CJS News, Headlines from week beginning 22 April 2024

A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.

UK-wide ban on wet wipes containing plastic to be put into law - Defra

The UK Government will introduce new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic.

• Government announces next steps to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic following overwhelming support during the consultation process
• World-leading legislation will be introduced this year to help tackle plastic pollution and clean up waterways
• Transition period set out for businesses to help them adapt

The UK Government will introduce new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic, the Environment Secretary has confirmed today (22 April 2024).

Defra intend to bring forward the legislation for England ahead of summer recess, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales following by the autumn as part of an aligned approach to bring the ban into force.

Wet wipes containing plastic break down into microplastics over time, which research shows can be harmful to human health and disrupt our ecosystems – with a recent survey showing an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed across the UK.

Once in our water environment, wet wipes containing plastic can accumulate biological and chemical pollutants, increasing the risk of harm to the animals and humans who encounter them.

Banning them will reduce plastic and microplastic pollution and reduce the volume of microplastics entering wastewater treatment sites when wrongly flushed – meaning our beaches and waterways will benefit from the ban.

NRW to reduce mowing in May to help pollinators - Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will reduce mowing as much as possible on the land in its care during May to help tackle the nature emergency and in support of Plantlife’s ‘No Mow May’ campaign.

The scale and rate of biodiversity loss across Wales is accelerating. Every third mouthful of food we eat has been created by pollination, and without pollinators our food supply would collapse.

Half of the UK's 27 bumblebee species are in decline, and of the 43 species of butterfly seen in Wales, 10 are in severe decline and 17 are declining.

There are several reasons for the decline in pollinators, such as climate change, pollution and pesticides, and change in how land is managed.

Throughout the growing season, NRW cuts grass and vegetation in areas such as forests, nature reserves, river banks, flood defences and reservoir embankments.

Reducing mowing in May will help biodiversity by allowing spring plants to set seed and grow to provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.

NRW will reduce its mowing activities in May as much as possible, but essential grass cutting will continue in some areas across Wales.

Dolphin Diet Detectives Project Receives Nature Networks Funding! - Wildlife Trust if South and West Wales

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) is delighted to announce that it has received funding support from the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund Round 3 (NNF) for a unique project - Dolphin Diet Detectives: Unveiling Dolphin Diets and Engaging Communities for UK Conservation.

The £249,306 grant awarded will support further research opportunities enhancing WTSWW’s important bottlenose dolphin marine conservation research in Cardigan Bay until March 2026. WTSWW will be working in partnership with both Aberystwyth and Cardiff Universities to deliver this exciting, groundbreaking project.

Our marine conservation team based at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) in New Quay, Ceredigion will collect dolphin faecal samples during research surveys, from which DNA will be extracted and genetic ‘metabarcoding’ performed by researchers from Aberystwyth University. This will reveal what species the dolphins are consuming at various times and locations.

Dr Sarah Perry, Marine Conservation and Research Manager at WTSWW said, "We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking project, using cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) and genetic techniques to unravel the mysteries of bottlenose dolphin ecology in Cardigan Bay. This project covers an area of research that we have aspired to embark on over the past decade or so and we are excited that it has come to fruition at a time when it is even more important that we build on our knowledge of the species in the waters around us. Our focus on understanding dolphin diet, population dynamics and interactions with prey species through innovative research methods will not only inform vital conservation strategies but also actively involve the community. This project is a collaborative endeavour, uniting science and community for a sustainable future.”

Grants announced by South Downs National Park to help bring boost to mental health - South Downs National Park Authority

A new grants scheme is being launched today to help more people from urban areas access the South Downs National Park for its mental health and wellbeing benefits.

The profound impact of green spaces and being in nature to help manage depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness are becoming better understood as each year goes by.

Now, ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week in May, the National Park Authority is launching an initiative to help local community groups make the most of the tranquil and wildlife-rich landscape on their doorstep.

The Health and Wellbeing Travel Grants are particularly aimed at communities on the urban fringes across Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey that may not have had access to the National Park before and might struggle with transport costs.

