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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
One story dominated the news on Monday:
Independent review calls for radical plan for England’s National Parks
Major review calls for biggest shakeup of the running of England’s
National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty since they were
founded 70 years ago. Honister Pass, Buttermere, Lake District National Park (Obsidain Photography / pixabay) Seventy years after the Act of Parliament that created the first
National Parks, a major
independent review – led by writer Julian Glover – has called for
bold action to reignite the founding spirit of our great National Park
movement in order to make them greener, more beautiful and open to
everyone. The review published today (Saturday 21 September) praises the
brilliant work which has been done to maintain the beauty of places such
as the Lake District, Exmoor and the Dorset coast. But it warns that new challenges such as climate change, biodiversity
loss, and a changing, urban society mean that new approaches are needed
to get the most out of England’s most-loved landscapes, including
National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Key recommendations include:
Julian Glover, who led the review, said: " From the high fells of the
Lake District to the wildness of Exmoor, England’s most beautiful places
define our country. Today we are setting out a big, bold plan to bring
them alive to tackle the crisis in our natural environment and make sure
they are there for everyone to enjoy. If we take action, we can make our
country healthier, happier, greener, more beautiful and part of all our
lives. Seventy years ago this year we created our national parks for a
nation that had just won the Second World War. Now it’s time to reignite
that mission." The recommendations of the Designated Landscapes review will now be
considered and responded to by the government in due course. The 27 recommendations of the review include:
Download
the
Landscapes review: final report in full. 168 page PDF. In May 2018 the government asked for an independent review into
whether the protections for National Parks and AONBs are still fit for
purpose. In particular, what might be done better, what changes will
help and whether the definitions and systems in place are still valid. The review’s final report was published on 21 September 2019. It was
led by Julian Glover and supported by an experienced advisory group:
Lord Cameron of Dillington, Jim Dixon, Sarah Mukherjee, Dame Fiona
Reynolds and Jake Fiennes. The review’s terms of reference set out what it looked at and how it
was carried out. Reponses:
Ambitious proposals in “biggest shakeup” – findings of the Glover review
renew vision for National Parks Major changes to the running of National Parks have been proposed
today [Saturday 21 September] in an independent review of England’s
designated landscapes led by Julian Glover. Campaign for National Parks
has welcomed the ambitious agenda set out in the report. Chief Executive, Corinne Pluchino said: “This is an exciting moment
for the National Parks where so much has been achieved and it is
essential that we do not lose the momentum that has been created by the
review. It’s absolutely right to point out the many challenges facing
the Parks and to consider how we can renew and refocus their role to
meet the needs of the nation today, both as a source of beauty and
tranquillity and as places rich in wildlife and natural resources that
can also help to address the challenges of climate change. We look
forward to studying the report in detail.” Janette Ward, Chair of
Campaign for National Parks, said: “We are delighted our campaign to
give every school child a chance to experience the extraordinary
National Parks for themselves is being recommended today. To sit beneath
the starry skies, hear the calls of owls and breathe fresh air is a life
changing and enriching experience. We are so glad Julian and his team
share this view.” Corinne commented: “We are delighted that the Glover Review believes
that new National Parks can still make a valuable contribution to the
nation. However, we believe it is essential that additional resources
are made available to fund any new Parks, and that the finances needed
to sustain and enhance the existing Parks are not reduced as a result.
Our National Parks have to be properly resourced to do their job and
supported by our politicians.” However, the charity warns that the Glover review is only a first
step and that the real work begins here. Corinne added: “This has the potential to be a step-change for our
National Parks but this is only the beginning. We will now be closely
examining the detail of the proposals and will be working to ensure that
the momentum is maintained by the Government in its response. We would
urge the Government to use this as a springboard, to take this
opportunity to deliver real leadership on countryside issues.”
Environment Secretary welcomes Landscapes Review
- defra in the media blog There was widespread positive coverage on Saturday including in
The Daily Telegraph,
The Sun,
The i,
The Daily Mail, and
The Guardian of the independent
Landscapes Review commissioned by Defra into the running of
England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The
Environment Secretary also appeared live on Sky News and the Today
Programme to talk about the review.
