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This Week in Biodiversity News – 31st March

Conservation

A new exclusion zone has been established along the Anglesey coastline to protect vulnerable wildlife. The RSPB have been granted permission to safeguard the area, which serves as vital breeding ground for Choughs, and key habitat for Peregrine Falcons, rare British plants and lichens. The exclusion zone will remain in place until 15th September to minimise harm from recreational activities in the area, such as coasteering.

Kentish Glory Moth (rotated) by Michael Taylor via Flickr

In collaboration with Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, and Forestry England, Twycross Zoo has launched a project to reintroduce the extinct Kentish Glory moth to England. Since the launch of the project, conservationists have collected DNA samples from existing populations in the Cairngorms to help improve the chances of a successful reintroduction, and over the coming months, conservationists will conduct feasibility evaluations, with the Wyre Forest noted as a potential reintroduction site.

Policy

The UK is set to introduce a Natural History GCSE, one of the first new GCSEs in a decade. Confirmed by the Education Minister on the 21st of March, the curriculum will cover both local and global environment, from local wildlife and habitat to global climate challenges and sustainability. Intended to foster an understanding and protection of nature, the new GCSE will be delivered nationwide, with a revised criteria to provide fieldwork opportunities to young people. The government will consult on the curriculum this year, ensuring relevance for both urban and rural students.

Glass eels will no longer be exported to Russia from British estuaries after a UK government ban. Defra refused a request to send millions of glass eels to a restocking project in Kaliningrad, ending a trade that saw roughly three million eels exported last year. The species, red-listed and down 95% since the 1980s, was previously shipped via a conservation loophole from the UK. Conservationists argue these eels should instead be used to replenish depleted English and Welsh rivers.

Labour has announced plans to ban deep-peat burning in England, in order to protect vital habitats, reduce carbon emissions, and safeguard wildlife. These plans target the practice of burning vegetation, which is often utilised to create habitat suitable for grouse hunting. Labour’s plans seek to tighten the existing legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government, expanding protected areas by 146,000 hectares. UK peatland is estimated to store 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon alone – intentional burning of peatland vegetation releases stored carbon and can harm wildlife residing in this habitat.

Brazil’s ‘Poison Bill’ has loosened restrictions on agrochemicals that are hazardous to human health and the environment. A dramatic surge in pesticide use has been observed within the Amazon – specifically, the use of mancozeb has increased by a staggering 5,600%, and atrazine by 575% in just over a decade, despite their bans in the EU. Experts warn that these relaxed controls will severely impact the Amazon’s biodiversity, posing heightened risks to Indigenous peoples, riverside communities, and small farmers exposed to these harmful substances.

Science

An exhaustive global analysis of over 2,000 studies, and 100,000 sites across all continents, confirms the profound impact of human activity on biodiversity. This landmark paper marks the first attempt at combining results from so many studies and provides unprecedented clarity on the influence of human activity. Researchers identified distinct shifts in community composition and marked decreases in local diversity across all habitats and species groups included in the study, and five drivers of loss – including habitat change, resource exploitation and pollution – had strong impacts on diversity loss.

This Week in Biodiversity News – 17th March

Policy

The Climate Change Committee establish its seventh Carbon Budget, the limits of which will be agreed to this year with the aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The latest budget allocated for 2038-2042 should be set at 535 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent – including domestic, aviation and shipping emissions – which the government hopes will save individual households £700 in energy bills due to increased energy security. This budget highlights that the government’s economic goals can be achieved whilst also taking action against climate change, benefitting the UK as a whole.

Last week, the UK Government introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The Bill aims to fast-track the planning and construction process, removing hurdles to boost economic growth and energy security while delivering environmental commitments. This significant change to the planning system encompasses a number of key measures, including the implementation of a Nature Restoration Fund, the abandonment of individual site level mitigation and assessment, and the introduction of Environmental Delivery Plans. The Bill has raised serious concerns for protected species and habitats in the absence of targeted, site-specific mitigation – read CIEEM’s response to the Bill here.

