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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Sustainable seas inquiry launched -
Environmental Audit Committee The Environmental Audit Committee launches a new inquiry on the
future of our seas – examining how they be protected from climate
change, acidification, overfishing and pollution, and how the Government
can create a sustainable blue economy. Chair's comments: Mary Creagh MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit
Committee, said: “We have only one ocean, and we all have a duty to care
for it. The ocean plays a critical role in the daily lives of billions
of people who live by it and whose livelihoods depend on it. Today it is
suffering from pollution and plastic waste, climate change and
acidification, as well as growing demands on its resources. Our inquiry
will shine a spotlight on the threats to our ocean, and ask what more
the Government could be doing to protect it. We will look at emerging
marine industries, and how the Government can build a sustainable 'blue'
economy.” Growing global reliance: In the years ahead there will be a growing
global reliance on the sea for resources, driven by population growth,
and facilitated by innovations in aquaculture and seabed mining. Climate change and acidification threaten the future of marine life,
and the communities which depend on the ocean. Pollution, including
plastic pollution, is a growing threat to marine wildlife. Marine industries can compound the damaging effects of global
environmental problems like climate change, pollution and ocean
acidification.
£8 million internationally-important wilderness in Suffolk gets the
go-ahead after National Lottery Funding donates large sum
– The Wildlife Trusts Creation of a 1,000 acre wetland as gateway to the Broads National
Park Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s vision for a vast new nature reserve in the
Broads will become reality following a decision by the Heritage Lottery
Fund (HLF) to award £4,063,000. The support will enable the Trust to
complete the purchase of 348 acres of land surrounding Carlton Marshes
nature reserve and create a 1,000 acre wild landscape that will become a
gateway to the Broads National Park. The grant is one of the largest ever given to a Wildlife Trust and
will enable the biggest wetland creation in the Broads for a decade.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust hopes it will become a National Nature Reserve in
the next five years – reflecting its ecological importance as well as
its social and cultural impact. Rare wildlife will get a boost from the
restoration and Share Marsh, where the extremely rare American bittern
was spotted last week, will be saved for posterity.
A state-of-the art visitor centre will be built on the site, helping
to make the reserve a national wildlife destination and one of the most
accessible nature experiences in the UK. The Broads National Park is
unique within the UK National Parks network in having two significant
urban centres alongside nationally significant wildlife habitats and
landscape: Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. Julian Roughton, Chief Executive of Suffolk Wildlife Trust, says:
“The support from the HLF means that Suffolk Wildlife Trust can now
begin restoring this precious part of East Anglia and create a place
where wildness spreads as far as the eye can see. This nature reserve
will be now safeguarded forever, providing homes for some of the UK’s
most iconic species.
Business and Conservation Groups get together to help the critically
endangered European Eel
- Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust EDF Energy has joined forces with conservation groups in the Trent
valley to help migration for the critically endangered European eel.
At
Idle Valley Nature Reserves near Retford, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
has worked with Aquatic Control Engineering to install an ‘eel pass’ to
help baby eels to migrate from the River Idle into the Belmoor Lake area
of the Nature Reserve. (image: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust) And the Canal & River Trust has employed FishTek Consulting who are
installing an eel pass on Hazelford Weir on the River Trent, between
Nottingham and Newark. Belmoor Lake is an ideal habitat and nursery area for eels. It
has an area of 38 acres. It was previously a quarry but is now a
nature reserve and prime eel habitat. The pass helps baby eels to
get into the lake and adults to escape. The eels will grow there for
between 5 and 20 years before migrating back to sea to spawn vas the eel
pass. The River Trent has many weirs along its length, often to provide
locks or to feed the canal for boat navigation. These weirs, being walls
in rivers, are serious barriers to migration for fish such as salmon,
trout, lampreys and eels. An eel pass at Hazelford is the first of many
to come to help eels migrate into and fully populate the Trent, the
second longest river in England. As part of this project, Fishtek has
also prepared designs for eel passes on nearby Stoke and Gunthorpe weirs
on the Trent. Both projects will help to reverse the declining trend in eel populations in the UK and across Europe.
