Category Archives: Conservation
Homecoming of the short-haired bumblebee after 24 years
Following three years of intensive preparations, the short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus) finally came home today to South East England. Around 50 queens from Sweden were released today at the RSPB’s Dungeness reserve in Kent. The species was last seen in … Continue reading
Defra to research options to reduce impact of buzzard predation on gamebirds
Conservationists have reacted angrily to plans by Defra to investigate possible measures to keep buzzards from targeting game birds. According to the RSPB, Defra is considering options including taking buzzards into captivity and destroying nests in order to protect young … Continue reading
Link’s ‘Targeting Nature’s Recovery’ report makes recommendations for better species conservation
Wildlife and Countryside Link (‘Link’) have produced a report entitled ‘Targeting Nature’s Recovery’ outlining the group’s analysis of the UK’s progress against its 2010 targets for the conservation of priority habitats and species. These targets were agreed in 2006, based … Continue reading
Fish might become “fearless” as a result of ocean acidification
The rising level of atmospheric CO2 has led to several studies focussing on changes in terrestrial and water ecosystems that might occur as a consequence. Ocean acidification, which is caused mainly by the increasing amount of CO2 dissolved in sea … Continue reading
Allowing Humanity to Flourish in a Crowded World
The Royal Society yesterday published ‘People and the Planet‘, a report which marks the end of nearly two years of work by a group including both the British Ecological Society’s current President, Professor Georgina Mace FRS and a past-President of … Continue reading
Natterjack toad threatened by UK drought – intensive conservation efforts needed to protect amphibians
The persistent dry weather which has led to the current hosepipe ban in South East England is also threatening the future of one of Britain’s rarest amphibians, the natterjack toad. With fewer than 50 breeding populations remaining in mainland Britain, … Continue reading
Welsh Environment Minister announces programme of badger vaccination
Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths yesterday launched the Welsh Government’s Strategic Framework for Bovine TB Eradication, which outlined a programme of badger vaccination to be introduced in the Intensive Action Area. The Minister said the decision to pursue vaccination as … Continue reading
Overseas Biodiversity
Last week saw the joint meeting of the all party parliamentary groups on Biodiversity, UK’s Overseas Territories and Zoos and Aquariums, at which the BES Policy team was fortunate enough to attend. The meeting was chaired by Andrew Rosindell MP … Continue reading
Invasion of Antarctica?
Invasive alien species are considered one of the most significant threats to the unique biodiversity of Antarctica and these aliens are hitching a ride on us! Steven Chown, from the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University and his research … Continue reading
All Or Nothing For Marine Protected Areas?
A team of scientists, led by Enric Sala, a marine ecologist with the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes in Spain, investigated rocky reefs around Mediterranean shores and the impact of protection level on the health of these marine ecosystems. … Continue reading