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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
News from over the Christmas break Government announcements and
policy plus reactions New Environmental Protection Act needed after Brexit – Environmental Audit Committee MPs are warning the Government that environmental
protections must not be weakened during the process of leaving the EU or
afterwards. The Environmental Audit Committee is calling on the
Government to introduce a new Environmental Protection Act during
Article 50 negotiations to maintain the UK's strong environmental
standards. Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Mary
Creagh MP: "Changes from Brexit could put our countryside, farming and
wildlife at risk. Protections for Britain's wildlife and special places
currently guaranteed under European law could end up as 'zombie
legislation' even with the Great Repeal Bill. The Government should
safeguard protections for Britain's wildlife and special places in a new
Environmental Protection Act. UK farming faces significant risks – from
a loss of subsidies and tariffs on farm exports to increased competition
from countries with weaker food, animal welfare and environmental
standards. The Government must not trade away these key protections as
we leave the EU. It should also give clarity over any future farm
subsidies." The Environmental Audit Committee report suggests
that protections for wildlife and habitats could be weaker after the UK
leaves the EU if the Government doesn't take action before, or in the
early stages of the Article 50 process. The MPs looked at the legislative, trade, and
financial issues and make recommendations for action to secure the
future of the natural environment. They call on the Government to allow
full parliamentary scrutiny of its plans for the future of environmental
legislation after Brexit. Documents:
Response:
EAC report warns wildlife and farming could be harmed by Brexit
- CPRE A new report from the Environmental Audit
Committee warns that wildlife and farming could be harmed by the Brexit
process. MPs are calling on the Government to introduce a new
Environmental Protection Act during Article 50 negotiations to uphold
the UK's strong environmental standards. The report suggests protections
for wildlife and habitats could be weakened while farmers could face
lost subsidies, export tariffs and increased competition after Brexit. Belinda Gordon, head of rural affairs at the
Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), says: “The report is right to recognise that future
support for land management should encourage innovation. We also agree
that funding should be tied to public benefits beyond food production,
and be tailored to the local landscape. “Brexit could have a huge impact on farming and
the natural environment, but it also gives the Government a chance to
develop an ambitious agricultural policy that supports the distinctive
attributes of English farming that make our countryside so beautiful and
vibrant. We should also look to redirect public funding towards things
that really benefit the public as well as farmers – wildlife,
distinctive and varied landscapes, and flood and soil protection,
alongside food production.” Response:
MPs warn Government that countryside and farming are at risk
– Wildlife Trusts
Farmland
(c) Zsuzsanna Bird via Wildlife Trusts Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive, The Wildlife
Trusts responds to the new report, saying: “This report is good news. It
shows that politicians from all parties see the need for positive action
for our natural environment as we approach Brexit. 80% of our
environmental laws are tied in with the EU so preserving and improving
them during and after Brexit is critical. The Wildlife Trusts fully
support the proposal for a positive ambitious Act of Parliament. A new
Environment Act should set a world standard in environmental legislation
and ensure that wildlife recovers in diversity and abundance. It is also
essential that every piece of green legislation that can be rescued in
the Repeal Act, is rescued. In the next few years we will be defining
the nation in new terms. Helping our wildlife to recover from decades of
decline will not happen by accident. Unless we set ourselves goals and
provide the legal, financial, and market mechanisms to achieve them we
can be sure that wildlife will continue to decline. Given that 70% of
our land area is farmed, intelligent financial support and regulation
for land management will be critical to this. As a society we ultimately
depend entirely on the natural world - the government must recognise
this and reflect this in a during and after the process of leaving the
EU.” First ever garden villages named with government support - Department for Communities and Local Government The first ever garden villages, which have the
potential to deliver more than 48,000 homes across England, have been
given government backing. In an expansion of the existing garden towns
programme, these smaller projects of between 1,500 and 10,000 homes
continue the government’s commitment to support locally-led development
and make sure this is a country that works for everyone. The 14 new garden villages – from Devon to
Derbyshire, Cornwall to Cumbria – will have access to a £6 million fund
over the next 2 financial years to support the delivery of these new
projects. This money will be used to unlock the full capacity of sites,
providing funding for additional resources and expertise to accelerate
development and avoid delays. The government also announced today (2
January 2017) its support for 3 new garden towns in Aylesbury, Taunton
and Harlow & Gilston – and a further £1.4 million of funding to support
their delivery. Together with the 7 garden towns already announced,
these 17 new garden settlements have the combined potential to provide
almost 200,000 new homes across the country. Response:
Government plans for new garden towns and villages
- CPRE The Government has today announced plans to
create 14 new garden villages in England, of between 1,500 to 10,000
houses. It has also announced support for three new garden towns in
Aylesbury, Taunton and Harlow & Gilston. These garden towns and villages
will be distinct new settlemtents, rather than extensions to existing
urban areas. Shaun Spiers, chief executive of the Campaign to
Protect Rural England, comments: "CPRE welcomes efforts to tackle the
housing crisis in the form of high quality, well-planned and
well-located developments. Done well with genuine local consent, garden
villages and garden towns can be part of the solution and certainly
preferable to what is currently happening in too many parts of the
country - poor quality new estates plonked down on the edge of villages
and market towns, in the teeth of local opposition and in defiance of
good planning principles. "But CPRE will look closely at these specific
proposals to ensure that they really are locally led; that they respect
the Green Belt and other planning designations; and that they meet
housing need, particularly the need for genuinely affordable housing for
local people, and are not driven by over-ambitious, centrally dictated
housing targets. "Where communities support new settlements, they
should be protected from speculative planning applications for a long
time to come."
Environment Secretary announces £120 million support for rural
communities – Defra Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom announces
funding boost for rural businesses across England. £120 million of funding will be made available to
support farmers, grow businesses, and generate thousands of jobs in
rural communities, announced Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom today
(4 January) at the Oxford Farming Conference. Rural and farm businesses will soon be able to
apply for the next round of the Rural Development Programme for England
(RDPE) Growth Programme, which will help new businesses get off the
ground and support existing companies to grow, develop new products and
access new export markets. Funding has already benefited dozens of businesses
across England, including the Biddenden fruit handling company in Kent,
which received £70,000 to install new equipment – leading to two new
products and three new jobs – and Carvannel Free Range Dairy Ltd in
Cornwall, which received over £80,000 to diversify their business and
develop a new milk processing factory. Speaking after the Oxford Farming Conference,
Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: "A quarter of England’s
businesses are based in the countryside and this funding will give rural
start-ups, family-run businesses and farmers looking to diversify the
boost they need. The RDPE has already supported a range of
projects, from installing cutting-edge equipment to restoring flood
plains, and the next round will help create more jobs, sell more
products and help us access new markets." As well as boosting businesses and creating jobs,
past RDPE projects have benefited the natural environment – with money
granted to Dovecote Farm in Northants helping restore flood-plain
meadows and grassland along the Nene Valley, while supporting species
like otters.