Environment

Government pledges to clean up Windermere, after a study reveals it has been contaminated with over 140 million litres of pollution. This commitment has been made after water supplier United Utilities admitted to illegally discharging millions of litres of raw sewage into the lake over three years. Environmental Secretary Steve Reed did not divulge how discharge into the lake would be prevented, however a feasibility study conducted by United Utilities concluded this will require over 42 miles of new pipework to take the sewage downstream, and a further 205 miles to connect private sewage facilities. This is likely to cost hundreds of millions of pounds, which will be paid through increased customer bills.

lake windermere — Lake Windermere by Jim Leach via Flickr

The Blue Marine Foundation is challenging the government’s fishing quotas in the High Court. There is concern that Defra overlooked scientific advice when setting catch limits after Brexit, which have resulted in concern over the sustainability of fish stocks, and notable decreases in commercial species such as Pollack. Blue Marine Foundation argues that unsustainable management by Defra is irresponsible, risking both fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishing communities – they have asked the court to declare the limits unlawful to inform better practices in the future.

Discoveries

A new study suggests that ancient frogs survived the largest mass extinction due to their varied feeding ecology. This study, conducted by the University of Bristol, has revealed that while purely terrestrial predators depended on dwindling land-based prey that couldn’t adapt to the fluctuating environmental changes, these early amphibians thrived. Their adaptability to freshwater habitats provided a stable food source, which enabled them to flourish in the early Triassic period.

Wheatfield revised by zaphad1, via flickr.

The quantity of microplastic found in crops is significantly affecting their ability to photosynthesise. Marking the first attempt to understand the impact of microplastic on food production, this new assessment has revealed that between 4% and 14% of the world’s staple crops are being lost each year due to pervasive plastic particles. This report combined over 3,000 observations of the impact of microplastics on plants from 157 studies, and emphasised the profound effects of plastic pollution on global food security. Professor Denis Murphy praised the value and timely manner in reminding us of the dangers of these particles in our food supplies, but cautioned that the figures require further research.

This Week in Biodiversity News – 3rd March

Environment

UK scientists have discovered a biological mechanism making plant roots more attractive to soil microbes. Through enhanced endosymbiosis, crops such as wheat and legumes are now able to scavenge nutrients more effectively from the environment with the help of soil microbes. This natural process reduces the reliance on synthetic fertilizers, which, when used excessively, can contribute to soil degradation, water pollution, and harmful algal blooms. This biological adaptation may result in crops requiring less artificial fertilisers, thus reducing the pressures of excess fertilizer use and opening the door for more environmentally friendly farming.

Spraying the plants in the crocus fields by International Labour Organization ILO, via flickr.

A recent study involving over 35 research teams has revealed that accelerated glacial melt presents a profound threat to global water security. The loss of 6,500 billion tonnes of ice since 2000, averaging 270 billion tonnes annually, directly impacts millions who rely on these freshwater reserves. This latest study underscores the critical role of glacier melt as a sensitive and alarming indicator of climate change, and demands immediate attention to mitigate the cascading global consequences.

Conservation

Conservation funding bias is depriving critical species of vital support, a new study has shown. A recent study investigated over 14,500 projects spanning a 25-year period, analysing almost $2bn of funding allocated across the globe. Of this, 82.9% of funding was allocated to vertebrates (with over 85% to birds and mammals), 6.6% was allocated to plants and invertebrates, and only 0.2% was designated for fungal and algal species. With a large majority of funds assigned to charismatic megafauna, this bias leaves nearly 94% of threatened species with no support, limiting the opportunities for researchers and protective measures. Researchers have called for a revision of conservation funding awards to ensure a more rigorous, scientifically driven approach in order to address this funding imbalance.

Sanglier by Philippe Rouzet, via flickr.

The reappearance of Wild Boar in Dartmoor National Park, after centuries of absence, has raised concerns about ‘guerrilla rewilding’. Despite their potential for ecological regeneration through natural foraging behaviours, the boar’s presence, following sightings and a dog walker incident, has triggered debate. Natural England and the Wildlife Trusts are now working to understand the local population dynamics and provide guidance to mitigate human-wildlife interactions, while the overall impact of their presence continues to be evaluated.

The UK government has authorized nature groups to apply for licenses to release beavers into the wild. This decision formalises existing practices, which include both licensed enclosure releases and unauthorized reintroductions. With an estimated 500 wild beavers in England already contributing to habitat creation and flood mitigation, the first of these licensed releases are anticipated this autumn, aligning with broader nature restoration goals in the UK.

Climate Crisis

The UK has released its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), outlining its commitment to meeting international biodiversity targets by 2030. This plan serves as the UK’s response to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, acknowledging the critical reliance of human wellbeing on thriving ecosystems and the urgent need to address the global biodiversity crisis. The NBSAP emphasizes a shift towards a systemic approach tackle these challenges effectively. This publication marks a crucial first step in the UK’s pledge to protect at least 30% of its land and sea, reduce pollution, and ensure sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and industry by the year 2030.

