A good chunk of biological reality puts government in its place. As a biologist, though far from an epidemiologist, I listen to government ministers, radio presenters, a rag bag of political pundits, talking about coronavirus and I just keep thinking ‘You don’t have a clue what you are talking about, do you? You said that…
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Ecohustler – a new voice
Ecohustler says it is ‘An ever-expanding galaxy of immersive, investigative, uncomfortable, and occasionally uncouth ecological news‘. Here are three recent articles: The race to rewild Bristol, Greta and the Cinderella crisis A message in the floods
British Wildlife February 2020
This issue of British Wildlife is a cracker – but then, they all are. Miles King on ‘What Legacy for Gove?’ Stephen Harris ‘Stop Vilifying the Urban Fox’ Patrick Barkham ‘What next for HS2?’ Peter Marren ‘Will Natural England Survive?’ And many other good and regular features, but the thing to which I always turn…
Bizarre
Whilst soil quality is a neglected aspect of environmental health and water quality is clearly very important, this would make a good undergraduate essay topic. Why has the history of nature conservation been so wrong in concentrating on site designation and protection, species protection, a proper planning system, reducing overexploitation, preventing the introduction of invasive…
Speculating on the future
Coronavirus This is the first mention of this thing on this blog. I wonder how many more there will be? Will it all blow over and look like a lot of fuss about nothing, or not? There have been about 2800 deaths from coronavirus worldwide so far, but that is likely to be an underestimate…
Asking DEFRA questions
I indicated yesterday that I’d be asking DEFRA for information about the science that the Moorland Association instructed them to take into account. This is what I asked: This is an information request under the EIR and/or FOI regulations. Please reply well within the maximum 20 working days that is allowed – this is a…
Who do you trust?
I saw this a few days ago and I found it quite worrying. When I was young I think I trusted politicians, the police, what I read in the newspapers, the probity of vicars and priests and, to quite a large extent, everyone. My views have changed – should they have done? Who do you…
Just to let you know
Comments Off on Just to let you know
The next blog post to appear here will be a press release which is embargoed until 7am.
I found myself…
I found myself writing this today… Natura 2000 sites comprise Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation designated under the Birds and Habitats Directives respectively. There are 275 SPAs in the UK … [and] … 658 SACs. These sites were designated by the UK government in line with the requirements of the two Directives…
I wonder…
when the Cabinet reshuffle will come and who will get the DEFRA job? when DEFRA will respond to the Godfray report on Badgers? Commissioned two years ago, published 16 months ago and no response yet. what the new DEFRA licences for lethal bird control will look like and when exactly they will be published? when…