Even familiar birds at risk of extinction, new study finds
– BirdLife International The 2018 State of the World’s Birds report, which provides a
comprehensive look at the health of bird populations globally, has found
that the extinction crisis has spread so far that even some well-known
species are now in danger. A number of well-known bird species are now at risk of extinction. This is the chief conclusion of State of the World’s Birds 2018, a
new report from BirdLife International which looks at the health of bird
populations worldwide. Instantly recognisable and beloved bird species
including Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus, Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arctica, and European Turtle-dove Streptopelia
turtur are all now globally threatened with extinction. The report, which was five years in the making, is BirdLife International’s flagship science publication. The major global assessment uses the health of bird populations to “take the pulse of the planet”. The European Turtle Dove is one of many familiar bird species that now find themselves Globally Threatened (Photo: Revital Salomon) Unfortunately, the global picture painted in the report is a dire one
for many birds around the world. Overall, it shows that 40 percent of
the world’s 11,000 bird species are in decline, and one in eight bird
species is threatened with global extinction. These statistics aren’t just bad news for birds, they are also
warnings for the planet as a whole. The health of bird species is a good
measure of the state of ecosystems in general. Because birds are so
widespread, being found in nearly every type of ecosystem, and one of
the most studied groups of animals, they are excellent indicators of the
state of the environment. Access the report: To read more about
how these changes could be enacted as well as how birds are doing
globally, read the complete
State of the World’s Birds 2018 report here.
Saving the earth – a sustainable future for soils and water
- The Rivers Trust Soil is currently being destroyed ten times faster than it’s being
created. This is not only putting the farming sector at risk and costing
England & Wales £1.2 billion a year, but is affecting the health of our
rivers. (image: The Rivers Trust) A new report by WWF, The Rivers Trust and The Angling Trusts shows
that spending approximately £10 million a year on soil protection
measures would ensure a future for agriculture and reverse the decline
of our precious rivers. 86% of England’s rivers are currently classed as
unhealthy, with pollution from agriculture as one of the main
causes. The report also shows that using current farm subsidies to
encourage farmers to turn small areas of farmland into grassland,
woodland and/or wetlands would create huge benefits for nature and
society. WWF research has found that up to one third of farmers are currently
non-compliant with England’s water protection laws, which has led to
widespread soil degradation, agricultural pollution of our
rivers, increased flood risk to homes and businesses, and higher costs
for local authorities and water bill payers. The problem has been made
worse by a lack of enforcement, as the Environment Agency’s current
resources only allow them to visit and inspect less than one per cent of
farms each year. The Rivers Trust Chief Executive Arlin Rickard commented “this report
sets out in stark terms the reality on many farms, together with
environmental failings under the current system. In the future we must
properly support our farmers with the guidance, incentives and funding
necessary, not only to produce food to the highest standard, but also
the vital ecosystem services that support community health and
well-being and underpins sustainable socio-economic development”, while
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said
that “this report shows how the government really could make good on its
promise to use public payments for public good to safeguard future food
production and reverse current declines in fish and other wildlife that
depend on healthy, unpolluted waterways.”
Read the report on the WWF website
First hand-reared godwit returns to UK -
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
A
black-tailed godwit has returned to The Fens in East Anglia where it was
hand-reared after migrating as far as Portugal for the winter. The bird is one of 26 black-tailed godwits raised at WWT Welney and
released into the wild last summer. The wader, a male, has been named
Delph after the river bank where he was sighted. It is welcome news for conservationists at RSPB and WWT who have
formed an innovative partnership called Project Godwit which aims to
help black-tailed godwits, a species in decline in the UK. Delph returns (image: WWT) Project Godwit Aviculturist at WWT Louise Clewley made the discovery.
