Category Archives: Environment

Can governance in the UK Overseas Territories give environmental protection?

Can governance in the UK Overseas Territories give environmental protection? Concerns over environmental protection in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) have been voiced for a number of years, with funding, development and pollution as some of the main issues. The … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Defra, DFiD, Environment, Government, International, Overseas Territories, UK, white paper | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Checking the Progress of Government on the Natural Environment

The Government could try harder on the natural environment. That was the conclusion of ‘Nature Check 2012′, an overview of the Government’s progress against the commitments made in the Coalition Agreement, launched by Wildlife and Countryside Link, and endorsed by … Continue reading

Posted in Agri-Environment Scheme, Agriculture, BES, Common Agricultural Policy, Conservation, Defra, Environment, Event, Government, Marine, Marine Act, National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Policy, Science Policy, UK, Wildlife and Countryside Link | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Is this 'Bird Armageddon'?

Since 1966 UK bird population has decline by 44 million which amounts to just under a million birds a year (over 45 years), which is dismal November news indeed. Yesterday the RSPB published their most extensive survey of the UK’s … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Birds, Climate Change, Conservation, England, Environment, Environmental Monitoring, EU, Forests, Habitat Loss, Insects, Land use, Northern Ireland, Overseas Territories, Pesticides, Pollinator, science and technology committee, Scotland, Uncategorized, Wales, Wildlife Management | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ash update a positive spin

It was no surprise to the scientific community when Secretary of State Owen Paterson announced on Friday that “It will not be possible to eradicate ash dieback” but members of the public and tree enthusiasts may well be shocked at … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Climate Change, Conservation, Defra, Ecology, Environment, Environmental Monitoring, Forests, Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Uncategorized, Wildlife Management | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Importation of Ash trees is now banned in the UK

The subject of tree health within the UK is now gaining a heightened media profile and increased governmental attention, but is it too late for our beloved woodlands? The Ash tree ban has captured the nation’s attention and a segment … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change, Conservation, Defra, Ecology, Environment, Extinction, Forests, Habitat Loss, UK, Uncategorized, Wildlife Management | Tagged | 2 Comments

The Tipping Point – our not so Frozen Planet

It has been a year since Sir David Attenborough and the BBC set awed us with the fantastic delights and drastic plights of our ‘Frozen Plant’. Despite the attention given to global warming facts, the vital role of the poles … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, Extinction, Science Policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

New POSTnote encapsulates land sharing vs land sparing debate

A POSTnote from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology ‘Balancing Nature and Agriculture’ published online this week outlines the ongoing debate over land sparing versus land sharing in sustainable management of agricultural land for biodiversity conservation. Much biodiversity is … Continue reading

Posted in Agri-Environment Scheme, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Conservation, Environment, Habitat Loss, Land use, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Information for Innovation: Building better channels for knowledge exchange in environmental science

The British Library and the Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network (ESKTN) are organising a free one day workshop on 28th September to explore how knowledge exchange can be improved in the environmental sector. What is lost in translation between the … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Event, Workshop | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Defra Consults on New Indicators to Measure UK’s Progress on Sustainable Development

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has launched a new consultation to gather responses to a set of proposed Sustainable Development Indicators designed to help measure the UK’s progress towards economic, social and environmental sustainability. “These new indicators will help us take … Continue reading

Posted in Consultation, Defra, Economy, Environment, Health, UK, Valuation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cross-party committee challenges “Greenest Government Ever”

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has published a report of an inquiry into the Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP) today, challenging ministers to put nature in the heart of economic decision-making. EFRA is appointed by the House … Continue reading

Posted in Defra, Economy, Ecosystem Services, Environment, Government, Select Committee, Select Committee Inquiry, white paper | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment