|
|
|
||||||
|
Headlines from week beginning 27 April |
|
A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
91% back
UK lynx reintroduction trial - Lynx UK Trust A public survey launched last month by the Lynx UK Trust has returned
a remarkable 91% in favour of a trial reintroduction of lynx to the UK,
with 84% believing it should begin within the next 12 months.
Almost seven weeks ago the Lynx UK Trust, a team of international
wildlife and conservation experts, announced their hopes to carry out a
trial reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to the UK. Wiped out in the UK
over 1,300 years ago by fur hunters, lynx have been successfully
reintroduced across Europe, and the team hope that reintroduction here
will provide a valuable natural control on the UK's overpopulated deer
species, leading to forest regeneration and a boost to the entire
ecosystem. A public survey by the Trust, carried out with support from the
University of Cumbria, was launched with the news and the results,
released by the Trust today, reveal a huge weight of public support
behind the reintroduction. Over 9,000 people took part in the survey,
with 91% supporting a trial reintroduction and 84% believing it should
begin within the next 12 months. “We've been blown away by the level of interest and support from the
public.” comments chief scientific advisor to the project, Dr Paul
O'Donoghue, “This is by far the biggest survey of its kind ever carried
out in the UK, with almost five times the feedback of the original
beaver reintroduction survey in Scotland which recorded an 86% approval
rating. That led to government approval for the trial reintroduction, so
we're expecting to see a consistent response from Scottish Natural
Heritage and hope for similar in England and Wales. The UK public have
spoken; people overwhelmingly want these animals to be given the chance
to come back and we've got an extremely capable team to deliver it. The survey results were analysed by Dr Ian Convery and Dr Darrell
Smith of the University of Cumbria. Dr Convery commented; “It's an
impressive sample size of people who feel really strongly about lynx
reintroduction, and consistently all of the results and analyses are
extremely positive.” A further survey was commissioned following traditional opinion
polling techniques canvassing just over 1,000 people representatively
spread across age and social demographics which recorded support levels
of up to 70% for lynx reintroduction. Applications to Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage are
expected to be completed by summer for sites in Norfolk, Cumbria,
Northumberland and Aberdeenshire, with the Trust still evaluating
potential release sites in Wales. Up to six lynx would be released at
each site and closely monitored via satellite collars over a trial
period likely to last for 3-5 years. See the data,
you can download details here (pdf) courtesy of Lynx UK
Trust/University of Cumbria
Natural England statement on the possible introduction of lynx Any application to introduce lynx into England would need serious
consideration in terms of its impact right across the UK. The Eurasian lynx has been absent from Britain for about 1300 years.
As it is no longer recognised as a resident species, the release of lynx
into the wild in Britain would be unlawful unless licensed. Natural
England is the appropriate licensing body in England. So far Natural
England has had a single preliminary meeting with the Lynx Trust’s legal
advisers to describe the extensive process that would need to be
undertaken before any licence submission could be considered. Any application to introduce lynx into England would need very
serious consideration in terms of its impact right across the UK. If
such an application were made, Natural England would consider it in line
with prevailing legislation; international guidelines; following proper
public consultation and evidence gathering, and taking into account any
input from government. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
guidelines consider the socio-economic impacts of the introduction as
well as impacts on the environment and the animals themselves.
Why do you care about Nature? - Friends of
the Earth What have bitterns and grey wolves got in common? What connects
London’s Epping Forest to the Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany?
Or the cliffs of Robin Hood’s Bay to the sea turtle beaches of Crete? These are just some of the special places and species protected by
the European Birds and Habitats Directives, known collectively as the
Nature Directives. These laws protect the most important wildlife sites across the
European Union and have been instrumental in the recovery of some iconic
birds and animals. But they are now under threat as part of a review of regulation by
the European Commission, called the Regulatory Fitness and Performance
Programme (REFIT). But as we begin our drive to defend nature laws, it’s important to
know
what you think.
Plans To Safeguard National Park Approved -
Loch Lomond National Park Authority The board of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has
today (27.04.15) unanimously approved comprehensive plans to protect the
Park’s unique environment following an extensive public consultation,
which received more than 300 responses. The recommendations from officers at the National Park Authority
approved by their board include the creation of four camping management
byelaw zones on its busiest lochshores, covering 3.7% of the Park’ total
area, and investment in improved camping facilities. It is proposed that
this will see the creation of 300 camping places, through a mixture of
camping permits and low-cost campsites, in the first year in which the
new byelaws would be operating. This is in addition to a continued focus
on education around responsible camping and promotion of the access and
recreation opportunities throughout the Park. Linda McKay, convener of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Authority board, said: Full details of the proposals, including maps of the proposed
management zones, available at
www.thisisyourpark.org.uk
A prickle of hedgehogs and a scurry of squirrels among garden wildlife
secrets - RSPB
Sixty-five per cent of RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch participants
reported seeing a hedgehog snuffling around their garden at some point
in the year. But over half revealed they’d never set eyes on a slow worm
or grass snake slithering in and around their garden.