Researchers at the University of Leeds have modelled the potential impact of reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands, revealing significant opportunity for woodland expansion and carbon storage. Using a predator-prey model across four areas of Scottish wild land, the study found that a population of approximately 167 wolves could effectively control burgeoning deer populations, which currently suppress natural woodland regeneration by grazing on saplings. A reduction in deer would allow native woodland to flourish, with the potential to sequester 1,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This first-of-its-kind assessment provides compelling evidence for the crucial role of large carnivores in delivering nature-based solutions to the climate emergency.

This Week in Biodiversity News – 17th February

Environment

A new restoration project is set to enhance RSPB Geltsdale in northeast Cumbria. The project aims to restore and protect vital habitat across the site, including moorland, wetland and woodland. These enhancements will benefit a number of species including Hen Harriers, Curlews, Snipe, Willow Warblers, Black Grouse and Red Squirrels. RSPB will be working in partnership with North Pennines National Landscape and Natural England for the project, building on the previous conservation successes in Geltsdale, which include renaturalising a river, native tree planting, meadow creation and restoration of blanket bogs.

Ireland’s remaining ancient rainforests are under threat from the rapid expansion of pine monoculture plantations. Despite government efforts to increase woodland cover, the country’s focus on non-native pines is proving detrimental to biodiversity and ecosystem health. Ireland has the lowest proportional tree coverage of all European territories – the Irish Republic reports 11.6% coverage while Northern Ireland has just 8% – despite investing over £1bn into forestry schemes to increase woodland cover. This widescale industrial approach is replacing lost woodland with monoculture, enhancing both ecological decline and rural depopulation. Experts emphasise the need to identify and protect the remaining ancient woodland to safeguard the future of ancient Irish rainforests.

Derryclare Wood by Nils van Rooijen, via flickr.

Experts warn that the world’s peatlands are dangerously unprotected. Despite covering only 3% of land, peatlands store more carbon than all of the world’s forests and are crucial for biodiversity and water management. With only 17% of this vital habitat within protected areas, their draining, overgrazing and burning driven by agriculture and extraction is emitting greenhouse gases that would make peatland the fourth biggest polluting country in the world. With over ¼ of peatland under heavy anthropogenic pressure, experts are emphasising the need to restore and conserve existing peat to keep global warming in line with international targets.

Wildlife

Over one thousand dead sea turtles have been found along India’s coastline. An estimated 1,100 Olive Ridley Sea Turtles have washed up on the beaches of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The stranded turtles were found with bulging eyes and lung lesions, indicating death by suffocation and drowning – although it’s difficult to determine, it is possible that net fishing in the area may have caused entanglement and drowning in these animals. Since the incident, local government have created a task force and increased night patrols to protect the hatchlings from harm.

25082: olive ridley sea turtle by Panegyrics of Granovetter, via flickr.

A drove of feral pigs have been illegally released in the Cairngorms. In the wake of the illegal release of Lynx last month, a group of feral pigs have been spotted near the Uath Lochans area, less than five miles from the release site of the Lynx. Working with NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland, the Cairngorms National Park Authority is working to investigate the release of these animals and safely capture them.

Policy and Development

The UK government remains committed to Heathrow’s third runway, despite significant environmental and social concerns. The expansion could see a further 4.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year – the equivalent of 101 billion car miles which could have destructive consequences in terms of pollution and the environment. The expansion could generate 51 million tonnes of carbon in five years, over 500,000 people would be exposed to enhanced noise pollution, and there would be severe environmental impacts – diverting five rivers, building a tunnel under the M25 and new flight paths would significantly impact wildlife throughout London, including the eleven bat species that reside within Richmond Park.

EGLL - Boeing 747 - British Airways - G-BNLY by Steve Lynes, via flickr. — EGLL – Boeing 747 – British Airways – G-BNLY by Steve Lynes, via flickr.

In its first year, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has significantly underperformed. First-year figures for BNG show only 773 hectares of habitat creation and enhancement (onsite and offsite combined), which marks just 13% of Defra’s annual generation estimations for the scheme. This shortcoming is due to broad exemptions, limited resources and poor monitoring and enforcement. Environmental groups are calling for a strengthening of the scheme through the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill , including more ambitious targets, reducing exemptions to BNG, enhanced monitoring and enforcement, and a guarantee that reforms will not weaken existing protections while delivering more effective off-site nature compensation.

Find an official response from CIEEM on the UK Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper here. The working paper will be used to build the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that will seek to fast-track development across the UK and could see impacts on the role and effectiveness of biodiversity net gain.

