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Headlines from Week Beginning 14 November |
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A round up of the top stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Monday 14 November
Rift over plan to move pine martens reported by Scotland on Sunday.
Pine martens throughout the Highlands could be captured and relocated in
a radical bid to save one of Scotland’s most iconic birds from extinction. Fears have been raised that the cat-sized predators are having a
disastrous impact on the country’s dwindling capercaillie population in the
Highlands. Stewart Stevenson, the environment minister, says he would consider
relocating the mammals to other areas if scientific research confirms they
are threatening the survival of the largest member of the grouse family. A relocation programme would be the second sanctioned by the Scottish
Government, which gave the go-ahead to Scottish Natural Heritage in 2003 to
remove hundreds of predatory hedgehogs from the Western Isles to save the
eggs of wading birds as part of a £1.3 million experiment. A report this
year suggested there was no evidence that that operation has had any effect. Stevenson is keen to safeguard the endangered capercaillie, whose Gaelic
name means “horse of the woods”, and would not rule out trapping and
removing the bird and rodent eating martens. He said: “If it can be demonstrated that pine martens are part of the
difficulty then we would look at what we can do. One option, clearly, would
be relocation. But equally pine martens are an important part of our natural
environment so we would need to consider very carefully how we separated
them from areas that are important to capercaillie.”
Plea to help river wildlife - Dorset Wildlife Trust The river wildlife of one of Dorset’s iconic chalk streams needs help,
according to Dorset Wildlife Trust. The River Allen in east
Dorset is one of the hidden gems of the county, home to species such as the
rare native white-clawed crayfish, but not all of its wildlife is thriving.
Surveys undertaken this year by Dorset Wildlife Trust as part of The River
Allen Living Landscape Project found very little evidence of water voles,
once prevalent on the river. Amanda Broom, Conservation Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “We
knew that water voles were few and far between on The Allen, but these
results are very worrying. We are working with local landowners and
fishing groups to make improvements to the habitat for a range of species
and this work is clearly especially urgent for water voles. We are
urging anybody who has seen a water vole or any signs of their presence
within the last year to get in touch with us.”
Native trees are fruiting earlier than ever according to Woodland Trust data 2011 set to be a 'mast year' for both acorns and beech nuts The trend, which is consistently advancing across 12 different species
suggests that the gradual increase in temperatures over recent years is
having an effect on the flowering and subsequent fruiting patterns of many
of our most well known species. Acorns are ripening 13 days earlier than in
the period 2000-2002, beech nuts 19 days earlier and rowan berries nearly
one month earlier. Tuesday 15 November
Research into bumblebee foraging distance offers conservation potential
- CEH
Researchers are closer to understanding how the foraging distances of
wild bumblebees vary across landscapes. The findings, published recently in
the scientific journal Oikos, are potentially important for landscape
managers looking to conserve bumblebee populations and enhance pollination
services for crops and biodiversity. Evidence suggests that many bumblebees have declined across Europe and
North America along with the plant species they rely on as foraging
resources. Habitat loss is considered one of the main drivers behind the
decline and there is considerable interest in developing conservation
options that could restore landscapes for pollinators.
MCS kicks up a stink over number of untreated sewage discharges throughout
UK
We have obtained new information from water companies and environmental
regulators throughout the UK that reveals, for the first time, the full
extent of the problem of discharges of raw sewage to the environment. The
time has come for the water industry to clean up its act. It was previously thought there were about 22,000 discharges – the vast
majority of which are known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and emergency
overflows (EOs). However, using Environmental Information Regulations, we
have discovered that the Environment Agency uses another four terms for raw
sewage discharges that are not widely understood by the public. Taking these
into account, the number of raw sewage outfalls in operation in England and
Wales is actually more like 31,000, instead of the usually published figure
of 22,000. the latest on the NPPF from The Telegraph David Cameron’s attempts to reform the planning system are “contradictory
and confusing”, MPs say today. A Commons committee said controversial plans to introduce a “presumption
in favour of sustainable development” to planning rules were
“unsatisfactory” and open to legal challenge. Unusually the MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee have written
directly to the Prime Minister with their report, urging him to make
changes. The intervention from the committee is a significant boost for
campaigners, including the National Trust, which are battling against the
reforms. The Daily Telegraph is also calling for the changes to be
rethought. Ministers have stressed that they will take into account the
findings of the committee before they finalise the changes in the next few
months. Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne are desperate to reform
planning rules to provide a boost to the economy. They claim that current
planning rules are holding back firms from expanding, and restricting
house-building, keeping prices artificially high. Joan Walley MP, who chairs the committee, said the current draft "appears
contradictory and confusing". She said: "It pays lip service to sustainable
development without providing a clear definition, potentially leaving future
planning decisions open to legal challenges.”