The initiative is being launched in partnership with Community Transport Sussex, which is able to provide a minibus service to and from the National Park.

Wildlife and climate campaigners unite in what could be the biggest ever march for nature - The Wildlife Trusts

• Members of the public are being encouraged to ‘unite for nature’ by joining a legal and family-friendly demonstration on the streets of central London on Saturday 22 June 2024
  
• Backed by a wide-range of nature, wildlife and climate groups and campaigners, including Chris Packham, the demonstration aims to be the biggest-ever gathering of nature and climate supporters in the UK
  
• The Restore Nature Now demonstration will bring thousands of people together to call on all political parties to take action to restore nature and tackle climate change in the UK, as one of the worst nations for nature loss

Environment campaigners are urging everyone who cares for nature to unite and march through London to Parliament Square on Saturday 22 June, with a simple demand to all political parties: Restore Nature Now.

This legal demonstration aims to be the biggest gathering of people for nature and climate that the UK has seen and is both a celebration of UK nature and a protest for urgent political action on the nature and climate emergencies.

The Restore Nature Now march will be a peaceful, inclusive and family-friendly event. It is supported by a diverse group of dozens of wildlife and environment organisations (including the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, The Climate Coalition, WWF-UK, National Trust, WWT, Woodland Trust, Wildlife and Countryside Link, Rewilding Britain, Extinction Rebellion and Chris Packham) who are warning that this General Election must be a turning point for nature before it is too late.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Political focus on nature and climate in this country needs a huge upgrade. People understand the seriousness of the nature crisis and demand that elected officials do the same. Nature charities are backed by millions of supporters and this event will see many of these as well as our volunteers and anyone who cares about nature taking a collective stand. We can lose the embarrassing badge as one of the most nature-depleted countries on earth, but we have got to go further and work faster together. Inaction is simply not an option.”

Bugs Matter Citizen Science survey shows further decreases in UK insect numbers - Buglife

The troubling extent of insect declines in the UK has been highlighted once again by the 2023 Bugs Matter citizen science survey published today. The new report reveals that the abundance of flying insects sampled on vehicle number plates has fallen by a staggering 78% since 2004.

The Bugs Matter survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, is supported by a nationwide network of volunteer citizen scientists who record insect splats on their vehicle number plates after journeys. Since the first reference survey in 2004 led by RSPB, analysis of records from nearly 26,500 journeys across the UK shows a continuing decrease in bug splats, with the number of splats in 2023 decreasing by 78% nationwide.

Insects are critical to ecosystem functioning and services. They pollinate crops, provide natural pest control, decompose waste and recycle nutrients, and underpin food chains that support birds, mammals and other wildlife. Without insects, the planet’s ecological systems would collapse.

Dr. Lawrence Ball of Kent Wildlife Trust stated: “These results are extremely concerning, particularly if insect splats serve as an accurate measure of insect populations. This is a red flag for the state of nature in the UK that shouldn’t be ignored. A decrease in the number of insects sampled of more than 75% in less than two decades is really alarming, and we’re seeing fewer insects being sampled every year! It is critically important that we continue to run Bugs Matter, and we’re so grateful for the ongoing commitment of citizen scientists to the Bugs Matter survey, which led to more data in 2023 than in any previous year. ”

The new data shows decreases in insect splat rates across all regions of the UK, with the sharpest fall between 2004 and 2023 recorded in England at 83%. Scotland saw a 76% drop, while Wales experienced a 79% decrease over the same period. Northern Ireland, with limited data, showed a 54% decline between 2021 and 2023.

Partnership work will help to boost rare newt population at Newport Wetlands - Natural Resources Wales

An exciting restoration project between Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) will help to boost numbers of great crested newt at Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve.

A network of six new ponds were created in February this year, which will help to restore and create new foraging and breeding habitats for the species. Last year, four existing ponds were restored on the reserve.

Great crested newts are a European Protected Species and their eggs, breeding sites and resting places are protected by law. They are threatened by the loss of breeding ponds through destruction or degradation of water quality, loss and fragmentation of terrestrial habitat and a rise in non-native invasive weeds.