This Week in Biodiversity News – 3rd February

Pollution

Flea and tick treatments are contaminating songbird nests. A recent study surveyed 103 tit nests that utilised pet fur in construction, and found that 100% were contaminated with fipronil, a chemical component of pet flea and tick treatments that is banned for agricultural use in the UK and the EU. Contaminated nests were found to have an increased number of unhatched eggs and dead chicks, placing significant pressure on breeding bird populations. The findings have led to calls for a thorough environmental risk assessment of veterinary treatments, and to consider restricting their use as a preventative measure to an active treatment.

Great tit with nesting material — Image by hedera.baltica via Flickr

The Arctic carbon sink is now a source of emissions, a new study concludes. Rising temperatures in the Arctic landscape are facilitating the release of vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which is currently stored in the region’s permafrost, and over 40% of this is now significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in the context of global warming. The effects of rising temperatures are also reflected by visual changes in the landscape – ground collapse, increased plant growth, microbial domination – and changes in the carbon cycle in the region.

Environment

Wales’ plan to reverse wildlife decline lacks plan, action and investment according to Senedd’s cross-party environment committee. A recent report identified several shortcomings that have impacted the Welsh government’s ability to tackle nature loss and boost biodiversity. These include legislation that failed to deliver, outdated key policy documents, a broken promise to update the Nature Recovery Action Plan, and a history of delays, undelivered commitments, and missed deadlines. With 1 in 6 species at risk of local extinction in Wales, and a 20% decrease in wildlife over the last three decades, the committee urged the Welsh government to prioritise setting targets to address biodiversity loss by 2030, bringing Wales in-line with previously agreed biodiversity commitments.

eurasian curlew — One in six Welsh species are threatened with local extinction. Image by Antje Schultner via Flickr

T he Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a report on the prospect of the UK meeting its environmental targets and commitments. The third OEP assessment analysed the government’s current progress towards improving the country’s natural environment between April 2023 and March 2024, and determined that the UK remains off track in meeting legal commitments due to slow progress and a loss of momentum. Key issues identified were as follows: policy or regulatory frameworks are not adequately developed or delivered; actions do not address all major pressures; inadequate resource provision and a lack of urgency. To tackle this, the report concluded that the UK government should speed up, scale up, stack up and catch-up actions to make adequate progress.

Wildlife and Conservation

A Greater Mouse-eared Bat (Mytosis mytosis) has been discovered in Sussex. In mid-January 2025, a breeding female Greater Mouse-eared Bat was found hibernating in the South Downs National Park, marking the first identification of a new female since the 1980s. This species was declared extinct in the UK in 1992 following decades of species decline, however two male sightings, one in 2002 and one in 2023 suggested the potential for their return in the future. Conservationists have ringed the newly discovered female to allow for future identification, monitoring and research, with the hope of discovering an established breeding population in Britain.

Galicia’s shellfish stocks are declining at an alarming rate. Europe’s primary source of mussels, and the world’s second largest producer of shellfish, has seen a dramatic fall in cockles, clams and mussels. In 2023, cockles crop fell by as much as 80% and last year, mussel production was at its lowest for the last 25 years with some stocks falling by 90%. It is thought that the climate crisis and pollution from agriculture and local industry are at the root cause of this catastrophic decline, with increased rainfall reducing the salinity of the water and invasive species attracted to rising water temperatures.

Brown Trout survival is at serious risk as English rivers warm with climate change. A Government report suggests that these native fish are at risk of extinction in large parts of England within decades. The first national temperature projections by the Environment Agency forecast an unliveable environment at the height of summer by 2030. Brown Trout have a temperature threshold of around 12°C, above which there is a significant risk of egg mortality, small hatching sizes and development defects. For adult fish, this increased temperature could also amplify the impact of pollutants and an individual’s susceptibility to pathogens.

This Week in Biodiversity News – 13th January

Wildlife

Water Vole populations are undergoing a national decline in the UK. A new report from the Wildlife Trusts, The National Water Vole Database Project Report, was released last month to document the findings of a nationwide investigation examining Water Vole distribution over the past ten years. Although the report documented a 39% decrease in the number of occupied areas across the UK, it also identified a further 11 new regional key areas of increasing local populations, including several in East Anglia and Yorkshire. The report reveals a bleak national picture with declines across the country due to habitat loss and deterioration, but shows that in the right conditions, and with the help of conservation practitioners, it is possible to reverse their historic decline.

