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Betts Ecology News

The Importance of Biodiversity

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:32 administrator
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We are always telling you about how important biodiversity is and maybe sometimes you get fed up with us spouting this mantra, but rest assured it’s not just us! BBC’s Panorama this week was all about the importance of biodiversity and the detrimental effect its decline is having. Click here to go to the BBC iplayer page where you can watch the programme again, if you didn’t catch it on Monday evening – I hope you find it interesting.

Please note that the BBC do not keep these programs on for long so, if you read this article after 6 September, you may need to search the BBC website for more information.

 

Sting in the tail for pesticide use

Friday, 20 August 2010 11:32 administrator
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A study published this month in the journal Toxicology suggests the use of two types of pesticide may be having a detrimental effect on bees.  Although not a long-term study, the evidence found so far is considered by environmental groups such as Buglife and the Soil Association to warrant a call to end the sale of the pesticides.  Bees play an important role in ecosystems, and any decline in the population has a knock-on effect on biodiversity; the findings of the research suggest there is a link between bee decline and pesticide use.  Further information about this research and other articles relating to bees can be found here.

 

Last Updated on Friday, 20 August 2010 11:34
 

New version of the EC Birds Directive

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 11:26 administrator
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This is one of the most important ecological legal instruments from Europe that applies to Britain. First issued in 1979, this Directive has been subject to what the Commission terms a “codification exercise” which was completed in November last year. Helpful information, notes and FAQs are now available online, but there are no substantial new enforcement aspects; rather, it is a consolidation of earlier amendments. It should be noted that the annexes have been updated, though.

The latest version of the Directive itself can be downloaded here.

 

Last Updated on Friday, 20 August 2010 11:36
 

Have your say on biodiversity

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:27 administrator
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Defra is inviting people in England to contribute their views on the future of biodiversity to inform a White Paper on the natural environment, due to be published by spring 2011.   Individuals can give their own opinions via a short online questionnaire.  The government’s “Big Society” approach to developing policy will also involve more formal seminars, workshops and discussions with stakeholders.  To find out more about how your organisation can be more involved go to Natural environment: an invitation to shape the nature of England for further information. Please note the deadline for responses is 30 October 2010.

If you would like a copy of the white paper, please call us on 01886 888445 or email Rachel Dunham on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Last Updated on Friday, 20 August 2010 11:35
 

UNEP Announce go-ahead for UN panel

Sunday, 20 June 2010 11:23 administrator
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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced the go-ahead for a UN panel similar to the one for climate change. This is indeed welcome news after an admission that they had failed to heed scientific warnings about biodiversity loss – something about which all of us at Betts Ecology have been concerned for a long time.  The international panel will be created next year (2011) to peer-review scientific research on biodiversity and ecosystems and act as a stronger collective voice to get world governments to act. Visit the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) for more. The policy statement says it will not undertake its own research but will “identify and prioritise key scientific information for policymakers”.

 

Last Updated on Friday, 20 August 2010 11:37
 
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