Moorland thrives as falcons fly high for grouse - Yorkshire Post
A group of falconers have been nominated for a top conservation award.
Roger Ratcliffe reports from Levisham Moor On a beautiful autumn day a speck moves at lightning speed across blue
skies over the North York Moors. Far below, some pointers are being directed through the heather with
whistles in search of red grouse. Suddenly, one of the dogs comes to an
abrupt halt. It stands absolutely dead still, like a statue, its nostrils
sifting the crisp autumnal air, and then it sets off again to follow the
scent of a bird. Very soon the grouse is flushed from its hiding place
and it rockets across the moor, well beyond the reach of the pointer. Up in
the sky, however, the speck is now dropping like a stone. With hardly
a beat of its wings, the falcon meets its quarry in mid-air with laser-like
precision. The grouse is killed instantly. Yet barely a feather of its
plumage seems to have been disturbed when Ralph Watt picks it up and puts it
into his bag. The cleanness of the kill, he says, contrasts with the mess
that is often made by lead pellets discharged from a shotgun. It is
the first kill of the day for the falconers who lease Levisham Moor from its
owners, the North York Moors National Park. These are not the Eton and Harrow-educated, double-barrel-named scions of
the English upper classes you might normally associate with the pursuit of
game birds across moors like this, however. They count among their
number an electrician, a builder’s labourer and a salesman. They are
members of the British Falconers’ Club, who 13 years ago set up the Levisham
Moor Group and took the sporting lease of a huge area of moorland on the
west side of the A169 Pickering to Whitby road. The National Park wanted the land managed in a way that would maintain
the heather and traditional moorland wildlife. It was decided that shooting
would not be appropriate in such an accessible and sensitive part of the
North York Moors. The group’s work has resulted in a remarkable reversal of
fortunes for the moor. When the falconers took the lease in 1999 the
population of red grouse was in the teens, and just about the only other
creatures living there were adders. Now, the latest grouse count estimates
there are between 300 and 400 on the moor. Not really national news but very important here
in the CJS Office, it was on Levisham Moor more years ago than I care to
remember that I started my ecologist's career putting in some of the
baseline counts for the Park, which in those days were really quite easy
because the moor was bereft of wildlife and smothered with molinia and
d.flex which made the hundreds of NVC quadrants really simple - even in the
middle of winter!
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Image: Paul Naylor |
Our seas are suffering serious damage and need protection now,
according to The Wildlife Trusts, in response to today’s ministerial
statement on Marine Conservation Zones.
The statement announces the Government’s intention to gather further
evidence on the 127 Marine Conservation Zones recommended by stakeholder
groups. The recommendations are the result of consultation with more than
one million stakeholders including fishermen, conservationists and
businesses. The process has cost around £8.8million to date.
The groups made their recommendations based on the ‘best available
evidence’ as advised by Defra in 2010. The process of gathering additional
evidence is expected to delay designation of Marine Conservation Zones by at
least a year.
We are disappointed that we now face a further delay of at least 12
months when more damage to marine habitats will continue to occur. Joan
Edwards, Head of Living Seas, The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts believe all 127 sites should be designated. Today’s
statement, made by Natural Environment and Fisheries Minister Richard
Benyon, promises all 127 sites will be consulted on. However, there is no
indication of when, or how many might be designated. The Wildlife Trusts
fears the delayed timeframe could put marine species and habitats at
considerable risk of further degradation.
Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts, said:
“We welcome the commitment that Defra has announced today to consult on
all 127 recommended Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in English Waters.
However, despite international evidence for the urgent need to protect our
seas, the Minister’s statement will result in further unacceptable delay.
Read more from Joan on her blog:
Marine Conservation Zones hang in the balance
It’s make or break time for the UK’s marine life. Looking back over my
career I’ve never experienced a time of greater concern for the future of
our seas.
After years of pressure from The Wildlife Trusts and a huge amount of
public support, the Marine and Coastal Access Act of 2009 promised us an
ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas around the coast by
2012.
Comments on the blog are from many varying conservation organisations.
Rare filmy fern at Nymans estate 'stolen by collector' - reported by BBC
News
The
National Trust had recently completed a project to improve the fern's
habitat
One of the UK's rarest plants has disappeared from a site in West Sussex,
prompting an investigation.
The National Trust said the colony of Tunbridge filmy fern was removed
from its Nymans estate near Handcross.
The trust, which is working alongside Sussex Police to investigate the
disappearance, said it may have been stolen by a collector.
Chloe Bradbrooke, a ranger at Nymans, said: "The loss of this fern has
been a hammer blow to all our staff."
She added: "We are all hoping that if the plants have been stolen by a
collector, someone will see sense and return them to their natural home
before it is too late.