Budget for land reform increased –
Scottish Government Increased funding to shape future land reform
measures and provide greater transparency. Overall funding for land reform will be increased
by £3.4 million in 2017, with the existing Scottish Land Fund budget
maintained at £10 million. The Scottish Land Fund awarded money to 49
projects in this financial year, with a similar number currently in the
pipeline, supporting communities to develop proposals for purchasing
land. The additional funding will support the
introduction of new measures which offer greater transparency around
land ownership in Scotland for communities, tenants and land owners. It will also support plans introduced in the Land
Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 Bill to allow the Scottish Government’s
programme for land reform to be taken forward. Scientific research, results and
publications
Year of strong grass growth was bad for bees and butterflies
– National Trust Bee and butterfly numbers have slumped after a
tenth year of unsettled weather, National Trust experts have said. Mild winter and spring weather led to extremely
high grass growth, leading to a good year for farmers with livestock and
for making silage or hay. But the grass growth meant a difficult year
for warmth-loving insects, including common meadowland butterflies. The assessment comes as the National Trust marks
ten years of its annual weather and wildlife review, which is aimed at
understanding how changing weather patterns is affecting wildlife at its
places. Matthew Oates, nature and wildlife specialist at
the National Trust, said: “Another year of unsettled weather has seen
extraordinary grass growth – good for livestock and hay making, but bad
for many plants and insects which like short turf grassland, like the
common blue butterfly. Our rangers have had to work closely with farmers
and graziers to get grazing levels right for these plants and insects.
In many places it’s been a struggle, but at a handful of places like
Somerset’s Collard Hill – home to the large blue butterfly – graziers
have triumphed. 2016 comes on top of an unsettled decade, with many
species struggling in the face of climate change and more intensive
farming practices.” A mild winter, cold spring and mild, wet weather
in May and June led to very high grass growth in early summer. Grass
grew at a rate almost a third faster than in previous years, according
to Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board figures. Rampant grass growth was good news for farmers
making hay in many parts of the country. But in much of the country
strong grass growth badly affected butterfly and bee species reliant on
small plants that were crowded out by vigorous-growing grasses.
Ash
dieback: Insect threat to fungus-resistant trees
– University of Exeter Ash trees which can resist the killer dieback
fungus may be more vulnerable to attacks by insects, according to new
research. Scientists from the universities of Exeter and
Warwick examined trees which are resistant to ash dieback and –
unexpectedly – found they had very low levels of chemicals which defend
against insects. With efforts under way to protect ash trees from
dieback, the scientists warn that selecting trees for fungal resistance
could put them at risk from insects. Aside from ash dieback, the other major threat to
European ash trees is the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, which has already
devastated vast tracts of ash in the USA and is currently spreading
westwards across Europe. “Our research highlights the danger of selecting
trees for resilience to ash dieback at the expense of resistance to
insects that threaten this iconic UK tree species,” said joint lead
author Dr Christine Sambles, of the University of Exeter. “Ash dieback,
which is caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, can kill
young trees in a season, while older trees tend to decline and die over
several years.” The research, published in the journal Nature, is
part of a study involving several universities and Government institutes
which looked at the DNA of ash trees in the hope of identifying ash
dieback resistance. Instead of focussing on DNA, the Exeter and Warwick
scientists looked at differences in chemical composition between
tolerant and susceptible ash trees. “Plants use a vast range of
chemicals to defend against fungal attack, and the primary objective was
to identify differences which could be used to screen young ash trees
and choose the best ones for replanting,” said co-author Professor
Murray Grant, Elizabeth Creak Chair in Food Security at the University
of Warwick. “Our findings underline the need for further research
to ensure that we select ash trees resilient to present and future
threats.”
Mass insect migrations in UK skies –
Rothamsted Research For the first time, scientists have measured the
movements of high-flying insects in the skies over southern England –
and found that about 3.5 trillion migrate over the region every year. Scientists recorded movement above radar sites in
southern England and found large seasonal differences, with mass
migrations of insects generally going northwards in spring and
southwards in autumn. Until now, radar studies have measured migrations
of relatively few nocturnal species of agricultural pests, and no study
previously examined the vast numbers of daytime migrants. Researchers
from the University of Exeter and Rothamsted Research, which receives
strategic funding from the BBSRC, captured the movement of 3,200 tons of
biomass, using specialised radar techniques. This movement is more than
seven times the mass of the 30 million songbirds which depart the UK for
Africa each autumn. It is also the equivalent of about 20,000 flying
reindeer. The study is published today in the journal Science. Dr Jason Chapman, of the Centre for Ecology and
Conservation at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall,
said: “Insect bodies are rich in nutrients and the importance of these
movements is underappreciated.” “If the densities observed over southern UK are
extrapolated to the airspace above all continental landmasses,
high-altitude insect migration represents the most important annual
animal movement in ecosystems on land, comparable to the most
significant oceanic migrations.” Although the origin and destination of each insect
was not recorded, evidence from previous research suggests many will
have been travelling to and from the UK over the English Channel and
North Sea. The scientists recorded movement above radar sites
in southern England and found large seasonal differences, with mass
migrations of insects generally going northwards in spring and
southwards in autumn. Access the paper
Breeding birds struggle with wet 2016
- BTO Information collected by British Trust for
Ornithology volunteers show that 2016 was a poor breeding season for
many bird species, in part due to periods of heavy spring and summer
rainfall. In a reversal of fortunes from last year, conditions were
better for populations in northern England and Scotland than they were
in the south. The 2015-16 winter was the UK’s third warmest on
record and results generated from survey work undertaken by British
Trust for Ornithology volunteers indicate that these mild conditions,
which extended over much of the northern hemisphere, benefited many
species. "At the start of the breeding season, bird ringers taking
part in the Constant Effort Site (CES) scheme recorded above average
numbers for many of the songbirds nesting in scrub and woodland
habitats, such as Wren, Robin and Song Thrush." However, March and April brought cold, wet weather
to much of the country, particularly in the southern half of Britain,
resulting in a late start to the nesting season in these habitats. Carl
Barimore, NRS Organiser noted that "The cool, damp spring delayed egg
production for 12 species, including both residents and summer visitors,
many laying their first egg over a week later than average. This delay
was most obvious for those birds that typically start to nest in April,
such as Great Tit, Chaffinch and Blackcap." More heavy rain in June caused further problems
for birds attempting to rear young. "Unsurprisingly, species nesting in
wetlands were particularly badly affected", continues Carl. "Numbers of
Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting fledglings fell by a third and a half
respectively, largely due to nests being flooded out." Many young birds leave the nest in June and the
impact of unseasonable weather doesn’t end there. CES results show that
the number of juvenile birds caught per adult in 2016 was significantly
lower than average for 17 of the 24 species monitored. As Dave Leech, a
Senior BTO Research Ecologist, notes "The figures recorded by ringers
paint an even more negative picture of the 2016 season than those from
BTO nest recorders. Adverse conditions immediately after fledging can
really reduce the survival rates of the inexperienced young as they
struggle to acclimatise to their new-found independence." The full set of 2016 preliminary results for the
Nest Record Scheme (NRS) and Constant Effort Site ringing surveys can be
found at www.bto.org/nrs-preresults2016 and www.bto.org/ces-preresults2016 respectively Scientific publications Maren Rebke, Peter H. Becker, Fernando Colchero.