CPRE welcomes Glover Review of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty Crispin Truman, Chief Executive, said:" ‘We welcome this vital review
into how National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be
even better in the future. These astounding landscapes should be
experienced and enjoyed by everyone, so we absolutely agree that more
must be done to improve access for all. We believe there should be a
bold ambition for every child to visit and learn about these places and
for people from all walks of life to have the opportunity to visit and
fall in love with National Parks and AONBs. Now it is time for
Government action to ensure that many of these great recommendations can
become a reality. We very much look forward to working together towards
a brighter future for National Parks and AONBs.’
Our response to the Glover Review - National
Trust We warmly welcome the Glover Review. As nearly three quarters of our
land lies within National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONBs), we share the view that we should be doing all we can to help as
many people as possible to access our amazing countryside. The National
Trust fully supports the Review’s ambition to break down some of the
barriers to access, so that people from all walks of life feel welcome
and experience the joy of our natural world. The National Trust would like to see our protected landscapes deliver
more for nature with a stronger focus on the environment, it is great to
see that this has been recognised and we are keen to work with National
Parks to help them lead the way. More Government News:
PM launches new action plan to save the natural world
- Defra, DFID, Prime Minister's office PM to launch new biodiversity fund dedicated to saving the world’s
most endangered animals. A new £220 million fund to save endangered animals such as the black
rhino, African elephant, snow leopard and Sumatran tiger from extinction
will be unveiled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson today (23 September). Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York the Prime Minister
will call for urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity as part of
global efforts to tackle the drivers and impact of climate change.
The Prime Minister will warn that precious habitats and species are
disappearing from our planet faster than at any other time in human
history. The world’s animal populations have declined by almost two
thirds in the last 50 years, and around a million species now face
extinction – many within decades. The UK’s new International Biodiversity Fund will protect these
animals and more by backing projects aimed at halting the unprecedented
loss of habitats and species and saving those most at risk. The £220
million announced today is the first investment in the Fund, with more
funding to be unveiled, and builds on the UK’s world-leading reputation
on this agenda. The fund will also deploy UK expertise around the world to help local
communities protect species under threat and preserve their natural
habitats, through a significant scale-up of the UK’s Darwin Initiative.
Previous Darwin projects have helped save the critically-endangered
spoon-billed sandpiper from extinction and rescued hundreds of
highly-endangered big-headed turtles from traffickers. The new UK funding will also be used to create pioneering ‘green
corridors’ in global biodiversity hotspots, which aim to prevent the
loss of species by protecting and restoring habitats that have been
threatened by human activity. This could help 250,000 elephants in the
KAZA region of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe migrate
safely from one reserve to another along a new ‘elephant corridor’. The Prime Minister has been clear that biodiversity and climate
change are two sides of the same coin and must be addressed in tandem if
we’re to protect the planet for future generations. At the UN today he
will call for greater global action to address these twin threats. Other news:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology will become independent on 1 December
2019 We are pleased to announce that the UK’s Minister for Universities,
Science, Research and Innovation, and HM Treasury have approved the case
for the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) to become an independent
research institute. CEH will become autonomous from UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and
the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), launching as a
not-for-profit company limited by guarantee with charitable status on 1
December this year. CEH will continue to deliver impartial, world-class environmental
science for a wide range of funders and to collaborate with partners
across borders, sectors and disciplines. We will maintain the close
relationship we have with UKRI and NERC, and remain the main delivery
partner for NERC National Capability research for environmental sciences
across land, water and air.
Brilliant Butterflies Project – Butterfly
Conservation Croydon to host cutting-edge butterfly habitat restoration project,
creating butterfly havens for residents to enjoy. Over the next two years, Brilliant Butterflies will create new homes
for butterflies and insects through the creation and restoration of
chalk grassland, a rare and threatened habitat many species thrive in.
The Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project secures National
Lottery support The Urban Nature Project aims to turn the Natural History Museum’s
five-acre outdoor space into an exemplar of urban wildlife research and
conservation, and engage the nation with urban biodiversity.
