Italy wants Bruno the bear's body

SPOTting Welsh wild life

News Wales, 28 July 2006

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has launched a new system of recording sightings of wildlife in Wales at the Royal Welsh Show.

He was invited by Wildlife Trusts Wales to formally launch SPOT, a new computer based system which allows anyone to record interesting sightings of wildlife on a national database. Before launching SPOT Glyn Davies recorded his own spotting of a pair of siskin at his home in Berriew last winter.

The new system has been developed by a partnership of wildlife trusts in Wales, ERYR and Environmental Systems, two companies based in Aberystwyth supported by funding from the Countryside Council for Wales.

During his speech at the Wildlife Trusts Wales stand Glyn Davies, who is a long standing supporter of wildlife trusts in Wales, said: "Simple ideas are usually the best. Harnessing the massive interest in and enthusiasm for the wildlife that exists throughout Wales for the purposes of research and our knowledge of where animals, insects and birds are to be found by recruiting and army of volunteer recorders is a brilliant idea. This is what SPOT does - and I hope it proves to be successful

www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Environment&F=1&id=9109

New wildlife agency in jeopardy after cutbacks

Independent, 27 July 2006

Sir Martin Doughty, the chairman of Natural England, which begins operations in the autumn, has made an outspoken behind-the-scenes protest about the size of the funding cutbacks demanded by the Government.

Natural England, which starts work in October from its headquarters in Sheffield, will take over English Nature's wildlife responsibilities, such as looking after sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), and implementing species recovery programmes. It is also taking over the landscape and access work of the Countryside Agency, such as maintaining the footpath network and implementing the right-to-roam. It will further incorporate the present Rural Development Service which distributes hundred of millions of pounds in grants to farmers to implement agri-environment schemes

In a private letter to the Environment Secretary, David Miliband, Sir Martin writes: "I am deeply concerned that current financial demands being placed upon us by Defra are eroding our capacity to deliver these benefits before we even begin.

"I understand the need for Defra to live within its budget and Natural England is committed to playing its part in that - we are already committed to £7m of cuts. This is on top of nearly £8m in cuts imposed in December last year. However, [Defra] has now asked us for an additional £12m to be obtained in-year from Natural England and our founding bodies.

"Given that in-year cuts would largely be programme rather than staff-based, this equates to a 40 per cent cut to the remainder of our programme on a pro-rata basis. This comprises a 54 per cent cut to the remaining uncommitted programme."
A spokeswoman for Defra said: "Defra, like most government departments, is operating within a tight fiscal regime and has to continually look for savings and make efficiencies. We are fully committed to the creation of Natural England as a powerful champion for the natural environment that will conserve and enhance our landscapes and biodiversity, and help people enjoy them.

£49,900 lottery grant for nature reserve

Branching out: grants on offer to create 1,000 acres of new woodland

Forestry Commission News Release No: 8678, 25 July 2006

Farmers and land managers in North East England are being offered grants to create 400-hectares (1,000-acres) of valuable new woodland.

The Forestry Commission is seeking to back high-quality planting schemes that fulfil key priorities, such as delivering conservation benefits, enhancing the landscape, creating public access and restoring derelict land.

The deadline for applications is 31 August 2006.

Colin Grayson, Operations Manager with the Forestry Commission's North East England Conservancy, said:

"There are many good reasons to plant a new wood. It could help farmers diversify, or create space on the edge of urban areas for healthy recreation. Whatever the motivation, we are keen to support the best schemes which meet high environmental standards and produce tangible public benefits."

Last year, forest chiefs grant aided about 100-hectares (250-acres) of planting on former agricultural land under the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS). A further 70-hectares (175-acres) provided new public access.  Other projects were aimed at boosting wildlife such as black grouse, or extending native woodland in gills and valleys.

Applications are assessed on a competitive basis using a scoring system. To qualify, new woodlands must be at least 30 metres wide. Farmers may also be eligible for Farm Woodland Payments, which compensate for the loss of agricultural income from land planted with trees.

www.forestry.gov.uk

Wild bees and the flowers they pollinate are disappearing together

University of Leeds Press Release, 21 July 2006

The diversity of bees and of the flowers they pollinate, has declined significantly in Britain and the Netherlands over the last 25 years according to research led by the University of Leeds and published in Science this Friday (21 July 2006). The paper is the first evidence of a widespread decline in bee diversity.

The team examined pollinator and plant data, collected by professional and volunteer researchers and naturalists in Britain and the Netherlands, comparing records from before and after 1980. The results showed bee diversity had declined consistently in both countries, whereas the diversity of hoverflies (another group of pollinating insects) stayed roughly constant in Britain, but increased in the Netherlands.

The research found for both bees and hoverflies, the "winners" and "losers" were consistently different; insects which pollinate a limited range of flower species or which have specialised habitat needs were most often lost. Overall, a small number of common generalist pollinators are replacing a larger number of rarer specialist species.

There have been parallel shifts in the plant world, with the plants that depend on pollination by bees disappearing too. In Britain, where bee diversity has fallen and hoverflies have at best held steady, there have been declines in 70% of the wildflowers that require insects for pollination. However, wind-pollinated or self-pollinating plants have held constant or increased.

The pattern is slightly different in the Netherlands, where bees have declined on average but hoverfly diversity has increased. In that country there has been a decline in plants that specifically require bees for pollination, but not in plants that can make use of other insect pollinators. Thus the plant declines closely mirror those of the pollinators.