Better the devil you know: common terns stay with a previous partner
although pair bond duration does not affect breeding output Proc. R.
Soc. B 2017 284 20161424; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1424. Kohei Koyama, Ken Yamamoto, Masayuki Ushio.
A lognormal distribution of the lengths of terminal twigs on
self-similar branches of elm trees Proc. R. Soc. B 2017 284
20162395; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2395. Vera H. Hausner, Sigrid Engen, Ellen K. Bludd,
Nigel G. Yoccoz,
Policy indicators for use in impact evaluations of protected area
networks, Ecological Indicators, Volume 75, April 2017, Pages
192-202, ISSN 1470-160X, DOI: /10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.12.026. Friedrich J. Bohn, Andreas Huth.
Research article: The importance of forest structure to
biodiversity–productivity relationships. R. Soc. open sci. 2017 4
160521; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160521. Topi Tanhuanpää, Ville Kankare, Heikki Setälä,
Vesa Yli-Pelkonen, Mikko Vastaranta, Mikko T. Niemi, Juha Raisio, Markus
Holopainen,
Assessing above-ground biomass of open-grown urban trees: A comparison
between existing models and a volume-based approach, Urban Forestry
& Urban Greening, ISSN 1618-8667, DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2016.12.011. Matthias Schleuning et al
Ecological networks
are more sensitive to plant than to animal extinction under climate
change Nature Communications 7, Article number: 13965 (2016)
doi:10.1038/ncomms13965 Land and countryside management
The high cost of clearing up after fly-tippers – Scottish Wildlife
Trust Fly-tippers and litter bugs who dump their rubbish
on our wildlife reserves are costing the Trust around £15,000 per year. The total cost of clearing up the Trust’s reserves
includes staff time as well as hiring contractors to remove large items
and hazardous substances such as asbestos. This figure does not include
the additional costs of dumped rubbish collected by local authorities
from roadsides adjacent to the wildlife reserves, or time spent by local
volunteers collecting litter.
Further costs are incurred by putting preventative
measures in place. These include installing height barriers at our car
parks and reducing public access on some parts of reserves through the
erection of gates and closure of tracks. Our Head of Reserves Alan Anderson said:
“Fly-tipping is illegal and it poses a danger to both people and
wildlife. It’s sad that some thoughtless individuals are dumping their
waste on our reserves, forcing us as a charity to use our supporters’
money to clear up after them. Unfortunately the actions of a few people
mean that many of our staff and volunteers have to spend a great deal of
time clearing up rubbish when they could be working on more important
projects such as creating and restoring wildlife habitats.”
Conviction – trade in wild plant bulbs – Cumbria
– National Wildlife Crime Unit William Adams aged 64 years of Great Orton,
Cumbria has pleaded guilty to uprooting and trading wild plant bulbs.
Bluebell
bulbs (image: NWCU) Investigations indicated that the man responsible
was Adams and on 28th April 2016 officers from Cumbria Police and the
National Wildlife Crime Unit executed a search warrant at his home
address. Adams immediately admitted that he had been uprooting wild
plants for around 2 years. He identified around 5000 bulbs and plants
that he said had been illegally uprooted from the wild. He admitted that
he was a trader and that he had set up a small business selling plants
and bulbs when he had gone bankrupt. During the search officers also
recovered invoices indicating that he was trading on Ebay and Amazon. The plants included Bluebells, Wild Garlic and
Snowdrops, which are all protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are also included on Annex ‘B’ to
the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations
1997, so can only be sold if they have been legally acquired or lawfully
imported. The fact that the bulbs had been illegally removed from the
wild meant that their sale would have been prohibited. Adams was charged with three offences relating to
the uprooting of wild plants and one of keeping unlawfully acquired
snowdrops for sale. He also admitted that his adverts indicated the
plants had been offered for sale as artificially propagated, when they
were actually unlawfully uprooted, which resulted in him also being
charged with ‘fraud by misrepresentation’ contrary to the Fraud Act
2006. Adams appeared at Carlisle Magistrates Court on
20th December 2016 where he pleaded guilty to all the charges.
Magistrates took into account Adams personal circumstances and his
cooperation throughout the investigation and gave him maximum credit for
his early guilty plea. He was fined £475 including costs. All the 5000 bulbs and plants seized from his home
were replanted back into the wild by local volunteers.
Power cables will make a “large wound in the Cumbrian countryside”
– Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Red
squirrels live & feed in areas set to be lost. Photo: Andrew Walter,
Cumbria Wildlife Trust Cumbria Wildlife Trust has expressed
disappointment and concern about “significant levels of habitat loss”
that will occur if plans by National Grid go ahead, connecting a
proposed new nuclear plant at Moorside to the power station at Heysham. Responding to the consultation document North West
Coast Connections, Neil Harnott, Senior Conservation Officer at the
Trust said: “Almost 60 hectares of woodland (some of it ancient), 16
hectares of flower-rich grassland and over 17km of hedgerows will be
destroyed to make way for the power lines. All of these small cuts add
up to one rather large wound in the Cumbrian countryside.” He says the Trust is particularly disappointed
that where loss is impossible to avoid, there’s very little in the way
of compensation habitat offered: “Where compensation is being
considered, it’s only on a 1:1 basis. This is the equivalent of chopping
down a 200 year old tree, with all the wildlife it supports, and
replacing it with a single small sapling – but red squirrels, owls or a
host of other species cannot live in a five-foot sapling.” He proposes compensation at a ratio of 30:1, in
other words for every hectare of habitat lost to the development, 30
hectares of new habitat should be created elsewhere. Wildlife news
Kingfisher mystery in Montrose –
Scottish Wildlife Trust
An
unusual series of images that appear to show a kingfisher hanging
sticklebacks out to dry has stumped wildlife experts. Sticklebacks are common prey for the resident
kingfisher at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Montrose Basin Visitor
Centre and Wildlife Reserve, which kills the fish by striking them
against its perch. This softens the stiff spines of the sticklebacks,
making them easier to swallow. Kingfisher with sticklebacks © Ron Mitchell
(via Wildlife Trust) However, the bird appears to have gone a step further by using the spines to pin three sticklebacks to its regular branch. Anna Cheshier, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Angus
Ranger said: "It’s hard to tell if the kingfisher has hung the fish on
the branch accidentally or on purpose, but this is really unusual
behaviour that no-one seems to be able to explain. We’d like anyone who
has seen anything like this before to get in touch.”
