Wildlife issues to be put to general election candidates/

I am pleased to see the Wildlife Trusts publishing their concerns and their advice to us as members to allow us to raise these important issues with our candidates before we vote.

An extract from an email from the Somerset Wildlife Trust to its members

I’m sure you also know how unique, beautiful and precious our natural heritage is in Somerset. We have wonderful moors, a stunning coastline, rolling farmland, picturesque towns and villages with the added jewels of the unique wetlands in the Levels and Moors, Exmoor National Park and four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are passionate to secure a positive deal for the UK’s wildlife in the upcoming election, during the BREXIT negotiations and following our departure from the European Union.

The rewards for making the right decisions would also be great: a UK which is a world-leader on the environment with clean air, clear water, a stable climate, healthy seas, beautiful landscapes and thriving wildlife in the places we care about most. All this is fundamental to the well-being and prosperity of our own and future generations.

We know that there is huge popular support for wildlife and the environment from people of all backgrounds. In a recent YouGov poll, 80% of people said they think the UK should have the same or stronger environmental protection after it leaves the EU.

The Wildlife Trusts would therefore like to see all parties commit to:

1. Nature's recovery in a generation. To achieve this will require us to transfer all current EU environmental laws into statute in the UK and ensure they are policed, and in England, to enact an Environment Act that restores the ecology of our rivers, farmland, soils and cities.
2. Protection of our marine wildlife through a well enforced and complete network of marine protected areas in UK seas and sustainable fisheries policies.
3. New sustainable policies for our farmland to allow wildlife to thrive alongside food production. Taxpayer’s money should be invested in creating abundant wildlife, healthy soils, clean water, climate change mitigation and beautiful landscapes for the benefit of everyone.

Take action! You can help give wildlife a safer future. Candidates will be talking to you on your doorsteps and in your streets. You can let them know how much wildlife matters to you, and ask them what they plan to do to help it thrive. We’ve set out a few simple questions you can ask yourself and share with family and friends who share your commitment to the natural world? What will your party do to ensure we our wildlife laws remain strong and that steps are taken to restore the damage we have done to nature? If you've got a bit longer, why not ask: Specifically for England, will you commit to an ambitious new Environment Act? What will your party do to ensure that wildlife thrives in our seas once more? If you want more detail, ask them: Will you make sure that more marine protected areas are designated and policed? What will you party do to ensure we have new farming policies in each part of the UK to provide for nature’s recovery? More specifically: Will you make sure that any payments to farmers are for positive environmental action?

Message from the Somerset Wildlife Trust,. Simon Nash CEO

I'm a member of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and I know how hard their job is to look after wildlife life in our lovely county and how difficult it is to to raise the funds to do the job as we would like it done. This letter has been sent to me as a member and I am happy to share it with you.

Dear Supporter You know how unique, beautiful and precious our natural heritage is in Somerset. We have wonderful moors, a stunning coastline, rolling farmland, picturesque towns and villages with the added jewels of the unique wetlands in the Levels and Moors, Exmoor National Park and four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. And you will also know that we have an upcoming General Election on Thursday 8th June.  I’m passionate about securing a positive deal for the UK’s wildlife during the BREXIT negotiations and following our departure from the European Union. And in a recent YouGov poll, 80% people said they wanted stronger laws to protect our wildlife – so we know you care too. This election is particularly crucial to Somerset’s wildlife because, as you are keenly aware, decisions made during the process of leaving the EU could have substantial impacts on the strong protections Somerset currently enjoys.  Agriculture and fisheries policies – currently developed at EU level – have also for many years provided a source of funding for farming that protects wildlife. This election brings us an enormous opportunity to craft new domestic policies that could lead to a thriving countryside where farming and conservation work seamlessly together, and ensure that we continue to have an environment that is brilliant for wildlife and people. Somerset Wildlife Trust wrote to all the candidates in Somerset asking what they will do for nature if elected on 8th June and in particular we asked for. A ‘blue belt’ of marine protected areas in UK seas including our Somerset coast.   Action to ensure we are the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state than we found it. New farming policies, where taxpayer’s money is invested in ways to deliver multiple benefits, including nature, healthy soils, clean water, climate change, natural flood management, and beautiful landscapes.  Whether you attend a hustings, meet your candidates on the doorstep or contact them by letter, email or social media post, I would urge you to do the same, keeping in mind all that is special in Somerset. This is fundamental to the well-being and prosperity of our own and future generations. Please join us in holding our politicians to account. Remember, Nature can’t vote but you can vote for nature. Simon Nash, Chief Executive, Somerset Wildlife Trust