In excess of 585,000 people across the UK took part in the RSPB’s Big
Garden Birdwatch during the weekend of 24 and 25 January, with 72 per
cent of them also supplying information on the other garden wildlife
they saw throughout the year. Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist, said: “Once again the
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch survey has highlighted how important our
gardens are for an amazing variety of wildlife living there. A lot of
garden wildlife is in desperate need of our help. By providing shelter
and a safe place to make a home, gardens provide an invaluable resource
and are a key element in helping to save nature, perhaps even playing a
pivotal role in reversing some declines.” For the first time, Big Garden Birdwatch participants were asked to
keep an eye out for slow worms and grass snakes slithering around their
gardens. These secretive reptiles are often found in compost heaps or
near a source of water. The results revealed that eight per cent of
people spotted a slow worm regularly throughout the year, while only two
per cent saw a grass snake. For the second year running, grey squirrels remained the most
widely-spotted non-bird visitor, with 74 per cent of participants
spotting one scurrying across their garden or climbing up a tree at
least once a month. At the other end of the scale, the grey’s native
relative, the red squirrel, continued to struggle and was one of the
least-seen species – with just two per cent of people seeing one on a
monthly basis. The red squirrel is under threat by loss and fragmentation of
woodland habitat, and a lethal virus carried by the grey, and has been
lost from large parts of the UK. This virus is relatively harmless to
grey squirrels, but is fatal to reds. However, in rural Scotland, where 75 per cent of the red squirrel
population is found, almost one in six people spotted one at least once
a month scampering around their garden. Hedgehogs remained a popular garden visitor for the second year
running. Over 65 per cent of people set eyes on the spiny species
throughout the year, although it is thought populations have declined by
30 per cent since 2003 – with less than a million left in the UK. Badgers were spotted by twice as many people living in rural areas
than those living in suburban or urban areas, with over 40 per cent
reporting to have seen one during the year. The contrast in sightings
between rural and urban areas was mirrored by reports of muntjac and roe
deer; around 35 per cent of rural residents saw either species of deer
compared, to only seven per cent of urban dwellers.
Britain’s most famous Cuckoo is back! - BTO A Cuckoo named Chris, after the wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham,
has defied all the odds and returned to his Suffolk home for the fifth
summer since he was fitted with a satellite-tag to follow his amazing
journey. In May 2011, Chris was fitted with the latest in cutting edge
technology to help scientists at the British Trust for Ornithology
understand why his species is undergoing a catastrophic decline; we have
lost almost three-quarters of his kind since the late 80s.
Since leaving our shores in 2011, Chris has flown over, or visited,
twenty-eight different countries, crossed the Sahara Desert eight times
and reached speeds of up to 60mph. Dr Chris Hewson, lead scientist on the project at the BTO, said,
“Chris was one-year old when we fitted the satellite-tag, which makes
him five-years old now, and quite an age for a Cuckoo; the oldest we
have on record is almost seven. The tag was also given a life of
two-to-three years, so that is getting quite old too. We had everything
crossed for Chris to make it back again this year and give us another
complete migration route, and he hasn’t let us down.”