The newts were previously known to breed at a shallow pond at Goldcliff Lagoons on the reserve. But in 2021 and 2022 the pond dried up by late spring, meaning the larvae would have perished before metamorphosis, having an impact on their numbers.

It is hoped that the new network of ponds will help to boost their population, as well as providing valuable habitat for other species of amphibians and dragonflies.

The ponds will also provide reservoirs of drinking water for farm stock which graze on the reserve.

The work was carried out by local contractors Williams of Williams Contracting, whose family have farmed in the area for generations.

Kevin Boina M’Koubou Dupé, Land Management officer for Natural Resources Wales said: “It’s really great to be able to work in partnership with colleagues from ARC to be able to carry out this work to boost great crested newts and other amphibian populations at Newport Wetlands. The scale and rate of biodiversity loss across the nation is accelerating, which is why partnership projects such as this are so important. The new ponds, and enhancements of existing ponds will offer crucial foraging and breeding habitats. By working with colleagues from other organisations on projects like this , we help play our part in helping wildlife to thrive and support nature’s recovery.”

And finally ... it's nearly time for Plantlife's #NoMowMay

Bee part of the solution and grow a bee banquet! - Lewes Climate Hub

Each year, Plantlife and Wildflower Lewes (among others!) ask you to leave your lawn to grow throughout May. Lesley Healey of Wildflower Lewes explains it’s so critical – with tips from Plantlife on nurturing a flowery lawn.

Each year, Plantlife and Wildflower Lewes (among others!) ask you to leave your lawn to grow throughout May. Not mowing allows the wildflowers that naturally occur within the grass (including ‘weeds’ like dandelions, daisies and speedwell) to flower.

May is a bee’s hungry month. There isn’t much in flower in gardens or the countryside, and there is stiff competition for the nectar and pollen from other flower-loving insects.

Our pollinators, notably bumblebees (but also butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles and others) need nectar and pollen to eat, establish a nest and feed their progeny so other bees will hatch to pollinate our food plants. Tiny flowers like speedwell and chickweed often carry loads of food for their size – size definitely isn’t everything!

So – be lazy this May, leave the lawn mower in the shed and see your lawn start to hum with insects! Here is Plantlife’s guide to a wildlife-friendly and manageable, flowery lawn that you can easily maintain all season.

Policymakers must recognise global economic risks posed by ecosystem ‘tipping points’ - University of Exeter

The collapse of key ecosystems would severely harm the global economy, researchers have warned.

Researchers from UCL’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) and the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter reviewed the likely impacts of “ecosystem tipping points” such as the dieback of the Amazon rainforest, tropical peatland collapse and widespread die-off of coral reefs.

Their report says such events can “reverberate globally”, with effects including reduced food and energy security, and damage to buildings, croplands and infrastructure – with financial costs for households, businesses and governments.

Ecosystem tipping points are not well represented in economic models that aim to quantify the risks of environmental change, meaning financial risks are significantly underestimated and new approaches are needed, the report says.

“Stable natural ecosystems underpin all economic activity,” said Lydia Marsden, from UCL’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. “Pressures on nature from human activity – such as pollution, deforestation and climate change – are increasing the risk of ecosystem tipping points: irreversible changes that can occur rapidly and on a large scale. Such tipping points would compromise the many vital services provided by these ecosystems to the economy. For example, a partial collapse of the Amazon rainforest would reverberate across rainfall patterns globally, affecting sectors from hydropower to agriculture to global shipping, in fundamentally unpredictable and irreversible ways. Preventing these changes from happening should be of utmost importance to any policymaker tasked with preserving economic and financial stability.”

The report is entitled: “Ecosystem tipping points: Understanding risks to the economy and financial system.”

Ducks take a dive as milder winters keep birds in an unfrozen north - British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)

Fewer ducks, geese, swans and wader species are travelling to the UK as milder conditions continue to define northern European winters.

The UK is host to internationally important numbers of wintering waterbirds, and the long-standing Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP) provide essential data that inform decision makers when considering conservation measures for these birds.