Big week for global climate change! Article by Graham Readfern in the Guardian

From the web, 19th

http://gu.com/p/43dxd/sbl

Extract

Next stop Lima

The next major deal to limit greenhouse gas emissions is scheduled to be signed at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) meeting in Paris in December 2015. 

But to avoid the crashing failures of past negotiations (remember Copenhagen), negotiators and the UN will want to see major progress on that deal’s framework at COP20 in Lima, Peru, starting in two weeks time (I’ll be there for most of the second week).

During the last major meeting in Warsaw, Australia emerged with a new reputation for slowing the process down and lacking ambition, which Australian negotiators rejected.

The G20 Communiqué pointed to COP21 and said the G20 would “encourage” nations to confirm their targets for cutting emissions before March next year. 

The European Union has already said it will cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030 but the deal is not considered to be watertight.

The US now has its target to cut emissions from where they were in 2005 by between 26 per cent and 28 per cent by 2025.

Pressure is now mounting on Australia to commit its targets to paper by March, although it could conceivably delay. 

This is a major stumbling block for Australia.

Most analysts say the government’s $2.5 billion Direct Action Policy will fall well short of the unconditional target of cutting emissions from their 2000 levels by five cent by the year 2020. 

Environment Minister Greg Hunt insists the scheme will deliver. Tony Abbott has said if it doesn’t he will not make any more money available.

But if Australia is to stand by its UN pledge to keep global warming below 2C then it will need to commit to targets soon. 

But currently there is a large blank space where a credible climate policy should be.

New campaign by Wildlife Trust and the RSPB

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2014/07/31/nature-conservation-groups-challenge-political-parties-recognise-wider-benefits-prot

The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB today call on all the main political parties to value nature and secure its recovery by committing to a new Nature and Wellbeing Act.

The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB are urging all the main political parties to commit to passing a new Nature and Wellbeing Act to help value what nature does for us

The two leading conservation charities have spent recent months working behind the scenes to pinpoint the ways in which we need to help nature recover.  Both have a deep understanding of why contact with nature is good for us, for our communities and for our economy, and a long track record of trying to turn around nature’s decline.  A major shift in commitment and action is needed to secure nature’s recovery and The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB believe that new legislation is critical to achieving this. 

The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB are urging all the main political parties to commit to passing a new Nature and Wellbeing Act to help value what nature does for us, for its own sake and also to underpin improvements to people’s health, wellbeing and the economy.  We are delighted that the Liberal Democrats have declared they will commit to a Nature Bill in the party's manifesto.

Read more by using the link above.

Only One Earth

In case you haven't noticed , there is another chance for the world leaders to get to grips with climate change. What this press notice ( below)  doesn't say is that we all must decide how we are going to stop ruining our planet!

On a  more cheerful note , I took this photo in our meadow in June. A furry caterpillar  ( no idea what species it is!) on a newly flowering wild  Pyramidal Orchid

Now for the news!

UN Climate Summit 2014

Climate change is not a far-off problem. It is happening now and is having very real consequences on people’s lives. Climate change is disrupting national economies, costing us dearly today and even more tomorrow.  But there is a growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions are available now that will enable us all to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies.

There is a sense that change is in the air. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited world leaders, from government, finance, business, and civil society to Climate Summit 2014 this 23 September to galvanize and catalyze climate action.  He has asked these leaders to bring bold announcements and actions to the Summit that will reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and mobilize political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015. Climate Summit 2014 provides a unique opportunity for leaders to champion an ambitious vision, anchored in action that will enable a meaningful global agreement in 2015.

Everyone can step up and take climate action. Visit the UN Climate Summit site to find out how. #climate2014

Oil exploration in the Arctic.