RSPB Scotland searches for leading lights of conservation The search for Scotland’s leading lights of conservation has begun
with entries now open for the RSPB’s prestigious Nature of Scotland
Awards. The annual competition is a celebration of the people and
projects that go the extra mile to protect Scotland’s precious wildlife
and the natural environment. RSPB Scotland is inviting entries from individuals, schools and
organisations that demonstrate an innovative approach to wildlife
conservation and work hard to enhance the nation’s natural heritage. This year, the expert judging panel will be looking for the very best
across eight categories including a brand new category for 2015. The
Nature Tourism Award will go to the nature-based tourism organisation
that stands heads and shoulders above the rest for its contribution to
conservation in Scotland. Tour companies, accommodation providers,
attractions, wildlife guides and engagement activities are all welcome
to apply. The other categories for entry include: Marine Conservation,
Sustainable Development, Politician of the Year, Youth and Education,
Community Initiative, Innovation and RSPB Species Champion. Stuart Housden, Director of RSPB Scotland, said: “There are a
tremendous number of people and organisations working hard to give
nature a home by protecting and enhancing the wonderful wildlife,
special landscapes and wild places we have across Scotland. Each year I
am truly impressed and inspired by the high quality entries we receive
for these awards
UK Supreme Court orders Government to take “immediate action” on air
pollution - ClientEarth
Access the judgement
and summary statement from the Supreme Court R (on the application of ClientEarth) (Appellant) v Secretary of
State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Respondent) Reaction:Sustrans
responds to Supreme Court Judgement on air pollution Claire Francis, Head of Policy for Sustrans commented: “It’s
outrageous that something as fundamental to our basic needs as clean air
must be fought for through legal proceedings in the highest court in the
land. Poor air quality reduces life expectancy by an average of over
eleven years; the failure of the Government in dealing with air
pollution is a travesty and a national embarrassment. The next
Government must act urgently to remedy the situation. That will mean
serious, dedicated investment and an effective programme of action
through the publication of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy
to help more people out of their polluting cars for short journeys. That
won’t just mean fewer deaths from pollution – it will also tackle
obesity and other diseases, climate emissions and congestion, benefiting
our health and economy.”
Welcoming today’s UK Supreme Court ruling, ordering the Government to
produce a new air pollution plan following a case brought by Client
Earth, Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner Jenny Bates said:
“UK air pollution kills tens of thousands of people prematurely every
year and places a huge burden on our over-stretched NHS - it’s a scandal
that it has been allowed to continue for so long."
SNH releases reports on Tayside beavers More than 150 beavers living in the River Tay and Earn catchments
have been found to be well adapted to living in Scotland; are Eurasian
beavers once native to Britain; and are free of diseases of concern to
humans, domestic animals and other wildlife, according to three reports
published today (29 April) by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on behalf
of the Tayside Beaver Study Group. Impacts on various land use interests are also documented together
with the results of trials of various techniques for managing the effect
of beavers, and a series of conclusions on the likely implications if
beavers remain in Scotland. The beavers have been in Tayside since at least 2006, and are thought
to originate either from escapes or illegal releases from private
collections. They have been found in rivers and lochs stretching from
Kinloch Rannoch, Kenmore and Crieff in the west to Forfar, Perth and
Bridge of Earn in the east. In March 2012, Scotland’s Minister for Environment, Stewart
Stevenson, opted to allow the Tayside beavers to remain in the wild for
the duration of the official trial reintroduction of beavers in
Knapdale, Argyll. At his request, the Tayside Beaver Study Group was set
up to gather information and monitor their impacts on land uses and find
out more about how to manage them. The findings, along with those from
the Knapdale trial and other research, will help Scottish Ministers
decide later this year whether or not to permanently reintroduce beavers
to Scotland. The final report on the work of the Tayside Beaver Study Group shows
the beavers are well adapted to living in Scotland. They are
successfully producing young and still spreading through the Tayside
catchment. The group made an early decision not to repeat ecological
studies carried out in Knapdale, but to focus resources on documenting
the interactions between the beavers and the wider range of land
management interests in Tayside. A second report on tests on 21 beavers from across the catchment
found they were all healthy and free from any parasites or diseases of
concern to humans, domestic animals and other wildlife. Genetic tests
on a further sample of 25 beavers, documented in the third report, show
them to be Eurasian rather than North American beavers, and of German
(most likely Bavarian) origin. They were from three family lines,
providing adequate genetic diversity for the short-term. There could,
however, be a need for genetic monitoring and management in the future
if beavers were fully reintroduced to Scotland. David Bale, Chair of the Tayside Beaver Study Group and SNH’s Area
Manager for Tayside & Grampian, said: “I am grateful to the members of
the Tayside Beaver Study Group for working so well together to produce
these reports. They will go to the Scottish Government along with other
beaver studies in late May, so the decision on the future of beavers in
Scotland is based on the best information available.”
To download the full reports, see: Trapping and health screening of free-living beavers within the River Tay catchment, east Scotland Genetic assessment of free-living beavers in and around the River Tay catchment, east Scotland Tayside Beaver Study Group Final Report
Most of Britain’s national parks don’t have the “right rocks” for
fracking– Durham University Most of Britain’s national parks are unsuitable for fracking due to
their geology, according to experts at Durham University.