She said: “It was right in front of WWT Welney’s main observatory for
everyone to see! Migration is fraught with danger and the successful
return of the first of our UK hand-reared batch gives us hope for the
future of these birds.” Although some black-tailed godwits return to their breeding site in
the first year, it’s not unusual for others to stay in their wintering
grounds for the summer too. Hannah Ward, RSPB Project Godwit Manager, said: “We weren’t
necessarily expecting any of the hand-reared birds to return this summer
so this is a wonderful and welcome surprise. We may have to wait until
next summer before this young bird breeds but this is a fantastic moment
for the Project Godwit team and great news for this magnificent but
threatened species.”
People should be brought to the centre stage to deliver more
environmental and social benefits - CCRI One of the key recommendations coming out of a recently completed EU
funded project is a new approach that would bring the social dimension –
people – to the centre stage to deliver more environmental and social
benefits. The project findings also recommend promoting cooperative ways of
working, including a greater commitment to help actors on the ground
develop a collective, multi-actor, approach, that builds on the
engagement and commitment of farmers and foresters. In addition, a more flexible and joined up use of the policy mix,
better adapted to local needs is needed, which requires a local
translation of national and EU rules so that there is a focus on results
rather than compliance. The project,
PEGAGUS – an acronym for ‘Public Ecosystem Goods And Services from
land management: Unlocking the Synergies’ – investigated the provision
of public goods and ecosystem services from agriculture and forestry and
undertook 34 case studies, each of which used a different approach to
unlock the connections between economic and environmental benefits for
society. One of the key case studies involved the WILD project (Water with
Integrated Local Delivery), for which the CCRI was part of a partnership
that brought about environmental improvements to the rivers and other
watercourses of the Cotswold Water Park by bringing local communities
and landowners together in understanding and getting involved in the
management of local watercourses. With input from the farmers,
landowners and the local community, it also devised and delivered a plan
of enhancements over a three-year period aimed at improving water
quality and the infrastructure surrounding the management of water
flows. The PEGASUS project also developed a
Toolkit for Practitioners, which provides guidance and useful tips
to stakeholders wishing to be involved in a collective action to enhance
the provision of environmental and social benefits from agriculture
and/or forestry. Click through for
summary of key points.
Hungry birds as climate change drives food ‘mismatch’
- University of Exeter Warmer springs create a “mismatch” where hungry chicks hatch too late
to feast on abundant caterpillars, new research shows. With continued spring warming expected due to climate change,
scientists say hatching of forest birds will be “increasingly
mismatched” with peaks in caterpillar numbers. The researchers, from the RSPB and the universities of Exeter and
Edinburgh, used data collected across the UK – largely by citizen
scientists – to study spring emergence of oak tree leaves and
caterpillars, and timing of nesting by three bird species: blue tits,
great tits and pied flycatchers. They also tested a theory that some bird species in southern Britain
may suffer most due to a greater mismatch effect – but they found no
evidence of this. “Forests have a short peak in caterpillar abundance, and some forest
birds time their breeding so this coincides with the time when their
chicks are hungriest,” said Dr Malcolm Burgess, of the University of
Exeter and the RSPB. “With spring coming earlier due to climate change,
leaves and caterpillars emerge earlier and birds need to breed earlier
to avoid being mismatched. We found that the earlier the spring, the
less able birds are to do this. The biggest mismatch was among pied
flycatchers – as migratory birds, they are not in the UK in winter and
therefore are much less able to respond to earlier spring weather.” Access the publication: Malcolm D.
Burgess et al Tritrophic
phenological match–mismatch in space and time. Nature Ecology
& Evolution (2018) doi:10.1038/s41559-018-0543-1
Chester Zoo to open brand new 60,000m2 nature reserve Conservationists at Chester Zoo are set to unveil a 60,000 square
metre Nature Reserve – providing protected habitat for threatened
British wildlife.
The
new wildlife haven - located outside the boundary of the main zoo - will
be free for visitors to enter when it opens on Friday 27 April. (image: Chester Zoo) The site is already known to be home to a variety of species of local
and national significance, such as kingfishers, hedgehogs and harvest
mice, with reported occasional sightings otters and many other species. Part of the reserve is designated as a Local Wildlife Site for the
important plants, birds and invertebrates recorded there. Designed as a community place for relaxing and wildlife space for
learning, Chester Zoo first built a small Nature Reserve in 2013. The
new area is a 600% expansion, providing new and larger protected
habitats for vulnerable species, and a bigger community space. Over the
coming years the area will develop further as plants and wildflowers
begin to flourish. The Nature Reserve will also provide a boost to British wildflowers.