A
Bioblitz event taking place at the Natural History Museum's Wildlife
Garden © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum The Natural History Museum has received initial support* from The
National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Urban Nature Project (UNP), an
ambitious national programme to inspire communities to take action for
urban wildlife through the transformation of the Museum’s gardens and a
network of regional and national partnerships. The UNP aims to turn the Natural History Museum’s five-acre outdoor
space into an exemplar of urban wildlife research and conservation and
engage the nation with urban biodiversity. It convenes a UK-wide
partnership which will tackle challenges facing urban natural heritage,
reconnect people to nature and explore the importance of evolutionary
change through time. Comprising a coalition of museums and wildlife organisations, it will
develop the tools and skills urgently needed to understand urban nature
and inspire diverse audiences to make a lifelong connection to nature,
learn about its value, and take action to protect it. Development funding of £210,900 has been awarded by The National
Lottery Heritage Fund to help the Museum progress plans to apply for a
full National Lottery grant of £3,231,900 at a later date. The Natural History Museum’s Executive Director of Development Fiona
McWilliams says: “Urbanisation is rising rapidly, significantly
squeezing space for wildlife, so it has never been more important to
connect people with the nature on their doorstep and help them to enjoy
and protect it for future generations. The Urban Nature Project’s
national activity programme will inspire and empower people to
recognise, understand and protect the nature in towns and cities whilst
also providing scientific evidence that conservationists can use to
protect urban nature across the UK.”
UK's rarest amphibian given a head start -
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation The UK’s rarest amphibian is taking a huge leap forward thanks to
scientists behind a pioneering breeding programme. The pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae) became extinct in the UK
in the 1990s but it was reintroduced to a site in Norfolk between 2005
and 2008 by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC). Now the wildlife charity has carried out a ground-breaking scheme to
increase the animal’s population. The ‘head-starting’ project uses a conservation technique for
endangered species in which spawn or young tadpoles are raised in
captivity and subsequently released into the wild. This allows a
greater proportion to survive the riskiest part of their life-cycle away
from predators or losses to other natural causes. Spawn was collected from the original pool frog site in June 2019.
The resulting tadpoles were reared in laboratory conditions over the
summer and released into ponds at Thompson Common, the last-known refuge
for pool frogs before their extinction and a site where previous
experimental releases have shown promise. Norfolk Wildlife Trust, which
owns and manages Thompson Common, has created fantastic conditions for
pool frogs by restoring ancient ponds. ARC hopes that the programme will
succeed in building on the first reintroductions and increase the number
of pool frogs living in the wild.
Long-term future of corncrakes in Scotland increasingly uncertain
– RSPB This year’s numbers fall to 870. The 2019 survey results for corncrakes, one of Scotland’s rarest
breeding birds, reinforce the vulnerability of the species RSPB Scotland
has warned. Only 870 calling male corncrakes were recorded in the core
areas that are annually surveyed this summer, down from 897 in 2018. The alarmingly low figure means that in the last five years since the
2014 high of 1,282 calling males the population has decreased by over 30
percent. While numbers in the Outer Hebrides have increased overall in
2019 compared to 2018, this has been offset by declines elsewhere
including overall across the Inner Hebrides in the same period. The persistent low numbers over the last five years show that
corncrakes are struggling to recover with their long-term survival as a
breeding species in Scotland under threat. At the moment, corncrakes are
helped largely through agri-environment schemes, where farmers and
crofters are paid to ensure that there is good habitat for the birds.
The continuation of such agri-environment support for Scotland’s farmers
and crofters is vital to ensure the corncrake’s survival in Scotland,
and also benefits other species. RSPB Scotland is developing a new project to help secure the future
of these birds in Scotland. Saving Corncrakes through Advocacy, Land
management and Education (SCALE) was awarded over £30,000 by the
National Lottery Heritage Fund in August 2018 to further develop the
project, ahead of applying for a full grant later this year.