Bumblebee on a lavender flower — Image by Indy via Flickr

Conservationists have observed active worker bumblebees nest-building in Scotland during the winter months. Unusually mild weather during the Christmas period has led to early awakening from hibernation, and at least two species have started to build new nests early in the winter season. However, the subsequent return of cold weather and the scarcity of winter food sources pose a significant threat to these early nests, risking their collapse. In this instance, fewer queens would be available to build nests in the spring and could contribute to the national decline of bumblebees.

Conservation

The National Trust has announced plans to create 250,000 hectares of biodiverse landscape. Equivalent to 1.5 times the size of Greater London, these nature-rich landscapes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will address a current national need and are estimated to provide habitat for 1 billion earthworms. Labelled audacious yet achievable, this goal will be actioned on Trust properties, but also in partnership with other organisations, farmers and communities, to create larger tracts of landscape to tackle the climate and nature crises.

Male Lynx in the snow — Image by Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

Last week, Lynx were reported in the Cairngorms National Park. A total of four animals were illegally released and subsequently captured by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RSS), where they were taken to be quarantined at Highland Wildlife Park (later one sadly died). The source of these animals remains unknown, but experts have raised concerns about the nature of their release – these animals were released in sub-zero temperatures within areas of logging activity, which has been deemed a highly irresponsible action that has drawn criticism from conservationists.

Climate Crisis

2024 marks the first calendar year to surpass the 1.5°C warming limit. Now thought to be the world’s hottest year on record, 2024 has brought the world closer to breaking the international warming target of 1.5°C – although this target is based on long-term temperature averages, last year’s trends signify an upturn in global temperature, with the last decade being the warmest on record. Predominantly due to harmful greenhouse gas emissions, which are still at record highs, this record is met with calls for cuts in emissions over this calendar year.

Wind turbines at sunset — Image by Michael Mueller via Flickr

The UK generated its cleanest electricity ever in 2024, with 58% from low-carbon sources. The amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels has halved in the past decade, with the UK having seen an upturn in the use of renewable energy sources. In the past twelve months, renewables have generated 45% of the UK’s power, and when including nuclear sources, this number totals to 58%. Despite this, fossil fuels are still generating approximately 29% of electricity in the UK, and in order to meet climate and emission targets experts are urging for an accelerated phase out.

Finance

In a ‘landmark’ deal, the world’s first private sector loan based on biodiversity net gain unit models has been granted. Triodos Bank UK has loaned £3.85m to environmental consultancy Nature Impact – the money will be used to purchase a total of 122 acres over two sites, unlocking degraded farmland for biodiversity net gain. These degraded sites will undergo restoration and habitat creation, including native wildflower meadows and wetlands, to enhance their support of British wildlife and climate goals.

Habitat restoration site with wildflowers — Image by Robert Miller via Flickr

Ecologists at Oxford University have designed a new framework to classify how a unit of nature is defined for biodiversity credits. In the review, researchers acknowledge the lack of clarity on how one unit of nature is defined, or how measurements are standardised, and demonstrated the challenges involved with the biodiversity credit market. It presents a framework exploring how biodiversity is quantified, how positive outcomes are detected and how the number of credits can be adjusted to account for uncertainties. The authors caution against biodiversity credits to offset negative impacts, and instead direct focus on avoiding and reducing these factors.

This Week in Biodiversity News – 30th December

Conservation

Tasmania’s farmers are helping to conserve native grassland. These critically endangered habitats have undergone widespread deterioration due to historical agricultural practices, and remaining patches are degraded and fragmented throughout the state. An innovative partnership between landowners, the Tasmanian Conservancy and Bush Heritage Australia – the Midlands Conservation Partnership (MCP) – was formed to conserve and protect native grassland on private property through empowering farmers to manage their land sustainably.

Tiger in Jacksonville Zoo — Image by Caitlin Regan via Flickr

A growing number of zoos across the globe are reporting animal death by avian influenza. The virus appears to be spreading throughout captive animal collections, which could have grave, and potentially fatal, consequences for endangered species – already, zoos have reported deaths of a number of threatened species, including lions, tigers and panthers. It is thought to have been spread through infected wild birds landing in open air enclosures, and experts emphasise the need for enhanced biosecurity, or vaccination, to ensure the safety of captive animals.

A leading wildlife expert is calling for the legalisation of rhino horn trade. Martin Wikelski wrote to the journal Science, urging authorities to take the market out of criminal hands, in order to establish carefully monitored, legal transactions and regain control of the market. Wikelski argues that monitored trade could help to raise money for increased protective measures and save the last remaining populations, since crime syndicates have overcome every countermeasure that has been implemented to protect rhinos thus far.