The research is not able explain whether the bee declines are causing the plant declines, or vice versa, or indeed whether the two are locked in a vicious cycle in which each is affecting the other. It's also not clear as of yet what the ultimate causes of the declines are, although land use change, agricultural chemicals and climate change may be important factors. The researchers hope to clarify these issues with follow-up studies.

http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/press_releases/current/bees.htm

Tiger habitat down from just a decade ago

WWF Press Release, 20 July 2006

The most comprehensive scientific study of tiger habitats ever done finds that the big cats reside in 40 percent less habitat than they were thought to a decade ago. The tigers now occupy just 7 percent of their historic range.
The study was produced by tiger scientists at WWF, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park and Save The Tiger Fund.

Synthesizing land-use information, maps of human influence and on-the-ground evidence of tigers, the study identifies 76 "tiger conservation landscapes" - places that have the best chance of supporting viable tiger populations into the future. Large carnivore populations like tigers are highly vulnerable to extinction in small and isolated reserves. Half the 76 landscapes can still support 100 tigers or more, providing excellent opportunities for recovery of wild tiger populations. The largest tiger landscapes exist in the Russian Far East and India. Southeast Asia also holds promise to sustain healthy tiger populations although many areas have lost tigers over the last 10 years.

The group's key conclusion from the study is that to safeguard remaining tigers, increased protection of the 20 highest priority tiger conservation landscapes is required. In addition to preserving tiger habitat, conservation groups warn that it is critical to also address poaching of tigers. Authorities must curb the demand for the skins and parts of tigers and other Asian big cats and strengthen enforcement efforts along trade routes, in transit markets and markets in Asia.

Copies of the study, "Setting Priorities for the Conservation and Recovery of the World's Tigers 2005-2015," can be downloaded at www.tigermaps.org

Heathland fire consuming Surrey nature reserve

English Nature Press Release 15 July 2006

A devastating heathland fire is consuming almost the entire site of one of the best heathland nature reserves in Britain. The alarm was raised yesterday (Friday 15 July 2006) at 12.28 pm when a member of the public alerted English Nature staff to a fire on the heath. Up to 120 firefighters fought the fire throughout a long, hot day and difficult night.

Earlier this morning it looked like the fire was being brought under control, but it suddenly leapt the fire break and engulfed the southern end of the site. Now reports indicate that at least 90 per cent of the site will be destroyed.
Dick Lambert, English Nature's National Nature Reserve co-ordinator, said: "Thursley is unsurpassed as a heathland site in the South of England and one of the best sites in Britain. It was one of the earliest nature reserves protected for the benefit of the plants and animals and open to the public to enjoy.

"It is even more serious than we thought. A small fire we can cope with * but to lose almost the entire site will make recovery incredibly difficult. The heather will come back but it's much more difficult to get species like sand lizards and rare tiger wood beetles back because there are no protected pockets left for them to cross over from. Recovery will be a long and painstaking process. It's a sad day for our already fragmented heathland heritage."

UK's largest man-made wetland created in Essex

Defra News Release Ref: 296/06 4 July 2006

The sea wall at Wallasea Island in Essex was breached today, creating the UK's largest man-made marine wetland.
Defra's Wallasea Wetlands Creation Project is creating a 115 hectare wetland to replace similar bird habitats lost to development during the 1990s. The wetlands will also improve flood defences, provide for better fish nurseries, and create opportunities for recreation.

Wetlands, including salt marsh and mud flats, are breeding and roosting places for important bird species, such as Brent geese, Oystercatchers, Grey plovers, Dunlins, Shelducks, Curlews, Avocets and Little Terns, as well as habitat for rare plants, insects and fish. They are also breeding and nursery areas for aquatic wildlife, such as bass, mullet, flatfish and herring.

They act as buffer zones that absorb wave energy and protect the coast from storm damage and flooding.
New flood defences along the northern bank of the island have been built inland of the shoreline and the current, weaker sea walls have been breached. A total of 330 metres of existing sea wall were breached today in an operation involving around 25 large hydraulic excavators, bulldozers and dump trucks. More than 600,000 tonnes of non-polluted navigation dredgings that would otherwise have been dumped at sea have been used. The project has created 115 hectares of wetland, including 7 artificial islands, saline lagoons, mudflats, new public footpaths, and 4km of sea wall.

Defra worked closely with the Environment Agency, RSPB, English Nature, Harwich Haven Authority and landowners Wallasea Farms Ltd, who had serious concerns about the stability of their existing flood defences. The project started in 2004 and will be complete by August 2006. It will be subject to intensive independent monitoring until 2011. The project has been delivered to time and cost (£7.50 million).

www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/060704a.htm

Italy wants Bruno the bear's body

Times 3 July 2006

Italy is to ask for the return of the body of Bruno, the brown bear killed in Bavaria last week by a government-sanctioned hunter.

The bear, part of a project to reintroduce the species in northern Italy from bears raised in Slovenia, made headlines as it roamed into Austria and Germany, killing sheep and rabbits and stealing honey.

Bruno, the first wild bear to be seen in Germany since 1835, was killed by a single shot after fears that people could be attacked.

Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, the Italian Environment Minister, has protested and said that the bear, a protected species, should have been shot with tranquillisers and transported back to Italy.

He will make a formal request today for the body, it was reported in Bolzano by the German language station of Italian state television.

A spokesman for the minister said: “It’s a way of remembering the error that was made.” He did not know what Italy would do with the body but said that it would not become a “hunting trophy”.