The results are in and they’re looking red
– Northumberland Wildlife Trust Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) has undertaken its eighth
annual squirrel monitoring programme.
Once
again, over 170 people were involved in this massive citizen science
project surveying woodlands and gardens across the north of England
between March and May. 86% of surveys were carried out by volunteers. Red Squirrel. Image by: Steve Wrightson The surveys involved a mix of trail cameras, feeders in gardens and
walks through forests to record squirrels spotted. In addition, the programme also gathered data from multiple sources:
sightings reported by the public, RSNE staff and records submitted by
local squirrel groups. Results were positive overall, with red squirrels recorded in 43% of
sites - a 1% rise on last year’s result. Grey squirrels were found in
46% of sites, down 2% compared to 2018. The team was able to produce a red squirrel distribution map which
pinpoints records of reds in 440 2 x 2km squares within the three month
period, filling in gaps in distribution. The surveys take place in ‘red squirrel counties’ across northern
England, where wild red squirrels can still be found: in Cumbria,
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and
parts of County Durham. Surveys are completed within areas where red squirrel conservation is
carried out by project teams, such as Red Squirrels Northern England,
and by local community red squirrel groups under the banner of Northern
Red Squirrels. A full copy of the report and a summary can be viewed at rsne.org.uk/squirrel-monitoring-programme.
Choices made now are critical for the future of our ocean and cryosphere
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) Special Report highlights the urgency of prioritizing
timely, ambitious and coordinated action to address unprecedented and
enduring changes in the ocean and cryosphere. The report reveals the benefits of ambitious and effective adaptation
for sustainable development and, conversely, the escalating costs and
risks of delayed action. The ocean and the cryosphere – the frozen parts of the planet – play
a critical role for life on Earth. A total of 670 million people in high
mountain regions and 680 million people in low-lying coastal zones
depend directly on these systems. Four million people live permanently
in the Arctic region, and small island developing states are home to 65
million people. Global warming has already reached 1°C above the pre-industrial
level, due to past and current greenhouse gas emissions. There is
overwhelming evidence that this is resulting in profound consequences
for ecosystems and people. The ocean is warmer, more acidic and less
productive. Melting glaciers and ice sheets are causing sea level rise,
and coastal extreme events are becoming more severe. The IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing
Climate, approved on 24 September 2019 by the 195 IPCC member
governments, provides new evidence for the benefits of limiting global
warming to the lowest possible level – in line with the goal that
governments set themselves in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Urgently
reducing greenhouse gas emissions limits the scale of ocean and
cryosphere changes. Ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them
can be preserved. Reaction:
Our response to the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a
Changing Climate - National Trust Phil Dyke, Marine and Coast Specialist for the National Trust, said:
“Today’s IPCC report is a stark wake-up call to global leaders on the
extraordinary effects of climate change on our oceans and coastlines. We
are seeing unprecedented change - from vanishing ice sheets in Greenland
to extreme weather events becoming more frequent. Sea levels are rising
faster than ever before, millions of people are at risk of being
displaced and biodiversity is being damaged beyond repair. The IPCC
today warned that the thawing of the Earth’s frozen regions could
release billions of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere as early as
2100, which would be calamitous. Far from being a distant threat, the
melting of the Earth’s glaciers and ice sheets is now the main
contributor to sea level rise, which when combined with coastal erosion,
means swathes of the UK’s beaches and clifftops are being washed away at
an increasing rate.”
Holy Grail of moth recording reappears in Britain - Butterfly
Conservation Numerous recent sightings of a moth that became extinct in the UK in
the 1960s, suggest that it has recolonised and is now breeding across
southern Britain.
The
Clifden Nonpareil, whose name means ‘beyond compare’, is one of the
largest and most spectacular moths native to our shores.