White rhino in South Africa — Image by Ian Turk via Flickr

Discoveries

Twenty-seven species new to science have been discovered in a survey in Peru. A 38-day survey in Alto Mayo, a well-populated region in north-west Peru, has uncovered over 2,000 species of wildlife and plants, including new, rare and threatened species. Of these species previously unknown to science, there are four mammals, an arboreal salamander, seven species of new fish, a frog, ten butterflies and two dung beetles – and a further 48 species are awaiting verification before confirming their discovery. Alongside these exciting new discoveries, the expedition identified 49 threatened species from the IUCN Red List, including birds, amphibians and primates, and it is hoped that these discoveries will bolster conservation work in the region.

A recent study has discovered that right whales may live almost twice as long as previously thought. Four decades of photo identification data was used to analyse the life expectancy of Northern Atlantic Right Whales and Southern Right Whales. Researchers observed a life expectancy of up to 150 years for Southern Right Whales, and a contrasting 22-year average for North Atlantic Right Whales – primarily due to anthropogenic impacts, including entanglement in fishing gear, ship collisions or starvation which could be linked to environmental change. Authors plan to expand the scope of the study to examine other whale populations, in order to learn more about how whaling practices have impacted the abundance of older individuals and allow for estimates of recovery to pre-whaling population sizes.

Wildlife

Data shows that almost three quarters of the UK’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) have had no assessment of their condition since the start of 2019. These sites consist of ecologically valuable habitats, wildlife and natural features, and are legally protected to prevent environmental degradation. In the last assessment, nearly 40% of features were in unfavourable condition, and without further monitoring, conservationists warn that British wildlife could be disappearing unnoticed. In response, a long-term programme is being developed by Natural England to determine SSSI assessment, as well as making improvements to monitoring and data use.

a clutch of bird eggs in a nest — Image by Lisa Risager via Flickr

Over 6,000 wild bird eggs have been seized in the UK. In the largest haul of it’s kind, raids from Scotland, South Yorkshire, Essex, Wales and Gloucester uncovered thousands of wild bird eggs in attics, offices and drawers. The raids took place under Operation Pulka – an international effort tackling wildlife crime, especially the trading of bird eggs. Harvesting by egg collectors is placing additional pressures on already threatened and rare wildlife, and for species with a limited geographic range, could be the difference between existence and extinction.

This Week in Biodiversity News – 16th December

Environment

An area larger than India has permanently degraded into arid conditions, research shows. Studies by the UN Science Policy Interface have reported that up to three quarters of the world’s land has experienced likely irreversible drying in the past thirty years and now, arid drylands make up 40% of land on earth. Driven by climate change, poor farming practices, excessive water extraction and many other factors, this drying could see significant decreases in crop yield, GDP, and a reduction in the capacity of the land to store water.

viviparous lizard — Image by David Evans via Flickr

A two-year restoration project in Avon Heath Country Park will help to restore a rare habitat. Funded by Defra, £1.2 million will be used to restore this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that is home to 2.5% of the world’s remaining lowland heathland. The 210-hectare site provides key habitat for all of Britain’s native reptiles, including Smooth Snakes and ground-nesting birds such as Woodlarks and Nightjars. Restoration work will involve the removal of invasive rhododendron, scrub and pine trees to rejuvenate the heathland and increase the availability of light for low-lying plants.

Conservation

A recent survey has shown that Grey Squirrels are invading Red Squirrel strongholds. Conducted by Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE), the survey assessed 246 sites for an annual squirrel check. The survey found a rising presence of Grey Squirrels in Red Squirrel strongholds, a trend described as ‘concerning’ by RSNE project officers. These invasive, non-native species were found in 69% of surveyed sites, a 6.8% increase from last year and are now outnumbering Red Squirrels in Cumbria and Northumberland. However, RSNE successfully recorded a 2% increase of Red Squirrels in survey sites, up from 50% in 2023.

Cutting-edge technology is being used to inform forestry management in the UK. Forestry England is employing bioacoustic technology, environmental DNA (eDNA) and drones to inform conservation efforts across multiple sites. EDNA gathered from soil, air and water is being used to build a better picture of community composition across 21 forestry sites, and after four months of sampling, 5,000 unique fungal species and 1,000 invertebrate species have been identified. Bioacoustic data is also being gathered across four areas in Somerset, Dorset, Northumberland and North Yorkshire and will be used to track bumblebee activity through analysis of flight sound. This detailed data will be used to form a new biodiversity baseline to monitor the effectiveness of conservation efforts in the midst of biodiversity decline and climate change.

