Category Archives: Uncategorized
Talk of the bees … “And Granny said in earnest ‘You’ve got to talk to your bees’”
Britain’s biodiversity may not be abundantly obvious in our everyday lives, nor may it immediately appear as splendid as an image of a tropical rainforest. One staggering example is that of our nation’s bees, of which there are over 260 … Continue reading
Government to tick all the boxes with the new bioenergy strategy
The UK Government’s new Bioenergy Strategy released last week aims to accelerate the use of renewable energy generated sustainably from biomass. Bioenergy is stated in the strategy as ‘one of the most versatile forms of low carbon and renewable energy’ … Continue reading
Is the European Commission listening to evidence on the impact of pesticides on bees?
Following the publication last month of new research showing a link between the use of common neonicotinoid insecticides and bee mortality, the European Ombundsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros has launched an investigation into whether the European Commission has taken sufficient account … Continue reading
Richard Benyon MP gives evidence to Efra Select Committee on the Natural Environment White Paper
In an Efra Select Committee hearing on Wednesday (18th April), Richard Benyon MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Fisheries answered the panel’s queries into the measures outlined in the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP), published … Continue reading
POST is recruiting for a new Director
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology is recruiting for a new Director. POST ensures that Parliament and parliamentarians are supported with impartial, balanced and accessible analysis and assessment of scientific and technological issues related to public policy. The Head … Continue reading
Incoming ice age put on hold?
According to a recent study by Cambridge University researchers, CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is too high to allow the onset of a potentially overdue ice age. The period between the end of an ice age and the beginning of … Continue reading
The state of farmland in 2011: the consensus of long-term monitoring
The BES and the Royal Entomological Society are organising a joint meeting to explore the benefits of long-term monitoring and what it call tell us about the state of farmland in the UK. You can now register your interest in … Continue reading
International Dimensions of Climate Change
This week a report detailing the risks of overseas impacts of climate change for the UK economy was released as a first step towards a UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. On examining the evidence the Government Office for Science and … Continue reading
Fears for England’s natural beauty spots as UK planning regulations relax
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) today highlighted fears for England’s natural beauty spots. The charity claims that a relaxation of government planning policy in favor of UK growth and development will threaten the future integrity of England’s Areas … Continue reading
ThinkBIG – New Report on Landscape Scale Conservation
The ThinkBIG report, which was released this week, is designed to provide information for local authorities, land managers, farmers and communities as to how they can contribute to the move towards landscape scale conservation outline in the Natural Environment White … Continue reading