With a wingspan that can reach almost 12cm and a bright blue stripe
across its black hindwings (which gives rise to an alternative name of
the Blue Underwing), this species has long been regarded as a holy grail
among moth enthusiasts. Immigrant moths from continental Europe appear to have re-established
breeding colonies of this impressive insect in recent years, in south
coast counties of England. People are being asked to look for this moth and record any sightings
as part of the annual Moth Night, an event run every year by Atropos,
Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. This year
the event celebrates its 20th anniversary. As part of this coming Moth Night on 26-28 September 2019 dedicated
moth recorders and members of the public are being asked to survey moths
and to submit their sightings via the website. Public events are also
being held across the country to raise awareness of the importance and
beauty of moths.
Rare species re-introduced to Delamere Forest
- Cheshire Wildlife Trust A rare plant has recently been re-introduced into our Black Lake
Nature Reserve at Delamere Forest after the species only remained at one
remnant bog pool at Abbots Moss SSSI. Lesser Bladderwort (Utricularia minor) is very rare in Cheshire, very
sensitive to habitat change and has been lost from many of the peat
basins across Cheshire. Black Lake is haven for dragonflies and
damselflies, from the impressive hawkers, to delicate darters and the
chaser dragonflies. The plant is a true specialist when it comes to living in harsh
environments such as the acidic peat basins where it is usually found.
These sites are low in nutrient and to live the plants must adapt. When
insects such as zooplankton touch the tiny hairs of the stems they snap
shut trapping their prey. These traps close in 0.002 seconds making them
one of the fastest living organisms on earth. Josh Styles from the North West Rare Plant Initiative (NWRPI) who
re-introduced the plant on site said: “The one overarching aim of the
NWRPI is to secure the prospects of a total of 43 target vascular plant
species, declining rapidly/on the brink of extinction in North West
England."
Conservation project Back from the Brink is Awards champion
- National Lottery Heritage Fund
Landmark
nature project Back from the Brink has picked up the Best Heritage
Project Award in the 25th Birthday National Lottery Awards. (image: National Lottery Heritage Fund) TV nature presenter Steve Backshall was on hand to deliver the good
news to the team after they won a public vote to land the prize in the
annual search for the most popular projects funded by The National
Lottery. Backshall, the well-loved wildlife presenter of BBC’s Deadly 60,
presented the project with their award this week (23 September) at
Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire. A short film featuring his visit will
be shown on BBC One in November as part of the 25th Birthday National
Lottery Awards. As the first of its kind,
Back from the
Brink seeks to save 20 of the UK’s most endangered animals, plants
and fungi. This ambitious programme will also benefit more than 200
at-risk species, carried out by 19 projects at more than 40 sites across
England.
Safeguarding Lundy’s fragile nature for generations to come
- National Trust A remote island off the Devon coast that has been transformed from
farmland to a rich oasis of wildlife will be protected for another 50
years when a new lease between the National Trust and Landmark Trust is
signed this autumn. Lundy Island is now home to a rich array of more than 21,000 seabirds
including puffins and Manx shearwater after a concerted effort to
eradicate rats on the rocky outpost. More than 200 breeding Atlantic grey seals also swim off the shores
of the island, that was gifted to the National Trust in 1969. At that time wildlife was struggling, but the charity joined forces
with the Landmark Trust, who took over the day-to-day running of the
island in the same year. Since then, both organisations have done an enormous amount of work
to protect and enhance Lundy’s wildlife and heritage. Successes include the tripling seabird numbers thanks to an ambitious
Seabird Recovery Project, set up by the National Trust, RSPB, Natural
England and Landmark Trust in 2002 which made the island rat-free to
give the dwindling number of seabirds a chance. The island will now be protected for another 50 years once a new
lease is signed this autumn, marking a new milestone in Lundy’s story.
The 50-year lease solidifies each organisation’s commitment to
continuing to care for Lundy, ensuring its special character and the
experience which so many cherish can continue for the next half century.
New national guidelines released today (26 September) underline the
huge benefits of road verges being cut less and later for wild flowers
and the wildlife they underpin. The Plantlife-led guidelines endorsed by
highways agencies, industry and wildlife organisations provide a roadmap
to fundamentally transform how 313,500 miles of UK road verges are
managed.