NFU and Badger Trust work on joint TB vaccination project
The NFU and the Badger Trust have agreed to work together on an initial
project to vaccinate badgers on two farms owned by members of the NFU.
NFU chief farm policy adviser John Royle and Badger Trust Director Simon
Boulter have agreed a joint project in which the badgers on two farms owned
by NFU members will be vaccinated. In addition, the Badger Trust has
identified five other landowners around the UK wishing to vaccinate badgers
and is working independently with them as part of the initial trial project.
Vaccination on all seven farms started in October after surveys were
carried out to identify active badger setts and licences have been granted
by Natural England. The vaccination project will run until the end of
November 2011 and resume in May 2012.
Two years after record-breaking floods caused havoc in Cumbria, the Lake
District National Park has just spent its one millionth pound on repairing
damage and restoring the rights of way network.
After the floods, an LDNPA survey indicated that some 253 bridges needed
repairing or replacing to increase the resilience of the rights of way
network in case of future flooding disasters.
So far 180 bridges have been repaired by local contractors under the
supervision of national park teams and where ever possible the project teams
utilise local suppliers and materials to develop skills and capacity within
small rural businesses across the county.
The landmark million pound repair was carried out to the bridleway
running from Water Side House to Finsthwaite House, near Newby Bridge and
involved Commercial Groundworks from High Bentham using 90 tonnes of local
stone to improve and repair paths and drains.
UKSeaMap 2010 - predictive mapping of seabed habitats
The UKSeaMap 2010 project has produced a new seabed habitat map for the
UK marine area. It builds on the previous work of MESH (2008), UKSeaMap 2006
and the Irish Sea Pilot (2004). Newly available data products and an
enhanced predictive approach were used to prepare the input data layers.
Evidence
is growing that access to a wildlife-rich environment is essential for
children's health and wellbeing
Access to a green environment is essential for children's development,
argues Tony King. Photograph: Murdo Macleod
No government has recognised access to nature as a right, yet it can and
does deliver benefits to everyone in society. The Scottish Government is
consulting on a rights of children and young people bill, to establish
within law the responsibility of Scottish ministers to have "due regard" to
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.The Convention –
signed by every member of the UN except Somalia and the US – outlines
children's fundamental rights such as the right to an identity, the right to
life and development, and the right to be heard.
Stormy weather during this year’s breeding season failed to blow
Scotland’s red kite population off course.
New figures, compiled by RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage,
reveal that in 2011 there are 186 breeding pairs in Scotland, a rise of 22
on the previous year.
During this year’s breeding season, a record 314 young fledged, the
highest since reintroductions began in Scotland in 1989.
The red kite reintroduction programme is arguably the most successful
scheme of its type in the UK and perhaps also more widely in Europe. It is
now estimated that following reintroductions the UK holds between 7 and 10%
of the world red kite population.
Hands Off Our Land: Now even National Parks are at risk says The
Telegraph
Restrictions on building in some of the most beautiful parts of the
country could be relaxed under new Government plans, The Daily Telegraph can
disclose.
Last night (16/11), Labour said Government's plans to give national parks
authorities a new duty of "sustainable development" could give developers a
“licence to build” on some of the most pristine and stunning parts of
England.
England has 10 National Parks – most protected under law dating back to
the early 1950s - covering nearly 5,000 square miles of the most beautiful
countryside in the world, including Exmoor, the Peak District, Dartmoor, the
New Forest and the Lake District.
Each park is run by its own National Park Authority, which has two
statutory duties - to conserve the countryside and its wildlife, and to
allow people to enjoy it.
Now ministers want to add a third duty - to “facilitate sustainable
development” which campaigners say could require the parks’ authorities to
allow more building.
Pressure is growing on parks authorities to find other sources of income
after their funding was cut in last year's spending review, leading to
concerns that many could encourage more development to bring in extra
income.
According to a business plan published by the Department for the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, ministers will “consult on whether the
legislation for National Parks Authorities needs to better reflect their
role in facilitating sustainable development”.
The consultation about the changes to the National Parks guidance is due
to be launched next month and run to March 2012.
And reaction from defra:
Myth bust: Daily Telegraph claim that planning regulations will be relaxed
in National Parks
The myth: The Daily Telegraph has today said that planning regulations in
National Parks could be relaxed and that Ministers want to add a third
purpose of sustainable development to the duties of the parks.
The truth: This is just not true. There are no plans to relax planning
laws in National Parks. They are our most treasured landscapes and will
remain that way.
The Commission for Rural Communities suggested that National Parks should
be given a third purpose, on socio-economic development, which would have
equal status with their existing purposes of conservation and recreation.
Ministers have made clear that they do not agree with this, but that we
would consult on whether a change to the National Park Authorities’ duty or
other changes, such as improving guidance, would help them deliver
sustainable development as set out in the Government’s 2010
Vision.
