Category Archives: Ecological Networks
UK Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protected Areas Network is complete
The announcement last month by the Natural Environment Minister, Richard Benyon (Defra), that a 330km stretch of marine habitat between Studland and Portland in Dorset is to be designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) will complete the UK SAC … Continue reading
Moving Forward with the NEWP – One Year On
Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman MP, announced yesterday that the Government would make £750,000 of extra funding available to create additional Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs). Those NIAs that were not successful … Continue reading
Study shows biodiversity value of 'Green Infrastructure'
Last year’s Natural Environment White Paper called for the creation of ‘green infrastructure’ as a tool to conserve and enhance biodiversity in the UK. Defining what this would entail, the report concluded that in addition to the conservation of existing … Continue reading
The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature
This week Defra released the highly anticipated Natural Environment White Paper titled ‘The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature’, outlining Government’s vision for the future of landscapes and ecosystem services. The paper emphasises that although we know the environment … Continue reading
Government’s White Paper commitment reiterated
A written parliamentary question tabled by Bob Russell MP to DCLG today received an answer from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Fisheries in DEFRA, Richard Benyon MP. Question: “To ask the Secretary of State for … Continue reading
Professor Sir John Lawton to Chair Review of England’s Protected Areas
Speaking at the tenth annual Darwin Initiative lecture last night (see post below for further details), Hilary Benn announced that Professor Sir John Lawton, ex-President of the BES, has been appointed to chair the review of England’s wildlife network. The … Continue reading
Motorway Verges Benefit Biodiversity
New research published in Biological Conservation suggests that strips of land alongside motorways play an important role in maintaining plant and spider diversity within intensive agricultural landscapes. The research was conducted along one 50km stretch of Motorway near Paris, collecting … Continue reading