Tufted
Vetch on a road verge (Plantlife) Many verges are currently cut at least four times a year but the
guidelines recommend a two-cut management programme that allows flowers
to complete their full lifecycle rather than being cut down in their
prime before they are able to set seed. The less and later two-cut
approach endorsed by these guidelines would replenish the seed bank,
restore floral diversity, save councils money and provide pollinator
habitat estimated to equal the size of London, Birmingham, Manchester,
Cardiff AND Edinburgh combined. Fresh approaches to road verge management are essential considering
there has been a 20% drop in floral diversity on road verges since 1990,
partly due to poor or inappropriate management. Red clover and lady's
bedstraw, two of the six verge wild flowers that support the highest
number of invertebrates - are amongst the plants experiencing the most
rapid decline with adverse knock-on effects for wildlife. The marsh
fritillary butterfly feeds almost exclusively on devil's-bit scabious,
so lives or dies according to the prospects of its food plant. Given a staggering 97% of wildflower meadows have been eradicated in
less than a century, grassland road verges are crucial wildlife
habitats: they provide safe haven for over 700 species of wild flowers,
nearly 45% of our total flora, including 29 of 52 species of wild orchid
including rarities such as lizard orchid. Plantlife’s new best practise guidance for highway authorities, their
contractors and community groups has been produced in collaboration with
Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, national highways agencies
Highways England, Transport Scotland and Welsh Government, industry
bodies Skanska and Kier, and wildlife organisations Butterfly
Conservation and The Wildlife Trusts. It provides detailed information
and case studies on road verge management and fulfils a recommendation
in the UK Government’s National Pollinator Strategy.
Download the Road Verge Management Guide here
Basking sharks exhibit different diving behaviour depending on the
season, a new study shows Tracking the world’s second-largest shark species has revealed that
it moves to different depths depending on the time of year. Basking sharks spend most of the summer months at the ocean’s
surface, but dive to deeper depths in winter. This seasonal variation in behaviour is likely caused by
environmental conditions: sharks could be exploring different areas of
the ocean to deal with changes in food abundance.
Image
courtesy of P.Doherty Basking sharks also perform “yo-yo” dives towards late winter and
early spring. “Yo-yo” dives are rapid and repeated movements between
deep and surface waters. Whilst performing these dives, several of the studied sharks reached
depths of over 1000 m, and two were tracked as far as 1500 m below the
surface. Dr Phil Doherty, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of
Exeter’s Penryn Campus and lead author of the study, said: “We do not
know exactly why the sharks are performing these dives. They may be
sampling the water column in efforts to detect prey, or attempting to
re-orientate themselves for navigation purposes.” Dr Doherty and his colleagues from the University of Exeter teamed up
with Scottish Natural Heritage, MarAlliance, Manx Basking Shark Watch
and Wave Action to study how the movements and diving behaviour of
basking sharks change throughout the year. The team attached satellite tags to 32 of these gentle giants off the
coast of Scotland from a boat and monitored their movements. The tags
collected data on depth and temperature, along with ambient light
levels, which can be used to estimate the sharks’ location each day. The collected data reveal a seasonal change in diving behaviour, it
also showed that basking sharks move to different depths depending on
the time of day. “We found that sharks spent most of the summer near the surface of
the water, occupying the top few metres during the day, moving down to
depths of 10-25 m at night. But in winter, they did the opposite,
spending the majority of time between 50 and 250 m, but more often
shallower during the night,” said Dr Doherty.
People Living Near Green Spaces Are at Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome
– Barcelona Institute of Global Health A study analyses for the first time the relation between long-term exposure to residential green spaces and a cluster of conditions that include obesity and hypertension Barcelona, September 26 - Middle-aged and older adults that live in greener neighbourhoods are at lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome than those living in areas with less green spaces. This is the main conclusion of a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by ”la Caixa”, which provides further evidence on the health benefits of green spaces. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together and include obesity, hypertension, high blood sugar levels, and abnormal fat levels. It is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes or stroke. To date, a number of studies have analysed the relationship between exposure to green spaces and individual components of metabolic syndrome. In this study, ISGlobal examined the link with metabolic syndrome as a whole, providing an indicator of overall cardiometabolic health, and in the long-term.