Farmers in Fife and Angus are heralded as saviours of one of Scotland's
fastest declining birds Actions by farmers are responsible for improved
fortunes of corn buntings
Corn
bunting feeding on ground (image: Andy Hay, RSPB) Winter seed food and other management deployed on
a number of farms and estates in Angus and Fife as part of Corn Bunting
Recovery Project have changed the fortunes of this iconic species. The survey work earlier this year saw the highest
increase in corn bunting numbers in Fife in any single year since
monitoring began: between 2015 and 2016, the number of territories
increased by 18%, from 62 to 73 on participating farms. Birds had also recolonised areas, where they
hadn’t been seen in years. This first local range expansion in the East
Neuk is very encouraging and gives hope that the species may start to
spread once again. This good news comes after decades of dramatic
declines for the UK corn bunting population. In Eastern Scotland numbers
fell by 83% between 1989 and 2007, earning them the unfortunate accolade
of being one of the fastest declining birds in Scotland. Recreation,
rights of way and volunteering
Ramblers want your help to put more Scottish paths on the map
– Ramblers Scotland Ramblers Scotland is calling for outdoors
enthusiasts’ help to get all Scottish ‘core paths’ shown on Ordnance
Survey maps for the first time. Since Scottish access rights were established in
2003, local authorities have developed a 17,000km network of their most
important routes, known as core paths. But as of yet, there is no
requirement to include core paths on OS maps, meaning some are not shown
at all – making it harder for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and others
to plan their days out. Alongside Scottish Natural Heritage and other
members of the National Access Forum, Ramblers Scotland has had
encouraging discussions with Ordnance Survey, which is assessing the
case for making the change. Ramblers Scotland is calling on fans of the
outdoors to let them know if they would like all core paths marked on
Scottish 1:50 000 and 1:25 000 OS maps, by visiting
www.ramblers.org.uk/corepaths. Every Scottish local authority and
national park authority has published its own Core Path Plans, which are
available on their websites, but the attribution of core paths is yet to
be added to Ordnance Survey maps. Helen Todd, Ramblers Scotland’s campaigns & policy
manager, said: “We have excellent access rights in Scotland, but fewer
paths on the ground than in the rest of Great Britain; something that we
know can be a barrier to people enjoying the outdoors on foot.
Attributing all core paths on maps would help communities promote their
local walks, reassure less confident walkers, and make it easier for
tourists to access the outdoors when visiting Scotland. "
New poll shows children like to be outdoors and enjoy wild places
– Wildlife Trusts Children rarely see two wild animals featured in
John Lewis Christmas advert At a time when people prepare to gather indoors
for Christmas, a new poll published today shows that an overwhelming
majority of children aged 8 – 15 years old feel happy being outdoors,
seeing wildlife around them and enjoy visiting wild places. The poll
also reveals that two of the four animals – badgers and hedgehogs –
depicted in John Lewis’s Christmas advert are rarely seen by children in
the wild. The poll of over a thousand children by YouGov was
commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts following the release of the John
Lewis Christmas advert #BusterTheBoxer. The Wildlife Trusts are John
Lewis’s Christmas campaign charity partner; the advert celebrates the
joy of encountering wildlife in a garden using a cast of wild creatures
- a fox, badger, squirrel and hedgehog. The online poll* questioned 1,200 children aged 8 – 15 years old at the end of November 2016. It reveals:
The poll also asked children when they last saw the animals depicted in the advert in the wild. Focusing on the highest percentages, it reveals that:
Dominic Higgins, The Wildlife Trusts’ Nature &
Wellbeing manager, says: “At a time when it’s increasingly hard for
children to spend time in wild places – whether because of parental
worries, time pressures or simply absence of wild places near to where
people live – this new poll sends a clear message: children are happy
outdoors and benefit enormously from contact with nature. It also shows
that we must do all we can to ensure there are wild havens close to
where people live – whether it’s by making our own gardens wilder or
taking action to protect our local community green spaces. These
findings are complex and illustrate the parallel problems of lack of
access to natural places and wildlife decline. It’s harder and harder
for children to spend time enjoying the wild places which make them
happy. Plus, our natural environment is under huge pressure and wild
creatures and plants are under threat."
Volunteers clock up 50,000 hours with the Trust in 2016 – Scottish Wildlife Trust Scottish Wildlife Trust volunteers gave an
incredible 50,000 hours of their time in 2016.
Colin
Wilson is a regular volunteer with our Reserves Project Group based in
Dalkeith. (image: Scottish Wildlife Trust)
Tasks carried out on our network of 120 wildlife
reserves include conducting surveys, maintaining footpaths and
controlling invasive species. Colin Wilson volunteers for two days a week with
the Trust's Reserves Project Group based in Dalkeith. He said:
"Being a Reserve Project Group volunteer is a great opportunity to get
out and do something positive now I’m retired. It's very rewarding work
that is helping to create lasting change.
See all the current voluntary opportunities,
including those with Scottish Wildlife Trust
here. Read more about
volunteering in our In-Depth articles,
see the index here
and watch out for CJS Focus on Volunteering to be published on 13
February,
January news
UK coastal towns set for economic boost as National Lottery invests £33m
in public parks – Heritage Lottery
Fund Grants to revitalise 13 parks in towns and cities
across the UK including Great Yarmouth, Scarborough, Ramsgate, Fleetwood
and Brighton. Today (9/1), the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and
Big Lottery Fund are announcing grants totalling more than £33million
that will help restore and revitalise 13 public parks across the UK. Five of the grants being awarded will directly
benefit parks situated in coastal communities, many of which suffer from
higher than average levels of deprivation. When complete, these projects will not only
provide improved green spaces for local people to enjoy but will also
help attract more tourism to these areas and as a result, have a
positive impact on local economies. The coastal parks receiving grants are: Great
Yarmouth’s Venetian Waterways; South Cliff Gardens in Scarborough;
Ellington Park in Ramsgate; Mount Garden in Fleetwood, Lancashire; and
Stanmer Park in Brighton. HLF’s Chief Executive Ros Kerslake, said, on
behalf of HLF and Big Lottery Fund: “It’s well-known that public parks
play a vital role in our health and well-being. But for coastal
communities their role is even more critical. Often a central part
of their tourism offering, this investment from National Lottery players
will empower local people to maximise the potential of their local park
to boost local economic well-being.”
TCV's conservation handbooks online -
TCV TCV’s practical conservation handbooks are going
online! We are busy creating online versions of these
fantastically practical guides to creating and managing many aspects of
rural and urban green spaces. They will be available for a very modest
subscription. Once subscribed, you'll be able to login to access all ten
handbooks and take them with you, wherever you go (* internet required
for access). We're aiming to have the handbooks available in
the spring, although it's a huge undertaking, so please take the
opportunity to sign up if you'd like us to let you know when they are
available.
