Category Archives: Scotland
‘Celebrating Ecology’: BES hosts Policy Reception in Edinburgh
The BES held a highly successful reception at ‘Our Dynamic Earth’ in Edinburgh on Thursday 8 October to celebrate both the work of the BES’s members in Scotland and the first time the BES Public and Policy Committee has held … Continue reading
Beaver Reintroductions Begin in Scotland
Beavers are back in the wild in Scotland for the first time in 400 years. Following a period of controversy, which saw the project vetoed by Scottish Ministers in 2005, two beaver families have finally been released into the wild … Continue reading
Conservationists Applaud New Scottish Marine Bill
The Scottish Government this morning launched a Marine Bill for Scotland’s seas, setting out measures to restrict damaging activities in the interests of marine conservation and preserving ecosystem services in Scotland’s inshore waters. The measures, which conservationists view as more … Continue reading
BES Parliamentary Shadowing Scheme Opens
Applications are now welcome for the 2009 BES Parliamentary Shadowing Scheme. The scheme is now in its third year. Since 2007 our ecologists have had the opportunity to shadow two Parliamentary Under-Secretaries (Barry Gardiner MP and Joan Ruddock MP) at … Continue reading
Freshwater Mussel Colony Re-Introduced into Scotland
A new freshwater mussel colony has been established at a secret location in the Scottish Highlands. The re-introduction by ecologists offers a chance to address the precipitous decline in the species. The success of the introduction will not been known … Continue reading
Scotland Set to Lead on ‘Zero Waste’ Society
The Scottish Government aims to create a ‘zero waste’ society, and the supermarket chain Tesco are set to helping them to achieve this aim. Scottish Tesco stores are set to pioneer a ‘reverse vending machine’ whereby customers are rewarded for … Continue reading
Concern for Peatlands Leads to Rejection of Windfarm Proposal
Plans to build one of Europe’s largest on-shore windfarms, on Lewis in the Scottish Hebrides, have been rejected after Scottish Ministers ruled that the farm would have “significant adverse impacts” on rare and endangered birds living on the peatlands. The … Continue reading
Scottish Environment Week – 4-11 February
This week is Scottish Environment Week, with numerous events in the Scottish Parliament focussing around the theme of the event, ‘A Climate for Change: Ensuring Sustainable Livlihoods’. Now in its third year, Scottish Environment Week provides an opportunity to focus … Continue reading
Proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill
The Scottish Parliament has launched a consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill. Key features include a statutory target to reduce Scottish carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050, an annual measure of progress against targets and a … Continue reading
Scottish Parliament Receives Report on Maximising Bioenergy Potential
The Forestry Commission’s Woodfuel Task Force today presented a report to the Scottish environment minister, Michael Russell, outlining 26 recommendations by which Scotland can exploit its woody biomass in the generation of energy. The Task Force has identified 7 million … Continue reading