Eighth red kite bird dies from poisoning in Irish Republic
A project in the Irish Republic aimed at reintroducing
the Red Kite, a native bird of prey, has suffered a setback after
an eighth bird was found dead from illegal poisoning since 2007.
The once rare tree sparrow is beginning to thrive again
in the north west thanks to farmers’ involvement in a conservation
project aimed at boosting numbers of the farmland bird.
It would be quite difficult to follow a bee on foot
for more than a few metres. Up, down, a quick buzz into the hedgerow,
out the other side – hmm, same bee?
Environment Agency report issues stark warning over
East Anglia’s future water supplies
The water shortages already threatening East Anglia’s
parched countryside could worsen drastically in future unless urgent
action is taken to mitigate the twin threats of climate change and
population growth.
The John Muir Trust today launched its new Wild Land
Management Standards website which illustrates the principles that
guide its management of wild land.
A precious fragment of ancient woodland in the North
Pennines is set to be rescued by a nature fan inspired by wildlife
with support from the Forestry Commission.
Wind energy enjoys gale force boost to power output
The UK's wind turbine fleet received a major boost
last year, according to a new Met Office report that found winds
were 16 per cent stronger than in 2010.
Fracking does not need more regulation, report says
There is no need for more environmental legislation
in the case of shale gas exploration, at least until it reaches commercial
scale, says a new study published by the European commission.
For decades, farmers and fishermen along the Gulf of
Mexico watched as their sensitive ecosystem’s waters slowly
got dirtier and islands eroded, with little government attention or
funding to halt the destruction.
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are the top marine
predator, wherever they are found, and seem to eat everything from
schools of small fish to large baleen whales, over twice their own
size.
Scientists reveal how females store sperm for decades
Scientists have discovered that all sorts of females
– from birds to reptiles to insects – have a nifty trick
to prolong the lifespan of sperm, letting them store it for weeks,
months or even years on end.
Kerala biodiversity body stops export of rare goat
breed
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) recently
helped the cause of biodiversity by stopping the export of a rare
native goat breed to Australia, which may have harmed the species
in Kerala, a board member said.
EU takes next step in making airlines pay for carbon
The European Commission on Monday took another technical
step to bring all airlines using EU airports into its carbon trading
scheme, following on from last year's court ruling that, despite
loud international opposition, the EU plan was legal.
Genetics of Arctic plants under serious threat from
climate change
A new EU study by a team of Austrian, French and
Norwegian researchers has found that rising temperatures as a result
of climate change will have differing genetic consequences within
single Arctic plant species.
Major new analysis out today concludes that introducing
tougher carbon emissions targets will save the UK, and other European
countries, millions of pounds.
The UK government has invested £110 million
($157 million) into two new commercial funds, aiming to leverage
in at least £3 billion of private capital for green investments
in developing countries.
In The Wall Street Journal opinions section,
a group on 16 scientists, including former professors and chiefs
of several atmospheric research institutes, have argued boldly that
global warming is no cause for panic, claiming that the mean temperature
of the Earth has not changed for more than a decade.
The Arctic is already suffering the effects of a
dangerous climate change
These researchers assert that the Arctic is already
suffering some of the effects that, according to The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), correspond with a "dangerous
climate change".
Debt crisis forces Spain to halt green energy subsidy
scheme
Spain has been forced to put its green energy subsidy
scheme on ice in response to its continuing debt crisis, insisting
the move will not derail efforts to meet ambitious EU renewable
energy targets.