A light brown rodent is sat on a river bank underneath grasses, it has small black eyes and a small brown nose — Image by Peter Trimming via Flickr

A reintroduction project has seen the return of Water Voles along the Severn shoreline, levels and moors of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Led by the West of England Nature Partnership (WENP) in collaboration with Bristol Zoological Society, the programme is seeking to restore intertidal habitats, wetlands and peatlands, and part of this will be actioned through re-establishing Water Voles in the area. Avon Wildlife Trust have observed evidence that these animals have returned to the area, contributing to the region’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Policy

Angela Rayner has been met with criticism following an interview discussing Labour’s housing pledge. With plans to build 1.5 million homes and fast-track over 150 major infrastructure projects, wildlife protection may take a back seat. Rayner expressed concern for those who desperately need housing, stating that providing homes in the UK should not be sacrificed for wildlife protection. Despite critics deeming the targets ‘unrealistic’, Rayner assured that compliance with national building plans would be mandatory under Labour’s National Planning Policy Framework.

Great crested newt in a hand — Image by Chris H via Flickr

Vital scrubland habitats are at risk following Labour’s announcement to build on grey belt land. Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has pledged to build 1.5 million homes on redefined green belt land, known as grey belt land. With what some call a ‘vague definition’ of grey belt land, swathes of countryside could be sacrificed for housing developments, in areas that could have been transformed to woodland or wetland habitats. This traditional landscape is vital for wildlife, including birds, reptiles and amphibians, and could prove essential in meeting 30×30 targets.

This week in Biodiversity News – 2nd December

Conservation

A small group of White-tailed Eagles are to be reintroduced in Exmoor National Park. A project by the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England has been working to reintroduce the species since 2019. Focusing on the south of England, the project has been releasing eagles to the Isle of Wight, with 37 birds released so far throughout the project. Exmoor, a region in which this species has bred historically, has been identified as key habitat for White-tailed Eagles due to suitable prey abundance and a long stretch of coastal woodland and moorland. The project plans to reinforce English populations with a small cohort of up to twenty birds, which will be released over a three-year period on Exmoor.

Haliaeetus albicilla white tailed eagle — Image by NTNU Faculty of Natural Sciences via Flickr

Environment

The conservation group Alliance for Wales’ Rainforests (AWR) are urging the Welsh government to take urgent action to safeguard Celtic, or temperate, rainforests. The AWR is a collaboration between several conservation organisations including Plantlife, Wildlife Trusts Wales and Coed Cadw, which released a report on the state of Wales’ rainforests – the report revealed that these valuable landscapes are in generally poor condition, with invasive species and significant environmental pressures, such as intensive grazing or air pollution. With over 1,900,000 acres of temperate rainforest in Wales, and only one tenth of this area designated, the group have emphasised that action is needed from the Welsh government to protect the diversity and value of these ecosystems.

Cranberry farmers are restoring defunct bogs to wetlands in Massachusetts. Several restoration projects have been awarded $6 million in grants provided by New England’s Department of Fish and Game Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) to restore wildlife habitat and improve water quality. The funding will be used to convert disused bogs into wetlands and streams to improve environmental resilience, halt erosion and enhance carbon sequestration. So far, 400 acres have been converted, with hopes to restore an additional 1,000 acres over the next ten years.

Policy

Defra cuts pose a threat to Britain’s national landscapes. Defra spending is to be cut by 2% over the next financial year, which could have harmful ramifications for the National Landscapes team who manage 46 regions previously known as Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, including the Chilterns, the Cotswold’s and the Wye Valley. The team is expecting a 12% funding cut, placing significant pressure on an already underfunded and vital service in the fight against climate change. The National Landscapes Chief has warned that these valuable areas could become ‘paper parks’ without adequate funding, and some areas could face a 20% reduction in core services.

North Pennines UK — Image by Robert J Heath via Flickr

COP29 concluded on 22nd November. This year’s negotiations saw heavy criticism, with several headlining stories:

Developing nations were dissatisfied with $300bn in climate finance, with many stressing that the sum is not sufficient to address the challenges that developing countries face.
Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, described fossil fuels as a ‘gift from God’ in an opening speech, sparking debate about the way host countries are selected – Azerbaijan follows authoritarian states Egypt and the United Arab Emirates as COP hosts.
Senior climate leaders have written an open letter to the UN, claiming the conference was no longer fit for purpose.
China is emerging as the next climate leader and was praised for increased transparency about its financial support for developing countries

The UK has joined a coalition to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. Joined by 16 other countries, including Colombia, Canada and New Zealand, the coalition aims to develop national strategy, remove barriers and facilitate open communication to stop subsidies for oil and gas exploration and production. Thought to be a key step for the UK to reach its wider commitments, the coalition will facilitate the UK’s vision in establishing itself as a clean energy superpower.