Here in the UK many people will remember the comedy series Dad's Army, Whenever things went wrong the cry went up "we are all doomed". Well that was funny but drilling for oil in the arctic is not.
Despite a massive science  based report on man made climate change from the UN the world is still pushing on with extracting as much fossil fuel as it can find.  Then burning it.

So support for organisations like Green Peace is one of the  few ways for ordinary people to express their dismay at the damage being caused to the only planet we have.

Here is a recent email from Greenpeace for your consideration.

Hi David, “I have been shaking for most of the last 48 hours. I oscillate between fear, disbelief and panic.” This is what Kieron Bryan wrote in a letter to his family last week. Kieron is one of the 30 people currently being held in Russian prison facing piracy charges. It has been exactly three weeks since Russian agents boarded the Arctic Sunrise and arrested all 30 people on board. Now, they are all being held in Russian prisons. Many of them are being kept in freezing cold cells for 23 hours a day, with just one hour out for exercise. The support team in Murmansk is working around the clock to ensure they receive care packages with food and books to make life a little bit more comfortable for them. But what they need more than anything is continued pressure from millions so we can get them released. Over 1.2 million of us have already written to Russian embassies around the world demanding the release of the Arctic 30. Let's double that. Please forward this email to at least three friends and ask them to write to the Russian embassy. This week, our international director, Kumi Naidoo, wrote to President Putin offering himself up as a guarantor for the Arctic 30. He pledged to move his life to Russia for the duration of this affair if the Arctic 30 were released on bail. Countless human rights and legal experts have come forward to say the piracy charges against the Arctic 30 are unfounded and ludicrous. High profile people from Stephen Fry to Bianca Jagger and Jude Law have publicly voiced their support for the Arctic 30. Let’s get them out! Please forward this to your friends and ask them to send an email to demand the release of the Arctic 30. www.greenpeace.org/freethearctic30 Thank you for all your support in the past three weeks. Fran

Obama , his speech ,some comment

The Guardian puts together some initial comment on the Presidents speech in an article today.
Here is a link for you to read it for yourself;  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2013/jun/25/obama-climate-speech-expert-verdict

The contributors are :

Nicholas Stern, Grantham Institute.
"I am glad that the president chose to close his speech with an appeal to young people to make the case and to press politicians for action. Our generation will be judged by the inheritance we leave."

Christiana Figueres,  UN.

"President Obama's climate action plan is a necessary next step to meet an immediate, worrying shortfall in action to deal with climate change and can be a critical move forward on the path towards a new, global climate agreement. It remains vital that the United States as the world's largest developed economy is seen to be leading serious action to deal with climate change, both at home and abroad. These new steps will help to meet those goals, if they are implemented to the fullest extent to which they are intended.

It is significant that the new plan aims to start up rapidly and covers the full menu of solutions to climate change: clean energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency and the many actions that all countries need to take to adapt to accelerating climate change. This climate action plan should be positive for the US economy and the economies of other countries, as the US shifts faster towards a sustainable, low carbon model, including addressing directly the heaviest sources of emissions from unmodified coal and gas plants."

Bob Ward, Grantham Institute.
"President Obama's excellent speech laid out very clearly the choice that the American people face. A high-carbon economy and unmanaged global warming will create increasing risks from rising sea levels and changes in extreme weather, fundamentally undermining the prospects for future prosperity. But investing in a transition to a low-carbon economy offers a more secure and sustainable source of growth."

Jessy Tolkan, 350.org
"I've waited four years and 158 days to hear the president give this kind of speech on climate change. This is the kind of leadership my generation expected when we first elected, and then re-elected President Obama to office. This speech has been a long- and hard-time coming, but the president's plan outlines meaningful action that begins to meet our global and moral responsibility to address climate change. It's refreshing to see this second-term president finally step into his administrative powers and take the reigns in this fight."

Van Jones, former White House adviser.
"I think the tables are turning against Keystone. I don't think the president wants to lose his youth base by being a president who is spying on them while cooking the planet with a dumb pipeline that everybody hates. I just don't think he wants to do that."