Over half of Europe’s endemic trees face extinction
- IUCN Over half (58%) of Europe’s endemic trees are threatened with
extinction, according to assessments of the state of the continent’s
biodiversity published today by the International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN). The introduction of invasive species, unsustainable
logging and urban development are key threats causing the decline of
tree species such as the horse-chestnut across Europe. The newly published European Red List of Trees evaluated the
conservation status of all 454 tree species native to the continent, and
found that two fifths (42%) are regionally threatened with extinction.
Among Europe’s endemic trees – those that don’t exist anywhere else on
earth – 58% were found to be threatened, and 15% (66 species) assessed
as Critically Endangered, or one step away from going extinct. Invasive
and problematic native species are the largest threat to European trees.
These include pests and diseases but also invasive plants introduced by
humans which compete with native tree saplings. “It is alarming that over half of Europe’s endemic tree species are
now threatened with extinction. Trees are essential for life on earth,
and European trees in all their diversity are a source of food and
shelter for countless animal species such as birds and squirrels, and
play a key economic role. From the EU to regional assemblies and the
conservation community, we all need to work together to ensure their
survival,” said Craig Hilton-Taylor, Head of the IUCN Red List
Unit. “Perhaps most importantly, measures for conserving these
threatened species, and many other overlooked species highlighted in
today’s European Red List assessments, need to be integrated into
regular conservation planning and land management.”
FLS peatland restoration gets £3 million boost
– Forestry and Land Scotland Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) ongoing efforts to restore former
forestry plantation to peatland has been given a £3 million boost from
the Peatland Action Fund and Scottish Government. The funding, administered by Scottish Natural Heritage, is drawn from
the Scottish Government’s £14 million investment in projects to restore
degraded peatlands - a Programme for Government commitment. The £3 million will add further momentum to FLS’s 5 five year
programme of restoration works which has begun restoration across 2,500
hectares of afforested land, and 3,000 hectares of existing but
threatened open peatland. This year’s work will see a further 785 ha restored across 14 sites
across Scotland, and a range of works such s surveys and the
construction of roads and bridges to enable larger programmes of
restoration work in future. Ian McKee, Open Habitat Ecologist with FLS, said “This funding is a
great testament to the quality and range of restoration projects that we
have undertaken over the past five years as we work towards restoring
over 2,500 hectares of former forestry plantation back to Blanket Bog
and Lowland Raised Bog. This hugely important work we are doing is
helping secure our carbon stores, and change the peatlands from sources
of carbon to carbon sinks. Every site we restore adds value to the scale
of the contribution we make to our environment, to biodiversity, water
quality, and to the people of Scotland.” The work is an integral part of Scotland’s contribution to tackling
the global climate emergency, and will help further the Scottish
Government pledge to make Scotland a net-zero emissions country by 2045.
Using a range of techniques developed initially by FLS, Scottish
Power Renewables and Forest Research, FLS’s restoration work involves
removing trees and ‘re-wetting’ sites, as well as smoothing out the
ridge and furrow patterning established when sites were originally
planted with trees.
Scientific Publications Victoria E. Lee, Noémie Régli, Guillam E. McIvor and Alex Thornton
Social learning about dangerous people by wild jackdaws R. Soc. open
sci. (open access) doi.org/10.1098/rsos.191031
Mellado, A. and Zamora, R. (2019),
Ecological consequences of parasite host shifts under changing
environments: More than a change of partner. J Ecol. Accepted Author
Manuscript. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.13295 F. X. Macià, M. Menchetti, C. Corbella, J. Grajera & R. Vila (2019)
Exploitation of
the invasive Asian Hornet Vespa velutina by the European Honey
Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Bird Study, DOI:
10.1080/00063657.2019.1660304
Ponti, R. , Arcones, A. , Ferrer, X. and Vieites, D. R. (2019),
Seasonal climatic niches
diverge in migratory birds. Ibis. Accepted Author Manuscript.
doi:10.1111/ibi.12784
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