Tourists spend £8.2m in Dumfries and Galloway after travelling to see
red kites – RSPB Scotland People visiting Dumfries and Galloway to see the
region’s red kites have contributed over £8.2m to the local economy, a
new report has found.
Red
kites were re-introduced to an area north of Castle Douglas starting in
2001
Calum Murray RSPB Scotland Community Liaison
Officer, said: “The re-introduction of red kites in Dumfries and
Galloway has been a massive conservation success story, and we now have
over 100 pairs breeding across the region. But this survey clearly
demonstrates how nature can bring economic benefits to communities as
well. Tourists are visiting the Galloway Kite Trail from all over the
UK, and many are coming here specifically to see our amazing red kites,
as well as the other wildlife this region is rightly renowned for. It
also demonstrates the fantastic support given to the trail by local
businesses, and with many visitors making repeat visits, it’s a good
indication of the high standard of hospitality in the area as well.”
National Trust for Scotland finds cats at two sites
– Scottish Wildcat Action Originally published by
National Trust for Scotland. Wildcats have been spotted at two National Trust
for Scotland sites in Aberdeenshire in recent months. The charity which conserves and promotes
Scotland’s heritage has captured video footage of a ‘good hybrid’
exploring the ancient woodlands at Drum Castle from earlier in 2016. And at Leith Hall, a cat which was first sighted
by Scottish Wildcat Action project manager Dr Roo Campbell several years
ago, has been captured on camera. The images were taken on a nearby
farm, and upon examination Roo confirmed that he had seen this cat
several years ago while he was working in the Huntly area. Roo said: “I detected this cat on camera when I
was doing an earlier project putting GPS collars on cats in 2013 - 2014.
She was using Leith Hall and a local farm and was a regular visitor to
the trail cameras I had placed there. I managed to get a collar on her
and was able to look closely at how she used the area. I always
hoped to see her again when we began the Scottish Wildcat Action project
in the same area. Then we were sent some recent trail camera images from
the farm and I realised it was the same cat! This caused me to double
check some of the other images collected by Emma Rawling, our project
officer in the area over the winter and true enough, it was the very
same cat.” Photos: Drum Castle 2013 and 2016
Senior nature conservation advisor for the
National Trust for Scotland, Richard Luxmoore said: “It’s great to be
able to demonstrate that we have wildcats living on our properties in
Aberdeenshire. We tend to associate this elusive beast with the wilder
parts of the Highlands but some of our best evidence comes from the more
populated agricultural land in the north-east. Some of our most
important wildlife sites turn up where we least expect them.”
If you bend it they will come - Salmon success for new curvy section of
Lake District river - RSPB A river restoration project at Haweswater aimed at
helping breeding fish has spawned success after only a few months since
it was finished. During the summer a one-kilometre stretch of
Swindale Beck, which had been artificially straightened around two
centuries years ago, was filled in and replaced with a more natural
curving course through a partnership project between the RSPB, the
Environment Agency, United Utilities and Natural England. This slowed
the flow of the river, creating habitat more suitable for spawning
salmon and trout. In December, 16 salmon were spotted in the new
stretch of river, together with five redds, disturbed gravel where eggs
have been laid. Atlantic salmon already spawn in other areas of
Swindale Beck, migrating from the sea via the Solway Firth and the River
Eden. However, the old straightened part of the river was too fast
flowing for salmon to spawn, so the project has created new habitat by
putting the curves back in this stretch of Swindale Beck. Lee Schofield, RSPB Site Manager at Haweswater,
said: “Habitat restoration is often a slow process and we normally don’t
see the benefits of our work for years and sometimes even decades. It’s
really uplifting and inspiring to work on a project where we get the
chance to experience success so soon after we’ve finished.”
Rampisham Down saved from damaging solar power station development
– Dorset Wildlife Trust Following two years of campaigning by Dorset
Wildlife Trust (DWT) and work by conservation organisations including
Natural England, RSPB and others it has been announced that the
Rampisham Down Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in West
Dorset, will not be developed into a 25MW solar power station. The site
is a legally protected area of rare acid grassland and is of national
importance. The solar panels will now be developed on an
alternative site, which is not of high importance for wildlife, adjacent
to Rampisham Down. In January 2015, an announcement was made stating
that West Dorset District Council’s Planning Committee had decided to
approve a planning application by British Solar Renewables to build a
25MW solar power plant on the former BBC transmission site, Rampisham
Down SSSI. DWT launched a petition which over 10,000 people signed,
asking for the decision to be re-considered by the then Communities
Minister, Eric Pickles. In June 2015 the decision was ‘called in’ by
government and it was announced that a public inquiry would take place
to decide the fate of the site. In the interim the developer,
British Solar Renewables, had a change of heart and sought planning
permission for the alternative site, which was approved on 22nd December
2016. DWT’s Chief Executive, Dr Simon Cripps said, “DWT
is the first to applaud British Solar Renewables’ sensible decision not
to develop their solar power station on Rampisham Down. This
nationally important wildlife site will now continue to be protected.
Many conservationists were concerned that if this site was built on,
other SSSI designated sites in the UK would be undermined and at risk as
a result.”
Rampisham Down: a wonderful outcome for conservation
– Natural England Work to save a rare example of ancient acid
grassland is hailed today as a “wonderful outcome for conservation” by
Natural England. Rampisham Down in Dorset is a surviving fragment
of a once extensive area of marginal common land associated with
medieval grazing.
Wild
flowers on Rampisham Down, Dorset © Sean Cooch, Natural England In 2013 there were plans to create a solar farm on
the site, which would have caused significant damage to the mosaic of
nationally-important acid grassland and heath plant communities. Natural England notified the grassland as a site
of special scientific interest (SSSI) in 2014, giving it vital legal
protection through the planning process, and lodged an objection to the
proposed development of the site. Local staff have since worked closely with British
Solar Renewables (BSR), West Dorset District Council and other partners,
such as the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team and the
Dorset Wildlife Trust, to find a solution. This resulted in BSR
submitting alternative plans to create a solar farm on less sensitive
land nearby, approved last month by West Dorset District Council. Natural England’s Chairman, Andrew Sells, said: This great success demonstrates the power of our
outcomes approach, where we work in partnership with local people and
businesses to solve problems and achieve significant benefits for the
natural environment. Natural England intervened in the case to save
this site from development and has recently worked productively with all
partners to find an alternative site. This is a wonderful outcome for
conservation, in particular for Rampisham Down and the wildlife it
supports.
