Big Garden Birdwatch is this weekend. It’s more fun, probably, if you remember to fill your bird feeders than if you don’t!
John Armitage’s e-petition on licensing of grouse moors and gamekeepers is gathering a little pace – and has passed 7,800 signatures. There are four weeks to go. If you keep meaning to sign it but haven’t yet then now would be a good time…
The Environmental Audit Committee’s report into Sustainability in the UKOTs is as excellent as usual. Here is one quote from the summary: ‘We found that the Government has failed to negotiate the extension of the Convention on Biological Diversity—the flagship United Nations policy on biodiversity protection—to the Overseas Territories. In addition, the Government has not ensured the accurate monitoring of biodiversity in the Overseas Territories. Taken together, the Government is unclear on what it is responsible for and why it is responsible for it. In environmental terms, the 2012 Overseas Territories White Paper was a missed opportunity.’ and another from the conclusion ‘The UK Government is prepared to exercise hard and soft power in relation to financial matters in the UKOTs, but it is apparently not prepared to exercise those powers to protect biodiversity and to promote environmental sustainability. ‘
The EAC report was very strong on the need for a marine Protected Area around Pitcairn Island and I notice that The Economist is predicting that “In 2014 Britain will sign into law the world’s biggest MPA [Marine Protected Area]: 320,000 square miles around its tiny South Pacific dependency, Pitcairn (population, 55)”. That would be good – and not before time!
New York is planning to get rid of the introduced Mute Swan.
Have you noticed how it really is saying light a bit longer each evening now? Some people have seen their first Brimstones already.
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Can we swap their grey squirrels for our mute swans?