Climate Crisis

A new study has provided an answer to a flurry of elephant deaths. Over 350 elephants, ranging from calves to mature adults, died under mysterious circumstances in Botswana in 2020. A new study using satellite data has suggested that toxic algal blooms of cyanobacteria may be behind these mass die-offs, poisoning the drinking water available to these animals. This research adds to the growing evidence that climate change will have lethal impacts on wildlife as it accelerates – climate-induced disease and mass mortalities are suggested to increase in frequency and severity over the coming years.

African Elephant — Image by Mandy Goldberg via Flickr

This Week in Biodiversity News – 18th November

Extinction

A paper published over the weekend revealed that the Slender-billed Curlew is likely to be extinct, with the last sighting recorded in Morocco in 1995. Marking the first known global bird extinction from the Western Palearctic, this species was previously common across mainland Europe, north Africa and west Asia, with populations found nowhere else in the world. The confirmation of the loss of this species of curlew comes just a month after COP16 took place in Cali, Columbia, which focused on increasing efforts to halt the loss of flora and fauna.

Wildlife and environment

Deforestation in the Amazon has fallen by 31%, marking a nine-year low. Despite this, deforestation is still a concern for Brazil, and an area the size of Delaware was cleared within the last year. The Amazon is facing a different set of pressures as climate change progresses – severe drought has contributed to a significant 18-fold surge in wildfires, which is impacting much of South America, including the biologically rich Pantanal in Brazil.

a small mouse resting on a bush branch — Image by Frank Vassen via Flickr

One of Britain’s rare mammals has been found in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. As an element of the park’s Cysylltu Natur project, which aims to protect 25% of the park’s northern section by 2025, dormouse nesting tubes were placed along areas of woodland on site. Licensed volunteers have discovered that dormice have inhabited the boxes, resulting in an exciting milestone in boosting nature recovery for the park.

Conservation

Two sites on the rivers Wear and Tyne are under consideration for saltmarsh restoration. Groundwork North East & Cumbria have applied for permission to undertake work in these areas to compensate for construction along the riverbank and heavy industrialisation in the area. The work will expand and restore existing habitat without removing waterside infrastructure – this restoration will slow the river flow and allowing sediment to build, in turn providing habitat for fish, invertebrates and other aquatic life.

The first of fourty-eight Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) has been developed for the West of England. The strategies are conceived by local authorities, communities, NGO’s and government agencies to identify focus areas for nature. These locally led, evidence-based plans were conceived to prioritise nature investment and target efforts for environmental restoration where it is needed most. LNRS’s will eventually be rolled out to cover all of England, helping to coordinate target action to meet biodiversity commitments.

the tops of aspen trees against the sky, the leaves are orange and yellow — Image by Oyvind Holmstad via Flickr

Cairngorms National Park has launched an initiative to save one of Scotland’s most threatened tree species – Aspen. Partnered with Trees for Life, the Cairngorms National Park Authority will be mapping the health and location of existing Aspen populations, and the data will be used to guide the planting of new trees within the forest. Deemed one of Scotland’s most vital native trees, this once-common species has undergone extreme declines due to deforestation and overgrazing. It is hoped that the project can be used as a blueprint to roll out Aspen conservation across Scotland, securing biodiversity benefits for the environment.

Policy

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has revealed new climate targets for the UK. Announced at COP29 in Azerbaijan, the UK will now aim for 81% reductions in emissions by 2035. This new target updates a previous pledge of 78% made by the Conservative government, and comes after recommendations from the UK’s Climate Change Committee. This new pledge will help to support the UK’s move to net zero by 2050, and although the UK is currently running behind on delivering cuts, this new target will provide local economic growth and investment.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a session at COP29 — Image by Number 10 via Flickr

The Environmental Audit Committee will be examining the environmental impact of Labour’s planning reforms. This inquiry comes after an early pledge to build 1.5 million homes over a five year period. To do this, there are proposed changes to the national planning policy framework, which would enable the government to release land for housing development. The inquiry will question whether these reforms can maintain current levels of environmental protection, and is seeking views on the implications of these reforms on nature and the climate.