Author Archives: Policy_Team
Innovations in Marine Education
Innovations in Marine Education This blog is by Jen Cooper, who was a BES Undergraduate Fellow in 2012. She recently completed a BSc Honours in Marine Biology at the University of Liverpool and will be starting a PhD at Sheffield … Continue reading
Natural Resources Wales is launched
Today marks the official launch of a new body to manage the natural environment in Wales. Natural Resources Wales brings together three previously separate organisations – Forestry Commission Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Agency Wales – … Continue reading
Defra programmes and policies: an update
Over the past year, there have been a range of new initiatives from Defra to protect and enhance the natural environment, ranging from biodiversity offsetting to reviewing their public bodies. The all-party parliamentary group on Conservation and Wildlife met on … Continue reading
Greening the Common Agricultural Policy: MEPs vote on environmental measures
As part of the wider EU budget review for the period 2014-2020, the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been under scrutiny over the past two years. In its current state, the CAP accounts for 40% of the EU budget, … Continue reading
Assessing the impacts of ash dieback
Spring is almost upon us, and early signs of budburst mean that trees will soon be in leaf. Warmer temperatures and leafing trees will both have implications for ash dieback, the disease found last year in ash trees in the … Continue reading
Environmental Stewardship and farmland birds: the evidence base
Declines in biodiversity have been observed across many habitats in the UK over recent decades. This is especially true in farmland habitats. Changes in practices have led to huge increases in productivity in farms, but this has come at the … Continue reading
Business and the environment: Ecosystems Market Task Force release final report
The value of the environment for business is often underestimated. Although the business world uses natural services and products for operations, it does not always understand its true reliance on nature and the need to value it correctly. Overcoming this … Continue reading
Knowledge Exchange Course in London – Half Price for BES Members
Members of the BES can benefit from a 50 percent discount on a new knowledge exchange course, taking place at our headquarters, Charles Darwin House, London, on 20th May 2013. Run by two well respected researchers in the field of … Continue reading
Natural England – Science Advisory Committee Members Wanted
Natural England would like to appoint senior academics with national expertise in an area of science key to the delivery of Natural England’s purpose. Applications are welcome from experts across the natural sciences and conservation, including interests such as Ecosystem … Continue reading
The science of science and innovation policy
Nearly £5 billion of public funding is spent on science and innovation in the UK each year. Despite cuts in other sectors, this level of funding was frozen in the 2010 Spending Review, guaranteeing “flat cash” until 2014. Another one-year … Continue reading