Conservationists call for urgent restoration of UK peatlands -
Guardian reporting on IUCN publication.
New
report warns that losing just 5% of British peatland would equal UK's annual
carbon emissions and risk climate targets
Peatlands, like these in the Outer Hebrides, could release huge amounts
of CO2 if they are dried out. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian
Conservationists have called for urgent action to restore vast areas of
peatland across the UK after an inquiry warned that their fate will have
severe implications for the climate.
The report by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) has estimated that the UK's peatlands and peatbogs lock in about 3bn
tonnes of CO2, and are a far more significant carbon store than the
country's forests. But they are being damaged so seriously that they are
putting the UK's climate targets at risk.
The new study, by an IUCN commission of inquiry, has found that losing
only 5% of the 2.7m hectares of peatland in Britain, which cover large areas
of the Highlands, the Hebrides, the Peak District, the Pennines, Northern
Ireland and upland Wales, would be equal to the UK's entire annual carbon
emissions.
FWAG enters administration - reported in Farmers Weekly
The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group in England has lost its fight for
financial survival and entered administration. The farming charity had
employed 90 advisers, who provided environment and conservation advice to
farmers. However, it has folded after the government slashed its
environmental funding in the the comprehensive spending review last autumn.
A senior FWAG source confirmed: “We are officially in administration and we
have begun the process of filling in all the paperwork.”
Bid for £3m Solway coast wetlands project - reported in Times and Star
A £3 million project to develop the Solway coast’s wetlands could be
launched in April.
The three-year project aims to provide new wetland habitats, create
visitor centres at Holme Cultram Abbey and Bowness on Solway, provide
training in traditional countryside skills and run an education programme.
A joint conference of the Solway Firth Partnership and Solway Coast Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty on Friday heard from Dr Brian Irving, manager
of the AONB, who said the project would deliver 60 per cent of the
organisation’s management plan.
The other 40 per cent is already being delivered by the group’s
day-to-day work.
The project is being led by the AONB, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, Cumbria Tourism and Natural England.
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Juniper berries © Andrew Gagg / Plantlife |
Plantlife raises a toast as juniper regenerates for first time
Conservation charity Plantlife is toasting the success to date of its
project to save juniper – the gin berry bush - from extinction in lowland
England. 300 juniper seedlings are now growing at nine sites where existing
juniper bushes were old and incapable of reproducing, a conservation success
that has never before been achieved on this scale.
Plantlife’s juniper conservation project has involved trialling new
techniques to build up the most important populations across the chalk and
limestone country of lowland southern England. Tim Wilkins, Plantlife’s
Species Recovery Coordinator who has led the project, says: 'More than 30
project sites were chosen for a range of conservation measures, including
large-scale habitat management, experimental seedling shelters and - where
colonies had all but died out – the propagation of cuttings for later
replanting.'
Police investigating damage to Skye fossil site
One of the worst examples of reckless fossil collecting in recent years
has been uncovered by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on the Isle of Skye.
Several tonnes of rock have been dug from the cliffs near to Bearreraig
Bay in an apparent organised search for valuable fossil specimens.
Bearreraig Bay is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
which includes important beds of fossils dating from the Jurassic period.
The Jurassic lasted until around 145 million years ago and featured marine
creatures such as ammonites, and terrestrial animals including the
carnivorous dinosaur Megalosaurus and the vegetarians Cetiosaurus and
Stegosaurus.
The SSSI designation highlights the importance of the site and any
excavation and removal of rock needs permission from SNH as well as the
landowner.
Skye is known as Scotland's dinosaur isle' and contains important fossil
records. This makes it all the more serious that irresponsible collecting by
a selfish minority is threatening this unique aspect of Skye's natural
heritage.
Go-ahead given to look after Cornish heathland - Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Consent has been granted for Cornwall Wildlife Trust to reinstate
traditional management on Rosenannon Downs, a large Cornish heathland, for
the benefit of wildlife. The Trust owns the land and has been working with
local Commoners over recent years on a plan to reintroduce grazing to the
Downs.
The Downs is common land in the Parish of St Wenn near St Columb Major,
and it comprises of 108 hectares (267 acres) of lowland heath, which is one
of Europe's rarest and most threatened habitats.
Seán O’Hea, Mid-Cornwall Reserves Manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust
says, “As it is common land the Secretary of State for the Environments’
permission was needed to carry out the necessary works, and over the past
two years we have been consulting local people about the proposals.”
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.
There
has been an outcry at the possibility of relocating pine martens in Scotland
to try and conserve the numbers of capercaillies
Common
carder-bee - photo by Claire Carvell
New
research shows there are thousands more of these discharges in water company
ownership than previously thought
Ralph
Watt and his falcon Cirrus near Fylingdales radar station