New team of flood recovery rangers kick start ‘Routes to Resilience’
– Lake District National Park A new team of park rangers are set to help people
in the Lake District enjoy even more of the National Park this New Year. Kick-starting the Park’s Routes to Resilience
flood recovery project, 10 new rangers were appointed this week to
repair footpaths and bridges and put in resilience measures for future
flooding, following 2015’s Storm Desmond. The £3m project was announced in November 2016,
thanks to funding from the Rural Payments Agency. Routes to Resilience
is an 18-month project that will:
National Trust and LGiU survey shows lack of democracy in local
planning system – National Trust A survey of over 1,200 ward councillors in
England, carried out by the Local Government Information Unit, and
commissioned by the National Trust, reveals councillors’ view that the
planning system works in the interests of developers over councils and
local communities. The survey found that:
There are concerns the new Housing White Paper,
expected later this month, could make matters worse, if it sets rigid
housing numbers for local plans which don’t take account of local
factors such as Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As the Government puts the final touches to the
Housing White Paper, the National Trust and LGiU hope that Ministers
will take a number of sensible steps to improve the confidence that
councillors have in the way the planning system works. Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive of the LGiU,
said: “The planning system is one of the fundamental pillars of local
democracy, allowing communities to help shape the physical structure of
the places they live. Councillors are the most important link between
communities and that system. Our survey with the National Trust shows
that many councillors feel that this democratic tool is at risk of being
undermined.” Ingrid Samuel, Historic Environment Director at
the National Trust, said:“It’s now almost 5 years after the Government’s
planning framework was adopted, so it’s worrying that councillors feel
it hasn’t delivered the localism that was promised. If ministers are
serious about Local Plans being at the heart of the planning system,
then they should invest in council planning teams and use the Housing
White Paper to give them the tools to deliver good quality housing in
the right places.”
Environment Agency crackdown continues on illegal activity
– Environment Agency During 2016 almost £220,000 in fines and costs
were imposed by courts following Environment Agency investigations in
the North East. Almost £220,000 in fines and costs have been
imposed by courts following Environment Agency investigations into those
flouting waste and fishing laws in the North East. During 2016 there
were 25 prosecutions of individuals or companies for waste offences,
amounting to total fines of £93,390 and costs of £109,683. There were
also three custodial sentences, two suspended sentences, a curfew,
community orders and two formal cautions, as well as compensation
awarded to a landowner who had to clear waste illegally dumped. In fisheries enforcement, there were six serious
offences resulting in £460 in fines and £600 costs, plus forfeiture of
equipment and a crushed vehicle. There were a further 54 offenders
prosecuted for 59 rod licence offences resulting in fines of £14,327,
with four offenders also given conditional discharges. Enforcement activity has taken place right across
the North East in Teesside, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and
Northumberland. The Environment Agency’s enforcement teams work
alongside other specialist teams to support businesses in abiding by
their permit conditions, but take tough action against those who
deliberately flout regulations. And fisheries enforcement officers carry
our regular patrols and act on information and intelligence to target
illegal activity on our rivers.
Children ‘mesmerised’ as RSPCA inspector rescues swan from nursery
playground - RSPCA
Swan
at Golden Manor Nursery (image: RSPCA) Nursery school children in Pembroke got an
unexpected education in wildlife – after a swan crash landed into their
playground. RSPCA Cymru rescued the swan, which was found at Golden
Manor Nursery, on Golden Lane, on Tuesday 10 January. The bird was found
unable to take-off, due to a lack of space. She was safely rescued by an
RSPCA inspector, and released at the nearby Mill Pond, where she flew
away strongly, and showed no signs of distress. The RSPCA officer also
spoke to the nursery children about wildlife, and how important it was
to help the swan to safety. RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben, who rescued the
swan, said: “Every day is different as an RSPCA inspector – and rescuing
a swan from a nursery school playground was certainly a first for me! It
was great to chat to the children at the nursery about wildlife too –
they were absolutely fascinated by the swan. Fortunately, following this
remarkable ordeal, the swan flew off impressively after being released
at a local pond.”
Grant will help recruit an army to care for the coast
– Northumberland Wildlife Trust Coast Care, an initiative that will recruit and
train an army of volunteers to look after the North Northumberland
Coastal area, has been awarded a grant of £522,600 by the Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF). The North Northumberland Coastal area, much of
which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is
a stunning landscape popular with local people and visitors alike. It
includes nature reserves, wildlife habitats and historic buildings of
national or international importance, but it is a fragile landscape that
requires careful management. Made possible by National Lottery players,
the grant from the HLF will enable a ew project, aptly named Coast Care
to employ a small team of staff to recruit and support volunteers who
will help care for this special place. Coast Care is a partnership
initiative bringing the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership,
Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Seahouses Development Trust together
to oversee the project. The staff team will be based in Seahouses in the
heart of the Coast Care area and it is anticipated that a project
co-ordinator will be recruited early in 2017. Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, said:
“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are very pleased
to be able support Coast Care. The project will increase capacity to
look after the landscape by effectively ‘match making’ volunteers with
volunteering opportunities and co-ordinating effort so that,
collectively, local people, communities and visitors are able to
contribute to the management of their amazing natural and cultural
heritage. Training, support and resources will be provided to enable as
many people as possible to contribute and to maximise the potential of
an, as yet untapped, volunteer ‘army." Steve Lowe, Head of Conservation at Northumberland
Wildlife Trust said “The Coast Care project will provide volunteering
opportunities such as beach clean-ups, site management and a host of
other opportunities that help in taking care of this special part of
Northumberland.
Birds and butterflies struggling to cope with climate change under
intensive land use – University of
Reading Some of Britain’s much-loved birds and butterflies
could be wiped out in certain areas if they do not have sufficient
natural habitat to allow them to adapt to warming temperatures, a new
study shows. Scientists looked at more than four decades’ worth
of bird and butterfly records from more than 600 monitoring sites around
England and found that cold-associated birds like the meadow pipit,
willow tit and willow warbler have already been lost from many bird
communities. The willow tit is one
cold-weather bird that has already been lost from some areas (image:
Edmund Fellowes, via University of Reading) We have known for some time that climate change
affects individual species differently, with those associated with
colder regions impacted most severely. This research, a collaboration
between the University of Reading, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,
the British Trust for Ornithology, Butterfly Conservation and Natural
England, shows for the first time how habitat loss combines with climate
change pressures to drive the loss of species from local areas. Dr Tom Oliver, Associate Professor of Landscape
Ecology at the University of Reading, who led the study, said: “There is
a clear signature of climate change on our country’s wildlife, and for
many species the situation is worse where the landscape is dominated by
arable land and intensively managed grasslands. Bird communities are
struggling to successfully adapt to the warming we’ve had over recent
decades. “Although butterflies are coping much better, in
both cases a lack of natural habitat in our landscapes is putting
cold-associated species between a rock and a hard place by limiting
their ability to find resources and survive.” The study, published in Global Change Biology,
shows numbers of both cold-associated and warm-associated birds have
dropped over time, but cold-associated species have declined more so as
temperatures have risen and, on balance, communities are now more
dominated by warm-loving species. Dr Simon Gillings head of population monitoring at
the British Trust for Ornithology, said “Loss and degradation of
habitats, whether in farmland, grasslands or uplands are primary factors
in reducing key resources for birds, leading to population declines.