Wildflowers are key to healthy habitats, bring colour to the
countryside, and are important in their own right. Yet one in five of
Britain’s wildflowers is threatened with extinction in the UK and our
flora is the least protected, invested in and acknowledged part of the
country’s wildlife heritage.
Bat Habitats Regulation Bill [HL] 2017-19 –
Bat Conservation Trust The Bat
Habitats Regulation Bill sponsored by Lord Cormack is scheduled to
receive its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday 27th of April
2018. We believe that this bill is impractical and would be damaging to
bat conservation. The bill states that its aims are to make provision to enhance the
protection available for bat habitats in the vicinity of a building site
and to limit the protection for bats in buildings used for public
worship. After examining the details contained within the Bill, we
believe that it is unnecessary, impractical and, as drafted, it fails to
take into account both the complex nature of bat ecology, and the
legislation and processes that are already in place. Bats and their roosts are legally protected because of the severe declines they have experienced in the past through habitat loss, agricultural intensification, roost destruction, pesticides and deliberate killing. It is our view that the Bat Habitats Regulation Bill would be disastrous for those bat species that rely on churches. Diluting or requesting exemptions to current legislation will certainly harm wildlife and will not be a positive way forward for churches either. We recognise that in some churches, the presence of bats presents significant problems for users, as well as for the fabric of the church through bat droppings, and that bat urine can cause damage to furniture and fittings. However, church and heritage bodies, Natural England and the Bat Conservation Trust are already engaged in a project (Bats in Churches Project Partnership) that aims to address the issue of large roosts to safeguard bat roosts in England’s churches, whilst reducing their negative impact on these historic buildings and the people who use them. The development phase of this project (funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and AllChurches Trust) has worked with pilot churches to test different approaches to manage the impact of bats in churches where this is needed.
UK businesses make world-leading pact to tackle plastic pollution
- Wrap Unnecessary single-use plastic packaging will be a thing of the past
as businesses sign up to a world-first pact, which aims to transform the
plastic packaging system in the UK and keep plastic in the economy and
out of the ocean. The UK Plastics Pact, launched today by sustainability experts WRAP,
is a unique collaboration which brings together businesses from across
the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle
the scourge of plastic waste. Today 42 businesses*, including major food, drink and non-food
brands, manufacturers and retailers right through to plastic
reprocessors and packaging suppliers have made their commitment to the
Pact. These Pact members are responsible for over 80% of the plastic
packaging on products sold through UK supermarkets**. In addition, 15
other organisations have also shown their commitment to the Pact. This powerful collective has committed to hit a series of ambitious
targets by 2025:
The UK Plastics Pact is the first of its kind in the world. It will
be replicated in other countries to form a powerful global movement for
change as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy
initiative. It is being led by WRAP, the sustainability experts.