With data provided by over 3,800 dedicated volunteers across the UK, the surveys deliver an annual assessment of ducks, geese, swans, waders and other waterbirds residing on, or passing through, our coasts, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and rivers.

Published today, the 2022/23 WeBS report reveals yet more changes in the fortunes of many of our wildfowl and waders. As winters continue to become milder and damper across much of northern Europe, many species are altering their behaviours in response.

Historically, harsh conditions in northern and eastern Europe would see huge numbers of birds migrating to the relatively mild conditions of a British winter but now, as previously frozen landscapes become increasingly accessible, significant numbers of birds are staying closer to their breeding grounds, in a phenomenon known as short-stopping.

Those that do still make the journey across the North Sea to spend the winter in the UK are often arriving later and leaving earlier, therefore staying with us for much shorter periods. This has become increasingly noticeable in such species as Bewick’s Swan, which has declined by 96% in the last 25 years, while Goldeneye numbers have halved and Dunlin have dropped by a third.

Read the full the 2022/23 WeBS report >

DRS delay will lead to 25 billion bottles and cans being littered, buried or burned - Keep Britain Tidy

Today’s Defra announcement of a further delay to the planned introduction of a deposit return scheme until October 2027 has been described as a ‘slap in the face for anyone who cares about the state of litter in this country’ by Keep Britain Tidy, which has long campaigned for its introduction.

The charity says the new 2027 date for the introduction of scheme is ‘disastrous’ for the environment

Commenting on the decision, the charity’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: "A deposit return scheme is the unparalleled opportunity this country has to get a grip on its disastrous relationship with litter and waste. No other policy can boost recycling of a product to above 90% and reduce its littering by 85%, all with industry enthusiastically supporting it and agreeing to fund it. This is our chance to tackle the drinks litter that makes up more than 70% of litter by volume in this country at the same time as dramatically improving recycling, and all without leaving the taxpayer out of pocket. Their decision to postpone introduction to October 2027 is nothing short of disastrous for the environment and a slap in the face for anyone who cares about the state of litter in this country. This delay means oceans of bottles and cans will continue to needlessly pile up in bins and continue to be strewn on roadsides and in our green spaces, rather than being recycled. The exclusion of glass is again hugely disappointing. Glass containers start fires and cause harm to people, pets and wildlife. This is why 78% of people want to see it included in a deposit return scheme. We are pleased to see that Wales look determined to pursue their best-in-class scheme and encourage the rest of the UK to follow suit. We estimate that between now and October 2027 an eye watering 25 billion bottles and cans will be littered, buried or burned. So Keep Britain Tidy is urgently calling on any future government to make this the number one priority in the war against our spiralling waste crisis.”

First-of-its-kind study definitively shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss - Re:wild

Comprehensive meta-analysis looks at success of wide range of conservation interventions globally and over time

A new study published online today, April 25, in the scientific journal Science provides the strongest evidence to date that not only is nature conservation successful, but that scaling conservation interventions up would be transformational for halting and reversing biodiversity loss—a crisis that can lead to ecosystem collapses and a planet less able to support life—and reducing the effects of climate change.

The findings of this first-ever comprehensive meta-analysis of the impact of conservation action are crucial as more than 44,000 species are documented as being at risk of extinction, with tremendous consequences for the ecosystems that stabilize the climate and that provide billions of people around the world with clean water, livelihoods, homes, and cultural preservation, among other ecosystem services. Governments recently adopted new global targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, making it even more critical to understand whether conservation interventions are working.

“If you look only at the trend of species declines, it would be easy to think that we’re failing to protect biodiversity, but you would not be looking at the full picture,” said Penny Langhammer, lead author of the study and executive vice president of Re:wild. “What we show with this paper is that conservation is, in fact, working to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. It is clear that conservation must be prioritized and receive significant additional resources and political support globally, while we simultaneously address the systemic drivers of biodiversity loss, such as unsustainable consumption and production.”