Intensive management is making it harder for cold-associated birds to
find cool corners of sites, or to disperse away from warming regions,
thereby exacerbating the effects of climate warming.”
Climate Change brings 11 Species of Dragonfly to the UK - British
Dragonfly Society Since 1995, no less than eleven species of dragonfly or damselfly
have been recorded from Britain either for the first time ever, or after
a long period of absence. Many of these have also bred successfully here and some have gone on
to become well-established residents. The Small Red-eyed Damselfly,
which first appeared on our shores in south-east England in 1999, can
now be found breeding successfully right across to Wales and North
Yorkshire. Others on the list of new species are less familiar, with the
stunning Large White-faced Darter (Leucorrhinia pectoralis) making its
first ever appearance here in 2012. These species account for around 20% of the current UK dragonfly fauna, with a variety of factors underlying the numerous new British records. The increasing numbers and experience of local dragonfly watchers plays a role, greatly increasing the likelihood that rare events are accurately reported. However, most new sightings are a reflection of the large-scale range expansions that are currently being shown by many European dragonfly species, almost certainly as a result of climate change. With climatic trends still continuing, such changes are progressing apace, making it highly probable that further new species of dragonfly will appear in Britain over the next few years. Likely candidates for future British species include the beautiful Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum), with one individual already recorded from the Channel Islands in July 2001. The British Dragonfly Society runs the Migrant
Dragonfly Project, improving our understanding of dragonfly migration
and the reasons for it. The Society also runs DragonflyWatch, Britain’s
dragonfly recording network. Adrian Parr, co-ordinator of the Migrant
Dragonfly Project, says: ‘now is a particularly interesting time to be
involved in dragonfly recording, with the number of new species
appearing in Britain soaring and changes also happening to the
distributions of our own resident species. There’s never been a better
time to get involved.’
New study reveals lost birdsong of Britain -
RSPB
Yellowhammer singing (image: Chris Gomersall
The study, published in Ecography, examined yellowhammer dialects in
the UK and New Zealand, where the birds were introduced in the 1860’s
and 1870’s and later became pests. It found some dialects that likely
existed in the UK appear to have gone extinct, yet they still exist in
New Zealand- a phenomenon which also occurs in human languages. The research was led by a Czech research team who encouraged
volunteers to collect and submit recordings of singing yellowhammers
using smartphones and cameras. Using these recordings from the citizen
science project, scientists compared the patterns of yellowhammer
dialects in the native range of Great Britain, and in the invaded range
of New Zealand.
Independent Review of
Tidal Lagoons On 12 January 2016 Charles Hendry published his
final report and recommendations of the Independent Review of tidal
lagoons. The final report can be found
here in English
Hendry Review into tidal power published – Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trusts welcome plans to develop our
understanding of tidal power but believe that any tidal lagoon
development in the UK should be subject to strict monitoring of any
impacts of the technology on the marine environment. The Wildlife Trusts in Wales welcomes recognition
by the Hendry Review, released today, that any tidal lagoon development
in the UK should be subject to strict monitoring of any impacts of the
technology on the marine environment. The Hendry Review, an independent
study, was commissioned by the UK Government following Tidal Lagoon
Power (TLP)’s plans to build tidal lagoons along the Severn Estuary to
harness tidal power, has come out in support of the development of a
pathfinder tidal lagoon project at Swansea. The Hendry Review recognised that tidal lagoons
are an as-yet untested technology, and as such was unable “to give an
absolutely factual assessment of full life-cycle of environmental
consequences” of the Swansea lagoon. The Review also stated that “[i]t
will be necessary in many cases for developers of potential tidal lagoon
sites to make good the loss of existing habitat for wildlife in order to
comply with the Habitats and Birds Directives. Although this would not
affect Tidal Lagoon in Swansea Bay, it is anticipated that Tidal Lagoon
Cardiff alone would require a very significant amount of such
‘compensatory habitat’.” The Wildlife Trusts believe that mitigation in the
Severn Estuary will be very difficult due to the substantial loss of
mudflats that are essential for 75,000 migratory birds. However we are
pleased that the Review has recognised this and it recommends that
“should tidal lagoons be built, the Government should require a high
level of on-going monitoring of environmental impacts to ensure that
mitigation can be put in place where impacts are judged to require it.” The Wildlife Trusts in Wales are also pleased that
the report recommends a pause between Swansea becoming operational and
other plans for lagoons starting. We would like to see at least 8 years
pause to cover two fish-spawning cycles. Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon - project must be seen as a test says MCS Hendry review takes no account of adverse longterm
ecological impacts An independent review into the viability of the
proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, published today (Thursday 12th
January), has not taken ecological impacts into account. Although we support marine renewable energy as a
potentially ecologically sustainable form of electricity production, we
believe that renewables must be developed utilising the technologies and
placed in locations with least environmental impact. Lagoons, like
the £1.3bn project proposed for Swansea Bay, will be located in
estuaries and bays that have complex and diverse ecosystems supporting
rare and threatened fish, birds and other wildlife and habitats, all of
which may be adversely affected by these massive developments. "The Hendry Review takes no account of the adverse
ecological impacts of the development of tidal lagoons. They will be
located in estuaries and bays that are complex and diverse ecosystems
supporting rare and threatened fish, birds and other wildlife and
habitats all of which will be may be adversely affected by these massive
developments," says Clare Reed, Marine Policy Officer at MCS. "If Swansea Bay tidal lagoon goes ahead, it should
be considered a test site and be operational and monitored for at least
five years prior to commissioning further lagoons to fully understand
the extent and scale of environmental impacts. For example other
proposals in the Severn could impact the ever decreasing populations of
Atlantic Salmon and other rare Shad species."
