CJS News, Headlines from week beginning 15 February 2021

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

The Prince of Wales encourages children to take a closer look at nature this Half Term with the #PoWNatureChallenge - Clarence House

Young wildlife enthusiasts to get much needed equipment in brand new scheme. - British Trust for Ornithology

Birds can ‘read’ the Earth’s magnetic signature well enough to get back on course - Bangor University

Storm Darcy forces Bewick’s swans to make rare migratory U-turn - Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Breathing LIFE back into our rare bogs in Wales - Natural Resources Wales

Weak ban could leave England’s peatland moors burning during critical climate talks - Wildlife & Countryside Link

Endangered seabird inches closer to extinction on UK Overseas Territory - RSPB

EAC calls for climate and nature investment to be prioritised in the economic recovery - Environmental Audit Committee

Welcome EAC report outlines the groundwork for a green recovery - Wildlife and Countryside Link

LGA responds to Environmental Audit Committee report on putting nature and net zero at the heart of our economic recovery - Local Government Association

New ‘toolkit’ for housing providers to support wildlife and boost residents’ wellbeing - UK Centre for Ecology and Hyrdrology

Survey finds beavers establishing strong presence in City of Perth - NatureScot

WDC highlights how UK Government can save a dolphin a day - Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Hedge your bets with ‘super plant’ to fight air pollution - The Royal Horticultural Society

UN offers science-based blueprint to tackle climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution - UN Environment Programme

Opening up the hidden world of bats, bush-crickets and small mammals - British Trust for Ornithology

Scientific Publications

Two reports from NatureScot

Progress report reveals boost for bees

The Pollinator Strategy for Scotland - 2020 Progress Report reveals Scotland’s bees and other pollinators were given a welcome boost in 2020, despite Covid restrictions.

From 32 pollinator hotspots along the John Muir Way, to more nature friendly towns and cities, to new species-rich grassland in our rural areas, NatureScot’s report highlights good progress made by more than 30 partners in the past year towards delivering the Pollinator Strategy for Scotland.

Read the Pollinator Progress Report for 2020.

  

£1.9 billion boost from walking and cycling

Users of Scotland's National Walking and Cycling Network (NWCN) spent £1.9 billion in the local economy in 2019.

A new report from NatureScot, Sustrans and Scottish Canals demonstrates the huge benefits of the network for the economy, tourism, health and wellbeing.

The NWCN includes Scotland’s Great Trails, the National Cycle Network and Scottish Canals towpaths and stretches 6,879km across the country.

Walkers and cyclists made 145.1 million trips on the network in 2019, spending almost £2 billion and supporting around 27,500 jobs.

Use of the routes and the associated reduction in car travel is estimated to have contributed a further £108 million to the economy, most significantly through improvements to health outcomes.

You can download the full report - Scotland's National Walking and Cycling Network - 2019 Evaluation Report

Mas, M., Flaquer, C., Rebelo, H. and López‐Baucells, A. (2021), Bats and wetlands: synthesising gaps in current knowledge and future opportunities for conservation. Mam Rev. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12243

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