Although many studies look at individual conservation projects and interventions and their impact compared with no action taken, these papers have never been pulled into a single analysis to see how and whether conservation action is working overall. The co-authors conducted the first-ever meta-analysis of 186 studies, including 665 trials, that looked at the impact of a wide range of conservation interventions globally, and over time, compared to what would have happened without those interventions. The studies covered over a century of conservation action and evaluated actions targeting different levels of biodiversity—species, ecosystems and genetic diversity.

The meta-analysis found that conservation actions—including the establishment and management of protected areas, the eradication and control of invasive species, the sustainable management of ecosystems, habitat loss reduction and restoration—improved the state of biodiversity or slowed its decline in the majority of cases (66%) compared with no action taken at all. And when conservation interventions work, the paper’s co-authors found that they are highly effective.

Biggest RHS Shows innovations for a generation to reach new audiences and inspire more people to get gardening - Royal Horticultural Society

​Some of the biggest and most exciting changes for a generation are being made to RHS Flower Shows, which will celebrate the best of UK horticulture, design and talent, take the world-class Shows to stunning new locations around the country, and work with more communities and schools.

In the future, well-loved RHS Shows will tour to new locations to promote gardening to as many people as possible. The changes will be a catalyst for new content for an exciting visitor experience.

Whilst RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the world’s greatest and most famous gardening event will stay as it is, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will become a biennial event in two years with a new Show taking place in 2026 in the historic grounds of Badminton Estate, in Gloucestershire, returning to Hampton Court Palace in 2027. The RHS Shows will remain at Hampton Court Palace for 2024 and 2025.

After 2024, its 25th anniversary, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will return to the site every three years, with a 2025 RHS Show happening at Wentworth Woodhouse, one of the grandest stately homes in the country in Sheffield, and 2026 RHS Show taking place on the Sandringham Estate, the private country retreat of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The first RHS Urban Show took place in Manchester earlier this month and there will be another Urban Show announced for a new location next year shortly. The RHS Urban Show diversifies from the traditional RHS Shows model with more focus on gardening for small spaces and community involvement. RHS Malvern Spring Festival will remain the same.

The changes will enable the RHS to deliver world class horticulture to the doorsteps of members who may not have an RHS Garden near them and creating Shows in fixed venue sites means better sustainability opportunities too.

And finally for this week although it may still feel like winter….

Ducks take a dive as milder winters keep birds in an unfrozen north - British Trust for Ornithology

Fewer ducks, geese, swans and wader species are travelling to the UK as milder conditions continue to define northern European winters.

The UK is host to internationally important numbers of wintering waterbirds, and the long-standing Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP) provide essential data that inform decision makers when considering conservation measures for these birds.

With data provided by over 3,800 dedicated volunteers across the UK, the surveys deliver an annual assessment of ducks, geese, swans, waders and other waterbirds residing on, or passing through, our coasts, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and rivers.

Published today (26/4/24), the 2022/23 WeBS report reveals yet more changes in the fortunes of many of our wildfowl and waders. As winters continue to become milder and damper across much of northern Europe, many species are altering their behaviours in response.

Historically, harsh conditions in northern and eastern Europe would see huge numbers of birds migrating to the relatively mild conditions of a British winter but now, as previously frozen landscapes become increasingly accessible, significant numbers of birds are staying closer to their breeding grounds, in a phenomenon known as short-stopping.

Those that do still make the journey across the North Sea to spend the winter in the UK are often arriving later and leaving earlier, therefore staying with us for much shorter periods. This has become increasingly noticeable in such species as Bewick’s Swan, which has declined by 96% in the last 25 years, while Goldeneye numbers have halved and Dunlin have dropped by a third.

Not only are we seeing a reduction in birds arriving for the winter, but the survey also reveals that some birds which would have left the UK in autumn are now staying, rather than heading to warmer climes. We have seen an increase in the numbers of such species as Black-tailed Godwit, a striking wading bird of freshwater marshes and estuaries, remaining on our shores as opposed to migrating to southern Europe, as they did in the past.

Read the full the 2022/23 WeBS report.

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