Barack Obama's climate action plan

Barack Obama's climate action plan – in full

The president's strategy for tackling climate change, published ahead of a landmark speech by Obama at Georgetown university

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2013/jun/25/barack-obama-climate-action-plan


There is a lot of encourageing words here.

The Providential Principle

Here is a link to the latest George Monbiot article discussing the way our present Government deals with important matters impacting on the natural environment. Its all about the Precautionary Principle which I have considered to be a starting point for almost any serious action we take in life. But thats just being cautious  of course and many people dont  think that way!




The Providential Principle

Here is an excerpt from the article:

The Providential Principle Posted: 01 May 2013 03:33 AM PDT Amazingly, the UK government has not defined the precautionary principle and appears to have no idea what it is. By George Monbiot, published on the Guardian’s website, 1st May 2013 Here’s something remarkable I stumbled across while researching my column on Monday, but did not have room to include. I hope you’ll agree that it is worth sharing. I was trying to understand the context for the new chief scientist’s cavalier treatment of scientific evidence, in an article he wrote opposing a European ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. These are the toxins which, several studies suggest, could be partly responsible for the rapid decline in bees and other pollinators. Just one month into the job, Sir Mark Walport has, I believe, disgraced himself: by misrepresenting the science, misinforming the public about risk and uncertainty and indulging in scaremongering and wild exaggeration in support of the government’s position. I believe he has seriously damaged his standing and that of the office he holds. Among the many problems with the article he wrote was the way he defined the precautionary principle. Interpreting and upholding this principle is fundamental to the chief scientist’s role. Yet he doesn’t seem to understand what it means. Here’s what he said about it: “This simple idea just means working out and balancing in advance all the risks and benefits of action or inaction, and to make a proportionate response.” Oh yes? Here’s how the Rio Declaration, which the UK, with 171 other states, signed in 1992, defines it: “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” The difference is critical to an understanding of the government’s environmental responsibilities. As if to underline the fact that he hasn’t grasped it, Sir Mark used his article to do the opposite: he used a lack of full scientific certainty as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. The precautionary principle, as defined by the Rio Declaration, has, in the words of the European Commission, “become a full-fledged and general principle of international law.” In other words, it’s not something you would expect a chief scientist to make up as he goes along. So the question that occurred to me was this. If the government’s chief scientist doesn’t know what the precautionary principle is, does the government know? www.monbiot.com

Badger Cull and Dorset Wildlife Trust

Dorset Wildlife Trust will be affected by the Badger Cull. This is a news item on their web site and on Twitter. Dorset and Somerset share a County boundary.

Dorset Wildlife Trust condemns badger cull 27th Feb 2013 Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) condemns a potential badger cull in the county, announced by Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson MP, as a reserve pilot cull area in case of problems with either of the proposed cull areas in Gloucestershire and Somerset.  DWT is keen to find an effective, long term solution to the problem of Bovine TB (bTB), but urges the Government to put more effort into an effective vaccine instead of a cull.  Simon Cripps, Chief Executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “We have a great deal of sympathy for farmers who lose stock as a result of bTB and are acutely aware of the problems this disease causes in Dorset.However a badger cull is not the answer and is likely to make the  problem worse by spreading the disease onto farms previously unaffected.” Dorset Wildlife Trust believes bTB should be tackled on multiple fronts, including vaccines for badgers and cattle and use of all possible biosecurity measures to prevent transmission between cattle. The proposed cull area for Dorset is kept a secret.  DWT will not allow badger culling on its nature reserves and is currently preparing plans to vaccinate badgers, using an injectable vaccine as trialled by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Dorset Wildlife Trust calls on the Government to develop the bTB vaccine for cattle and ensure its acceptance by the European Union.  For more information about plans to vaccinate badgers in Dorset, click here.

- See more at: http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/article1205.html#sthash.s8KEcFzC.dpuf

Somerset County Council - The Wildlife Trust report.