The review has been published as a policy briefing document by the
Durham Energy Institute (DEI).
The briefing also contains a map of the UK showing the geology of
Britain’s national parks in relation to their suitability for fracking. Author Dr Liam Herringshaw, of Durham’s Department of Earth Sciences,
said the briefing had been prompted by confusion around Government
policy in relation to fracking in national parks. In January, in response to public concerns, the Government announced
there would be “an outright ban on fracking in national parks”, only to
amend this in February to say that “in the case of areas of outstanding
natural beauty and national parks, given their size and dispersion, it
might not be practical to guarantee that fracking will not take place
under them”. The Infrastructure Act 2015 was enacted in February,
restricting unconventional oil and gas development in national parks. However, Dr Herringshaw said the Act’s implications were presently
unclear as protected areas are still to be defined, though the
Government is required by law to clarify protected areas in legislation
by July this year. Dr Liam Herringshaw, said: “We hope that this review of existing
information about the geology of the UK’s national parks will help
provide all sides involved in the fracking debate with some clarity
about the potential for fracking in these areas, which currently appears
to be lacking.” Access the
briefing documents online here.
Reaction:
Fracking in National Parks: Our position - Campaign for National
Parks "We do not support the use of fracking in or under National Parks,
given the potentially significant environmental impacts. These
include the landscape damage caused by the large number of boreholes
required to recover shale gas and the fact that increased reliance on
gas risks undermining the UK's progress towards meeting climate change
targets." Further information on our Energy Infrastructure Policy Statement can
be found at
www.cnp.org.uk/policystatements
Tiny technology unlocks the mystery journey of the nightingale
- Wildlife Trust BCN Celebrated for their beautiful song, nightingales have declined by
nearly 60% in the last 15 years alone - now a pivotally important
electronic programme can help redress that deline by revealing vital
data. Nightingale at Grafham Water by Nik Shelton The birds are long distance migrants, leaving their stronghold in the
south and east of England for the perilous journey to west and central
Africa in the autumn. At Grafham Water Wildlife Trust habitat management
work has paid dividends with nightingales returning annually, and
yesterday, 29 April Anglian Water and the British Trust for Ornithology
completed this year's tagging of nightingales. The collaboration began
two years ago when the tagging programme began so as to gain vital and
detailed information about when and where they migrate. Advances in miniature technology mean the birds this year have now
been fitted with the most accurate geo-locater devices yet, bringing
greater accuracy to the scientific data. The tiny tags weigh just 1gram,
the size of a shirt button, with integral clock, camera and light sensor
- tests have proved that they do not affect the welfare of the birds. Paul Stancliffe, of the BTO, said: “Our work studying nightingale
habitats in the UK will also support conservation efforts, not least
through our new booklet. And now being able to track these birds as they
move between Africa and Grafham Water, seeing the routes they take,
where they stop to rest and feed, and for how long, would have been the
thing of dreams only a few years ago. The use of these new tags is
incredibly exciting; they should help us to inform future conservation
action to reverse the declines seen in populations of this iconic bird." A total of 13 nightingales are now tagged - on these 13 the rest of
the nightgale population now depends for the unvaluable data they can
supply. To coincide with this year’s tagging, the BTO has unveiled a new
guide
Managing Scrub for Nightingales highlighting best practice in
habitat management for nightingales - a key ingredient for their future
survival - with the latest knowledge of what conditions the birds need
to exist.
Wildlife at Home Launched - BIAZA British wildlife is set to enjoy a bright future thanks to a brand
new partnership. From nightingales and kingfishers to dragonflies and water voles, our
native wildlife is struggling to find the habitat needed to thrive due
to increased development, intensive agriculture and climate change This exciting new collaboration will link BIAZA member zoos and
aquariums with their local Wildlife Trusts, so they can get more
involved in projects in their areas, providing skills, expertise and
man-power for projects to support our native species. Programmes and Policy Coordinator at BIAZA, Nicky Needham, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to put their skills to good use on their local patches. Zoo and aquarium conservation work not only stems to exotic locations abroad, but is just as important on our own doorstep.”
Our Corporate Plan describes how we support the Scottish Government's
Purpose to focus government and public services on creating a more
successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish,
through increasing sustainable economic growth. Download the report here (PDF)
Public consultation as part of the 'fitness check' for EU nature
legislation (Birds Directive, Habitats Directive)
- European Commission Objective of the consultation This consultation is designed to gather opinions on current EU nature
conservation legislation (the Birds Directive and the Habitats
Directive) and its implementation to date, as part of the 'fitness
check' that the European Commission is carrying out under its Regulatory
Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT). The fitness check looks at whether the current regulatory framework
is proportionate and fit for purpose, and delivering as expected.
