Guy writes: as a young boy interested in birds, albatrosses, being birds mainly of the southern hemisphere, always had something of a mystical status to me. From school, I remember an English Literature lesson covering the ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ by Samuel Coleridge. This lengthy poem revolves around the killing of an albatross…
Category: MARINE PROTECTION
Does the Pope believe in cod?
Apologies for the title but I couldn’t resist… Although being a person of no faith myself, I sometimes wonder why religions are not much more involved in the moral case for nature conservation and animal welfare. I guess they are probably more involved than I notice but there is no way that they could be…
New Year Honours
Prof Sir Dieter Helm – former Chair of Natural Capital Committee. Author of two books highly rated by this blog; Net Zero (published 2020) and Green and Prosperous Land (published 2019). Joan Edwards OBE – for services to Marine Conservation Dr Alistair Burn MBE – for voluntary services to conservation in Cambridgeshire Raymond Marsh MBE…
RSPB press release – marine SPAs in Scotland
RSPB Scotland welcomes seabird safe havens, but questions why Orkney sites are missing Puffins, terns, eiders and long-tailed ducks are among the wildlife that stands to get a boost from legal protection announced today. The long-awaited declaration of ‘Special Protection Areas’ (SPAs) will safeguard some of the places that hundreds of thousands of birds rely…
Guest blog – How nature dies by Alistair Gammell
Alistair Gammell worked for RSPB for 40 years and was closely involved in the drafting of the Birds and Habitats Directives and for growing RSPB’s international work. He was RSPB’s first International Director and retired from RSPB in 2009. He then worked to successfully establish large scale fully protected marine reserves in the seas around…
Jane V. Adams – At least Nature has benefited…
Jane is a naturalist, photographer and nature writer living in Dorset. Her work has appeared in books, anthologies and blogs for charities such as The Wildlife Trusts and the International Bee Research Association. When she’s not exploring Dorset’s lanes and countryside she can be found lying on her stomach watching insects in her garden. Jane…
Farming Today, today (1)
I heard two good things on Farming Today, today – this is the first. When I turned on I’d just missed the beginning of the programme and there was some bloke talking about marine fisheries. I didn’t recognise him but he seemed pretty fired up, spoke very well and as he talked I thought ‘I…
Nature books and gender
It is a privilege to have published Stephen Moss’s round-up of nature books for the last three years, including this year’s which was published here yesterday. The number of books covered increases every year and many have said that this year provided not only a bumper crop but also more really good books than usual….
Press release – UK Overseas Territory becomes one of the world’s biggest sanctuaries for wildlife (Tristan da Cunha Government, RSPB, National Geographic)
UK Overseas Territory becomes one of the world’s biggest sanctuaries for wildlife The Government and people of Tristan da Cunha make visionary declaration with support of an international partnership including the UK Government, RSPB, National Geographic Pristine Seas, Blue Nature Alliance, Becht Family Charitable Trust together with Blue Marine Foundation, Wyss Foundation, Kaltroco, Don Quixote…
Guest blog – A Pheasant Surprise? Possible Implications of In-Combination Effects on the Gamebird Shooting Industry by Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson is a professional ecologist with 20 years’ experience undertaking surveys for a range of clients, His specialist knowledge is in invertebrate and avian ecology, and his technical knowledge informs Environmental Impact Assessments, including when relevant, Appropriate Assessment. His professional background has led to a keen interest in EU and UK law in the context…