Category Archives: UK
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
Badgers: the debate continues
Badgers: the debate continues The threat of bovine TB to cattle is still as great as ever, with the latest statistics release from Defra highlighting its continued presence. The use of badger culling to attempt to reduce the incidence of … Continue reading
Government Office for Science: roles, responsibilities and programmes
Government Office for Science: roles, responsibilities and programmes It was all change at the top of evidence based policy in Government this month, with Sir Mark Walport replacing Sir John Beddington as Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA). This role is … 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
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
Badger cull: licences reissued by Natural England
In 2011, it was announced that a badger cull would be implemented to attempt to curb the spread of bovine tuberculosis. Licences were issued last summer, with culls initially scheduled to take place last autumn. Due to the combination of … Continue reading
Forest estate in England to remain in public ownership
For the past two years, the future of England’s forest estate has been uncertain. Proposals to sell-off large areas of forest in early 2011 were quickly withdrawn, but not replaced by reassuring policies. The publication of the Government’s response to … Continue reading
Invasive species bans show a step in the right direction
Yesterday marked a historic day for the control of non-native invasive species in the UK. From next spring, five species of non-native aquatic plants will no longer be allowed to be sold within the UK. The ban is the first … Continue reading