascinating information about the important work
pollinators do as well." Stuart MacQuarrie, SNH's National Nature Reserve Manager, added:
"These wildflower trails are not only beautiful for visitors to our
national nature reserves, but they're critical for pollinators like
bees, butterflies and ladybirds. There's so much work going on to
bolster pollinator populations by so many individuals and organisations
in Scotland. We're thrilled that these trails build on these many
efforts to help our pollinators."
Little litter pickers help look after the Peak District National Park Children aged between 2 and 4 years have been learning to look after
their local environment with the help of a Peak District National Park
ranger.
Youngsters who attend Bamford Pre-School carried out a litter pick
around their village led by National Park engagement ranger, Tom Lewis. The children, kitted out with yellow vests and litter-pickers,
collected rubbish from around their Pre-School, the village green and
from the recreation ground.
Confor pressure secures doubled funds for forestry in Wales
- Confor A grant pot of £2 million for new woodland creation was announced
yesterday by Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and
Rural Affairs, following pressure from Confor to demonstrate Welsh
Government commitment to planting trees. Speaking at an event marking 100 years of Welsh Forestry at the 100th
Royal Welsh Show, Ms Griffiths said that the funding was a mark of their
commitment to meet targets of 2000 hectares new woodland creation each
year. The extra funding pledge signals intent on the part of Welsh
Government to meet these targets. Anthony Geddes, Confor National Manager for Wales, said, “This is a
welcome step forward, Confor have been working closely with the minister
and her forest policy team to turn warm words on forestry into trees in
the ground. New woodland creation in Wales is vital to provide timber
for housing, meet planting targets, create wildlife habitats and
strengthen our natural capital. “The grants need to reflect planting targets and other barriers to
planting and management remain to be addressed, before Welsh woodlands
deliver these benefits to the level required. However, this extra
funding as a signal of intent is exactly what we have been asking for
from Welsh Government. I would urge Confor members to take advantage of
this opportunity and apply for these grants, to create the first of a
new generation of Welsh Forests.”
Peatland ACTION announces first funding for Outer Hebrides to mark
International Bog Day - Scottish Natural
Heritage A new peatland restoration project aims to improve water quality, tackle climate change and help protect Black Throated Divers and Great Skua in the Outer Hebrides.
Funding for the first Peatland ACTION project in the islands has been
confirmed in celebration of International Bog Day this Sunday (28th). Working alongside Scottish Water, the project will focus on restoring
11 hectares of damaged and eroding peatland within the Loch Orasaigh
drinking water catchment area which serves the North Lochs Water
Treatment Works on the Isle of Lewis. The restoration aims to re-profile peat hags, block drainage ditches
and encourage the stabilisation of vegetation around the edge of the
loch. At a cost of £1,700 a hectare, the project offers a relatively
inexpensive way of tackling climate change, as well as potentially
reducing water treatment costs by minimising the amount of peat being
washed into the loch - helping secure a strategically important drinking
water supply in the Outer Hebrides. The project will also help preserve the local environment, with a
recent survey confirming the loch is home to two of Scotland’s protected
species – Black Throated Divers and Great Skua.
Transforming the NBN Atlas into a world-leading source of environmental
data – National Biodiversity Network We are delighted to announce that the National Biodiversity Network
Trust has today received funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to help
transform its data sharing website, the NBN Atlas, into a world-leading
source of environmental data. The funding, of £375,000 over three and a half years, will enable the
further development of the NBN Atlas to meet the needs of its audiences,
both current and new, and to help with global environmental issues. Currently the NBN Atlas holds over 223 million occurrence records
across 45,000 species, spanning five centuries. The data come from over
140 different data partners including government agencies, research
bodies, local environmental records centres, conservation charities,
commercial companies and volunteer wildlife recording groups. Correctly resourced, through the help of funding such as this Esmée
Fairbairn Foundation Grant, the NBN Atlas aims to be the single source
of high-quality wildlife data at the national level. On a larger scale, and in aiming to help address UK and global
environmental concerns, the NBN Trust has identified three ‘needs’,
which will be addressed through this grant: 1) engaging more people with the natural world, 2) making the data needed for evidence-based decisions more
accessible, and 3) developing the NBN Trust’s organisational sustainability to be
able to deliver on the first two needs.
Scientific publications Spelt, A., Williamson, C., Shamoun-Baranes, J. Shepard, E., Rock, P.
& Windsor, S.
Habitat use
of urban-nesting lesser black-backed gulls during the breeding season
(open access). Scientific Reports DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46890-6
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CJS is not responsible for content of external sites. Details believed correct but given without prejudice. Disclaimer: the views expressed in these news pages do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CJS. |
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St
Cyrus Reserve Manager Therese Alampo, MSP for Angus North and Mearns
Mairi Gougeon and Reserve Assistant Simon Ritchie launch Take 3 For the
Sea © Pauline Smith
How
often have you been a passenger in a car and counted the foxes, badgers,
deer and rabbits that you’ve seen (alive or dead) on the roadside? What
about all the mammals you’ve seen whilst you’re out on your morning dog
walk or weekend stroll? These sightings feel significant, but how can
you report them? The Mammal Society have developed a user-friendly app,
Mammal Mapper, that enables you to capture these records on your phone,
as you go, recording not only species details but also time and
location.
An
international team of researchers evaluated more than 10,000 published
scientific studies, and found that while animals are adjusting to
climate change, these responses appear insufficient to cope with future
rapid warming. The study focused mainly on birds and included common
European species such as the magpie (Pica pica), the great tit
(Parus major) and European pied flycatcher (Ficedula
hypoleuca).
(image:
credit Caroline Anderson SNH)
Bamford
Pre-School children and staff with Peak District National Park ranger
Tom Lewis collected litter from around their village
Great
Skua © Lorne Gill SNH