Specifically, it assesses the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency,
coherence and EU added value of the legislation. However, the fitness
check does not consider possible future changes to the legislation. If
required, this would be done in a separate impact assessment. Details of the fitness check timetable and process The results of this consultation will be assessed and summarised in a report, which will be made publicly available on the fitness check website. All members of the public and organisations are welcome to contribute Period of consultation: From 30.04.2015 to 24.07.2015 Blog from Martin Harper, RSPB:
Are you ready to Defend Nature? A reaction to the launch of the public
consultation on the future of the EU Nature Directives
Scottish Showcase at the World Forum - Scottish Forum on Natural Capital The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital is looking for the best
examples of natural capital work from across Scotland to be part of
a 'Scottish Showcase' at the second World Forum on Natural Capital in
Edinburgh on 23-24 November 2015. Bringing together business leaders,
government representatives and environmental experts from around the
globe, the World Forum will examine the most up-to-date developments in
this rapidly evolving field, with a focus on managing risk and driving
innovation. Scotland, as host nation of the World Forum on Natural Capital has an
opportunity to highlight the ground-breaking work taking place here. The
Scottish Forum Steering Group is seeking outstanding case studies to
create a Scottish Showcase at the World Forum that will engage, inspire
and inform an audience of business leaders, finance leaders,
environmental experts and governmental representatives when they come
together in Edinburgh in November. Submissions are sought from businesses, financial institutions,
government agencies, NGOs and other organisations which have developed
their understanding of natural capital to bring about a strategic change
in decision-making. Case studies must have a clear focus on
environmental benefits, supported by a strong business or economic case,
and must involve lessons learned that are relevant to a wider audience. If you would like to submit a case study for consideration, please
complete the form online. If you would like to discuss your ideas before
submitting please contact Mike Elm, Project Officer on 0131 312 4765 or
email melm@naturalcapitalforum.com. The closing date for submissions is Monday 1st June 2015 and a
shortlist will be drawn up soon afterwards.
TV wildlife presenters urge public to join the Great British Bee Count
2015 - Friends of the Earth Wildlife presenters Steve Backshall, Michaela Strachan and Miranda
Krestovnikoff are urging people to get outside and take part in the
Great British Bee Count 2015, which is taking place throughout the month
of May (1-31 May 2015). Organised by Friends of the Earth, Buglife and Waitrose, the Great
British Bee Count aims to build on the huge success of last year’s
inaugural event, when over 23,000 people took part, spotting over
830,000 bees. Gardeners are also being encouraged to take easy steps to make their
gardens more bee-friendly, and help provide crucial havens for our
threatened pollinators. The forthcoming Bank Holiday weekend provides an
ideal opportunity to get started. Allotments (with an average of 12 bees spotted per count) and gardens
(8) were two of the top three most popular habitats in last year’s bee
count – with the countryside (10) being the third. Friends of the Earth Nature Campaigner Sandra Bell said: “Discover
how bee-friendly your garden, park or countryside is by taking part in
the Great British Bee Count 2015 – it’s fun, informative and easy to
take part. Bees are the gardener’s friend, pollinating their fruit and
flowers. With a little effort, more of our gardens and allotments could
become crucial havens for these under-threat pollinators.” Bee expert Professor Dave Goulson, of the University of Sussex, said:
"It is fantastic that the Great British Bee Count got 23,000 people out
looking at our wild bees last year, let’s hope for even more in 2015.
