Tag Archives: Defra
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
Defra updates Chalara policies
Defra updates Chalara policies With spring finally approaching, the threat of Chalara to ash across the UK is greater than ever. As mentioned in a previous post, the fungus that causes the disease lies dormant over winter, and sporulates in the … Continue reading
Policy Digest
Policy Digest Policy Digest is produced four times each year (February, April, July and October) by the BES Policy Team. Contact us to receive Policy Digest by email. The latest edition is below. Policy Report – April 2013 Contents: 1. UK Parliamentary Committees 2. UK Government … Continue reading
Defra programmes and policies: an update
Over the past year, there have been a range of new initiatives from Defra to protect and enhance the natural environment, ranging from biodiversity offsetting to reviewing their public bodies. The all-party parliamentary group on Conservation and Wildlife met on … 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
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
Bees and neonicotinoid pesticides: acute risks identified by EU’s food safety authority
Bees are vital parts of our ecosystems in the UK, providing irreplaceable pollinator services for both crops and wildflowers. Worrying declines in the number of bee populations have been observed recently, and have been attributed to a number of causes … Continue reading
Ash Dieback: Control Plan and Interim Task Force report published
A new strategy to tackle Ash dieback has been published today alongside the Tree and Plant Health Task Force’s interim report. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson announced today. The Chalara Control Plan sets out the Government’s objectives for tackling the disease … Continue reading
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