The Breeding Bird Survey – 2017 - JNCC A northern powerhouse for UK songbirds The latest survey results show that Spotted Flycatchers and Willow
Warblers are thriving north of the England-Scotland border, whilst
struggling south of it. Spotted Flycatcher ©Edmund Fellowes/BTO Since the start of the BBS in 1994, the UK has lost over a third of
its breeding Spotted Flycatchers, and the decline in England has been a
whopping 65%. The species is Red-listed and of the highest
conservation concern, based on its longer-term decline. The Willow
Warbler has fared better, with 9% of the UK breeding population being
lost since 1994 - but the decline in England has been a worrying 40%. The upturn in both of these long-distance migrants in Scotland, and
the stark contrast with their fortunes in England has been tracked
thanks to record levels of coverage undertaken by volunteer recorders. A
fantastic 2,814 people took time to survey birds during the breeding
season in their allocated survey squares across the UK, allowing
scientists at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to build a very
accurate picture of just how our bird populations are doing. Access the report here
UK increases commitment to protect oceans from plastics and fight
illegal wildlife trade At the Global Environment Facility conference, the UK joined 29 other
international donors to recommit for a further four years to help
developing countries tackle global environmental degradation. The UK is stepping up its support to fight global environmental
challenges, with a greater focus on protecting the world’s oceans and
tackling the illegal wildlife trade, International Development Secretary
Penny Mordaunt and Environment Secretary Michael Gove have announced
today (Thursday 26th April). At the Global Environment Facility conference in Stockholm, the UK
joined 29 other international donors to recommit for a further four
years to help developing countries tackle global environmental
degradation. Following pressure from the UK, this year’s Global Environment
Facility replenishment will result in more funding to protect the marine
environment, including from plastic waste pollution, and to tackle the
illegal wildlife trade. With this seventh round of support, the GEF is planning to protect
around 600 million hectares of land and marine habitats – an area
equivalent to 24 times the size of the UK – and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 1600 million metric tonnes – the equivalent of an average
car driving 4 million miles. The UK’s commitment of up to £250 million over the next four years is
an increase on the last pledge of £210 million from 2014-2018, and
maintains the UK’s leadership on tackling environmental challenges that
threaten global stability and security. Twenty per cent of the UK’s
support is also conditional on GEF making continual improvements to
achieve maximum impact.
Government gives green light for landscape apprenticeships
- Landscape Institute The Landscape Apprenticeships Trailblazer group of employers has
received government approval to develop new landscape apprenticeship
schemes in England The 20 employers came together last year, with the support of the
Landscape Institute, to develop proposals for employer-led landscape
apprenticeships. The proposals were also supported by the Institute of
Place Management. The two approved schemes are the landscape assistant
scheme, a Level 4 qualification, and the landscape professional scheme –
a Level 7 qualification leading to Chartered Membership of the Landscape
Institute. The Trailblazer group will now begin designing the apprenticeship
standards to define the competencies required for each apprenticeship.
The group plans to consult on the draft standards in May this year, with
the aim of having the schemes ready for delivery in early 2019. Poppy Smith, Head of External Affairs at the Landscape Institute,
welcomed the government’s approval of the proposals. ‘We have had great
support in developing this initiative from our board of trustees,
advisory council and members, all of whom agree that apprenticeships can
help us to develop new skills and talent for the profession and increase
the diversity of new entrants,’ she said. ‘This is really exciting
opportunity and we look forward to supporting the Trailblazer Group in
their ongoing work to prepare these apprenticeships for delivery’. Colin Pill of lead employer Tyler Grange LLP chairs the Trailblazer
group. He said: ‘Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to combine work
experience with off-the-job training and give employers the opportunity
to bring new talent into their business. We now have a lot of work to do
now in making sure the apprenticeship standards reflect the requirements
of employers across the landscape profession. We look forward to the
challenge and the opportunity ahead.’
Taffys Trails: new campaign to make our countryside accessible
- Outdoor Industries Association Taffys Trails is on a mission to make the countryside accessible to
all, by gathering information, maps, routes, trails and attractions and
stating the types of wheelchairs/scooters they would all best
accommodate. Mark Turner, who has been a wheelchair user for seven years, launched
the national campaign with the support of his wife Lyn, his trainee
assistance dog, Rex, and Oscar – the mascot. Taffys Trails aims to list thousands of fully documented routes,
trails and attractions on the platform, enabling people of all abilities
to have a one stop place for all the information needed for a great day
out or a well-planned holiday itinerary. Mark said: “My first aims are to get the idea out there and get as
many sponsors as possible to provide the necessary kit and support to
get this project off the ground. Some of the things needed are items
such as mapping software, waterproof bags for phones, tablets and other
electronics, suitable jackets/coats and wet weather clothing through to
website and blog building etc. We are not asking for money – only
products, information and advice. The project will be a large undertaking and will involve many hours
of both collating existing information and actually being out on various
routes and trails ourselves in all weathers. If you are able to support
us, it would certainly help us to get the Taffys Trails dream out there,
in front of the ever-growing group of wheelchair/scooter users that want
to brave our great outdoors. With the right information and right
equipment we can open up the great countryside for thousands of regular
and new users of all ages and all abilities. Some for the very first
time.” For further information about the campaign, please visit
www.taffystrails.com.