The idea of including photo uploads this year is really important as it
will allow the records to be checked by experts.” The data can be easily recorded via the free smartphone app, which
goes live on 1 May. The app can be downloaded from Itunes or the Google
Play store. To find out more about the event, including how to take
part, click on:
http://www.greatbritishbeecount.co.uk/
New research to help farmland birds - BTO The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has launched a new appeal
today (1/5/15) to help tackle the continuing decline of many once
familiar farmland birds. Skylark by Mike Weston (via BTO)
BTO research has been central to the whole ‘farmland bird story’,
from identifying declines, through diagnosing causes, to designing
solutions for this conservation problem. The chief policy response has
been to instigate agri-environment schemes. These schemes, which are
funded through the EU Common Agricultural Policy, were set up to support
farmers and land managers to farm in ways that support biodiversity,
protect soil and water and enhance the landscape. Some of the scheme
options were wholly or partly designed to provide resources for
declining farmland birds. Previous BTO research has highlighted limitations in some of the
schemes, prompting modifications to improve their design. Although
agri-environment schemes have succeeded in reducing the rates of decline
of a range of farmland bird species, we have yet to see populations
recover to former levels and, for some species, the rate of decline has
increased over recent years Dr Gavin Siriwardena, Principal Ecologist at BTO, commented, "Many of
us thought we had solved the problem of farmland bird decline, but the
latest evidence suggests more research is needed to find conservation
solutions that really work. It is evident from our latest results that
there is still much that we do not understand about how to reverse the
declines, making our Farmland Bird Appeal all the more important. If we
can secure the funding then we can address some key questions and offer
the best advice for farmers to deliver biodiversity benefits." The BTO is looking to raise £100k through the appeal, which will be
used to answer a suite of questions, including some that look at the
declining Skylark – a species whose populations fell by 63% between 1967
and 2012. BTO data show that Skylarks have been affected negatively by
agri-environment scheme options but we don’t yet know why. One potential
project would see BTO researchers using GPS tracking devices to find out
how Skylarks use today’s farmed landscape so that they can then identify
where problems are occurring.
Hedges, edges and woodland feed the bees’ needs
- Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust A new study published in the science journal Biological Conservation
identified that double the amount of uncultivated land currently being
devoted to bees and other pollinators on farmland needs to be created to
boost declining insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies. The five-year study, which formed part of the Farm4bio project, and
carried out by entomologists from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
(GWCT) and Rothamsted Research, suggests that at least a seven per cent
increase in flower-rich habitat is needed in order to double pollinator
abundance. The study was carried out in two regions of England – Wessex
and East Anglia.
Dr John Holland, head of farmland ecology with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust explains the results of the study, “Our study confirmed that the lack of flower-rich habitat was a limiting factor in the recovery of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators. However, the study showed that we do need to balance the creation of new flower-rich habitats to ensure this does not detract pollinating insects away from existing natural wild plants and crops that also need to attract pollinators." To mitigate the large amount of uncultivated land needed for bees and
butterflies, Dr Holland says that the study identified several ways in
which the existing farmland landscapes can be improved for pollinators,
thereby reducing the need to take more land out of production. The study identified the importance of woodland edges for bees and
butterflies and the need to increase management in these areas for the
benefit of pollinators. The study concluded that the success of current Agri-Environment
Scheme (AES) habitats for pollinators is variable and depends on their
type and quality, which is very much determined by their management. At
present the uptake of flower-rich habitats within AES is low nationally,
and the study showed that farmers need encouragement to try these
options. Consequently the quality of advice provided by farm advisers is
critical.
Scientific Publications Jonathan S. Lefcheck et al. Biodiversity enhances ecosystem multifunctionality across trophic levels and habitats. Nature DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7936
Sutcliffe, P.R., Klein, C.J., Pitcher, C.R. and Possingham, H.P.
(2015),
The effectiveness of marine reserve systems constructed using different
surrogates of biodiversity. Conservation Biology.
doi: 10.1111/cobi.12506 García-Valdés, Raúl, Svenning, Jens-Christian, Zavala, Miguel A.,
Purves, Drew W. & Araújo, Miguel B.
Evaluating the combined effects of climate and land-use change on tree
species distributions. Journal of Applied Ecology doi:
10.1111/1365-2664.12453 Hermoso, Virgilio, Cattarino, Lorenzo, Kennard, Mark J., Watts,
Mathew & Linke, Simon.
Catchment zoning for freshwater conservation: refining plans to enhance
action on the ground. Journal of Applied Ecology. DOI:
10.1111/1365-2664.12454
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
European
Lynx, (image: Erwin van Maanen via Lynx UK Trust)
The
RSPB is encouraging people to get out and uncover the secrets of their
gardens and outdoor spaces, after the second round of RSPB Big Garden
Birdwatch results highlighted the importance of gardens to threatened UK
wildlife. 
Chris
the Cuckoo. Photograph by Phil Atkinson
After reviewing existing geological data, scientists at Durham’s
Department of Earth Sciences highlighted the potential suitability of
each of the country’s 15 national parks for fracking activity according
to their rock type.
A
new study by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust and Rothamsted
research showed that double the amount of flower-rich land currently
being devoted to bees and other pollinators on farmland needs to be
created to boost declining insects such as bees, butterflies and
hoverflies. Photocredit: Peter Thompson, GWCT