Backing for Swansea tidal lagoon welcomed - but Govt mustn’t ignore
solar and wind investment – Friends of
the Earth Welcoming an independent review by former energy
minister Charles Hendry, published today, which backs the development of
a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, Haf Elgar, acting director of Friends of
the Earth Cymru, said:
Greenpeace Reaction to Charles Hendry's Tidal Lagoon Report Greenpeace reaction following the appearance
of Charles Hendry on BBC Radio 4 Today, talking about the viability of
tidal lagoons, in which he said, "We know it absolutely works...We can
start a new industry at an affordable cost to consumers": Greenpeace UK's Chief Scientist, Dr Doug Parr,
said: “Tidal lagoon energy is the most reliable source of renewable
energy for the UK and the Swansea Bay project is an opportunity to lead
in generating clean power from Britain's tides. Up to now, cost has been
considered a barrier but the Hendry report suggests that tidal lagoons
can potentially play a cost-effective role in the UK energy mix. And
the government should get on with it because it could be the first of a
wave of tidal lagoons across the UK, and even internationally. So we can
lead the world in providing a new, renewable innovation to meet our
clean energy needs. If Swansea is successful it could prove the
investment case for further major projects that could potentially
generate a significant chunk of the UK's electricity needs, and help
towards meeting our carbon targets, whilst creating thousands of new
infrastructure jobs too." The National Trust today pledged to work in close
partnership with farmers to build a ‘bright’ post-Brexit future in which
upland hill farming can thrive, nature can be revived, and cultural
heritage is protected in some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes. Helen Ghosh, the director general of the National
Trust, said livestock farming would continue to be right at the heart of
the charity’s plans for managing upland areas, and that its tenant
farmers were essential partners in helping to restore the health of the
natural environment. Hill farming in the UK is facing a complex set of
challenges, with uncertainty over the future of the £3bn-worth of EU
subsidies, pressure on incomes and declining wildlife, falling soil
quality and increased flood risks in many areas. The Trust, which has over 1,500 farm tenants
across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has called for the current
‘broken’ model for funding farming to be radically reformed after
Brexit, with farmers receiving taxpayers’ money for improving the
environment and helping wildlife – rather than being paid simply for
owning land. In a speech to the Uplands Alliance in Cumbria,
Helen said: “While there are some big challenges and – yes, threats – I
am much more in the camp that believes that there is an unprecedented
opportunity for the uplands post-Brexit. If we work together we can grab
the chance to make their future more sustainable than it has ever
been. Reliance on CAP subsidy as now is not the future. But the
opportunities are there, we believe, for the uplands to take advantage
of new income streams – alongside maintaining some core public financial
support – which deliver the benefits that the public want and the nation
needs.” The conservation charity said its long-term
ambition of helping to reverse the alarming decline in nature would only
succeed by working, listening and developing plans in partnership with
farmers. The Trust said it was actively exploring a number
of areas aimed at helping to secure a sustainable economic future for
upland farming and would be setting out its thoughts for discussion with
farmers and other partners in the spring.
Wildlife licensing: comment on new policies for European protected
species licences – Natural England Read the outcome report for full details of the
proposed new policies for European protected species licensing. The
report shows where proposals were changed as a response to public
feedback. Policy summaries Policy 1 - Greater flexibility when
excluding and relocating European Protected Species (EPS) from
development sites Defra considers that compensation for EPS impacts
can be delivered without the need to relocate or exclude populations,
where: exclusion or relocation measures are not necessary to maintain
the conservation status of the local population; the
avoid-mitigate-compensate hierarchy is followed; and compensation
provides greater benefits to the local population than would exclusion
and/or relocation. Policy 2 - Greater flexibility in the
location of newly created habitats that compensate for habitats that
will be lost If the licensing tests are met and the
avoid-mitigate-compensate hierarchy is followed, off-site compensation
measures may be preferred to on-site compensation measures, where there
are good reasons for maximising development on the site of EPS impacts,
and where an off-site solution provides greater benefit to the local
population than an on-site solution. Policy 3 - Allowing EPS to have access to
temporary habitats that will be developed at a later date Where development (such as mineral extraction)
will temporarily create habitat which is likely to attract EPS, Defra
favours proposals which enable works to proceed without the exclusion of
EPS, where the conservation status of the local population would not be
detrimentally affected. On completion of development such sites must
contribute to the conservation status of the local population as much as
or more than the land use which preceded development. The measures to
achieve this should be set out in a management plan and secured by a
legal agreement. Policy 4 - Appropriate and relevant
surveys where the impacts of development can be confidently predicted Natural England will be expected to ensure that
licensing decisions are properly supported by survey information, taking
into account industry standards and guidelines. It may, however, accept
a lower than standard survey effort where: the costs or delays
associated with carrying out standard survey requirements would be
disproportionate to the additional certainty that it would bring; the
ecological impacts of development can be predicted with sufficient
certainty; and mitigation or compensation will ensure that the licensed
activity does not detrimentally affect the conservation status of the
local population of any EPS.
Read the full consultation outcome report (PDF)
Lesley Griffiths: Have your say on fly-tipping
– Welsh Government A public consultation on the possible introduction
of fixed penalty notices to combat fly-tipping has been launched by the
Welsh Government. Currently, Local Authorities can issue fixed
penalty notices for a number of offences, such as littering and dog
fouling. The only way to penalise those who undertake small scale
fly-tipping though is to prosecute through the Magistrate Courts. Many
consider this to be expensive, time consuming and disproportionate for
small scale offences. Acccess the consultation Consultation End Date: 6 Apr 2017 Scientific Publications Zimmermann Teixeira, F., Kindel, A., Hartz, S. M.,
Mitchell, S. and Fahrig, L. (2017),
When road-kill hotspots do not indicate the best sites for road-kill
mitigation. J Appl Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript.
doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12870 Ronny Steen.
Bird monitoring using the smartphone (iOS) application Videography for
motion detection Bird Study DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2016.1271772 Davide Scridel, Jonathan D. Groom & David J. T.
Douglas.
Native woodland creation is associated with increase in a Black Grouse
Lyrurus tetrix population. Bird Study DOI:
10.1080/00063657.2016.1273879 Paloniemi, R., Hujala, T., Rantala, S., Harlio, A., Salomaa, A., Primmer, E., Pynnönen, S. and Arponen, A. (2017), Integrating Social and Ecological Knowledge for Targeting Voluntary Biodiversity Conservation. Conservation Letters. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/conl.12340
Tobey Ben-Aderet, Mario Gallego-Abenza, David Reby, Nicolas Mathevon
Dog-directed speech: why do we use it and do dogs pay attention to it?
Proc. R. Soc. B DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2429
Moor, H., Rydin, H., Hylander, K., Nilsson, M. B., Lindborg, R. and Norberg, J. (2017), Towards a trait-based ecology of wetland vegetation. J Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12734 Laura Coquereau, Julie Lossent, Jacques Grall,
Laurent Chauvaud
Marine soundscape shaped by fishing activity R. Soc. open sci. 2017
4 160606; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160606.
Timo Pukkala;
Does management improve the carbon balance of forestry?. Forestry
2017; 90 (1): 125-135. doi: 10.1093/forestry/cpw043
Vítězslav Maňák, Mats Jonsell;
Beetle diversity in two types of fine woody debris: lessons for
bioenergy harvest. Forestry 2017; 90 (1): 82-87. doi:
10.1093/forestry/cpw028 Hooker, O. E., Van Leeuwen, T. E. and
Adams, C. E. (2017),
The Physiological Costs of Prey Switching Reinforce Foraging
Specialization. J Anim Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript.
doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12632 Dick, J. T.A., et al (2017), Invader Relative Impact Potential: a new metric to understand and predict the ecological impacts of existing, emerging and future invasive alien species. J Appl Ecol. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12849
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