Further restrictions on neonicotinoids agreed
- defra restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides have been approved following
a vote in the European Commission. The UK voted in favour of the proposals that will see a ban on
outdoor use of three neonicotinoids - Clothianidin, Imidacloprid and
Thiamethoxam.
Currently, their use is banned for oilseed rape, spring cereals and
sprays for winter cereals, but they can be used to treat sugar beet,
various horticultural crops and as seed treatments for winter cereals. A Defra spokesperson said: "We are committed to enhancing our
environment for the next generation, and welcome the vote today in
support of further restrictions on neonicotinoids. The Government has
always been clear we will be led by the science on this matter. The
weight of evidence now shows the risks neonicotinoids may pose to our
environment, particularly to the bees and other pollinators is greater
than previously understood. We recognise the impact a ban will have on
farmers and will continue to work with them to explore alternative
approaches as we design a new agricultural policy outside the European
Union." The current restrictions will stay in place until the new measures
comes into force following a phasing out period of around eight months,
giving farmers and businesses time to adjust. Unless the scientific evidence changes, the government will maintain
these increased restrictions post-Brexit.
EU
vote on neonicotinoids - NFU reaction The European Commission’s extension of the ban on the use of
neonicotinoids to all outdoor crops is a regrettable decision that is
not justified by the evidence, the NFU said today. Guy Smith, NFU Deputy President, said: “This decision doesn’t change
the fact that farmers will continue to face challenges to maintain
sustainable and productive cropping systems and the pest problems that
neonicotinoids helped farmers tackle have not gone away. Most
agronomists agree that without neonicotinoids many crops grown in the UK
will become less viable and a ban could simply mean we import more crops
from parts of the world where there is no political desire to ban these
key insecticides. So we will be looking to both the UK Government and
the Commission to work with the industry to mitigate the effect of a ban
on both food production and the environment. The NFU believes a
risk-based approach should be taken on this issue, where the impacts of
potential changes are fully understood and recognised as providing
genuine opportunities to improve bee and pollinator health. There is a
real risk that these restrictions will do nothing measurable to improve
bee health, while compromising the effectiveness of crop protection."
EU Member States Approve Enhanced Insecticide Ban
- Buglife Today EU Member States endorsed the Commission's proposal to
completely ban the outdoor agricultural uses of the three
neonicotinoids. Today’s ban may represent a turning point for the toxins, with the
USA currently undertaking a review and other countries with pesticide
regulation processes will be under pressure to achieve the EU’s levels
of environmental protection. Even in the EU neonicotinoid pollution may continue to harm wildlife,
a
Buglife report last year identified that half of rivers and lakes
monitored in England were chronically polluted with neonicotinoids, and
that alongside agricultural pollution a significant source was pet flea
treatments. In addition it is well known that greenhouse use can
cause water pollution. Both use on pets and in greenhouses will be
allowed to continue for the moment. “Today is a red letter day for the continent’s pollinators, we salute and thank all of the organisations, members of the public and politicians who have stood up for the bees and secured this much needed decision. This has been a long haul, arguably the ban should have come in years ago, but the NFU and pesticide industry have been wholly obstructive and have managed, mainly by use of misleading propaganda, to sustain the harm to bees and other wildlife for several years.” Said Matt Shardlow, CEO of Buglife.
Scientific Publications Bellier E, Kéry M, Schaub M.
Relationships between vital rates and ecological traits in an avian
community J Anim Ecol. 2018;00:1–10.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12826
Gaston KJ, Holt LA.
Nature, extent and ecological implications of night‐time light from road
vehicles J Appl Ecol. 2018;00:1–12.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13157
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