News  County Council approves budget
County Council approves budget 22nd Feb 2013 On Wednesday 20, Somerset’s County Councillors approved a budget for the next three financial years, which, thanks to the dedicated lobbying undertaken by our membership, has seen a stay of execution for some nature conservation jobs. When the County Council originally released their Mid Term Financial Plan in January, the Trust was horrified to see proposals which amounted to the near annihilation of countryside and ecology services, and the axing of nearly all officers who work proactively for nature in the County Council. Since then Somerset Wildlife Trust has been working with the RSPB, our members and supporters, to call for a reconsideration of the plan. Key posts retained Following a meeting with the Leader of Somerset County Council, a commitment was obtained that SCC would work with the Trust and its partners in the Somerset Local Nature Partnership to develop a vision and strategy for the natural environment, around which could be built new projects and partnerships to deliver new opportunities for nature. Changes were also made to the budget which saw several key posts - ­ including both ecologists - ­ retained, although still amounted to an overall reduction in service provision. With the budget approved by a 32 to 21 majority of County Councillors, Somerset Wildlife Trust will now be holding the Leader to his word, and working to help the Council produce a clear plan for delivering work to enhance Somerset’s natural environment. Thank you for standing up for nature with us A big thank you goes to all of you who took time to write to, call, or email your Councillor and raise awareness of the cuts amongst your friends and neighbours. It made all the difference in changing the outcome and we’re grateful to you for standing up for nature.

- See more at: http://www.somersetwildlife.org/budget_approved#sthash.CrPoTWS7.dpuf

Somerset County Council and Natural Environment Services

A follow up on my post on 8th Feb.

Simon Nash was  talking to BBC Somerset on Thursday 7.2.13 about a meeting he had had with the Leader of the County Council on the issue of proposed cuts to essential environmental services.

It seems pretty obvious that the Council were considering the redundancy of Ecologist working for the Council where their job is to advise the Council on development projects and similar situations. If the Council doesn't employ specialists then it will be unable to fully understand what  the environmental consequences will be of any of its decisions which affect the whole County of Somerset!

You can listen to his interview with Matt Faulkner on BBC Iplayer for three more days. BBC Somerset are very helpful in tracking down when these items come on air. Here is the reply I got to my enquiry with a link to the programme. Go to 2hr and 2min into the programme and it starts with an interview with  John Osman Leader of the County Council followed by Simon Nash:

*********************************************************************

Hi David,

The interview with Simon took place at 8.30am on the morning of Thursday, 7^th Feb. You can listen back to it via the iPlayer – www.bbc.co.uk/bbcsomerset. Just search back for Thursday’s Breakfast with Matt Faulkner, the interview will be around two hours in.

Kind regards,

Rachel Andrews

Broadcast Journalist and Producer

BBC Somerset 01823 323956

www.bbc.co.uk/somerset

From: David German [mailto:davidgerman555@gmail.com]
Sent: 08 February 2013 12:06
To: bbc.co.uk/somerset
Subject: Re SCC cuts and Simon Nash, Wildlife Trust CEO

Please let me know the programme and time that this news item was on the air?

Thanks

David German

Wildlife Blog:
http://heartofthelevels.blogspot.co.uk

Somerset County Council

News from Somerset Wildlife Trust. Stay of execution for County Council natural environment services                                                                                Photo: Wild daffodil © Bob Hastie  7th Feb 2013

The axe that was due to fall on Somerset County Council’s ecology, nature conservation and countryside staff has been temporarily stopped mid-swing. Following the release of Somerset County Council’s Mid Term Financial Plan (MTFP) which proposed swinging cuts which would have had serious implications for our natural environment, The Somerset Local Nature Partnership has been calling for a reconsideration of the plan. The Somerset Local Nature Partnership (SLNP),  represents a wide range of organisations and individuals, including Somerset Wildlife Trust and RSPB. Thanks to the efforts of our members and the public in writing to their County Councillors and emailing our office in their droves, a series of amendments were made to the MTFP which significantly reduce the scale of environmental cuts. These changes were tabled by the Council and endorsed by the Cabinet members during their meeting on Wednesday 6th February. Furthermore in a statement to the public and Councillors at the meeting, Councillor David Hall who has political responsibility for the environment services, made a commitment to work with Somerset Wildlife Trust and other organisations to develop and deliver a vision and strategy for our county’s natural environment. Key nature conservation staff retained The amendments to the MTFP will see key nature conservation staff retained, which will enable Somerset County Council to deliver its statutory services and continue to work with partner organisations on the development of new initiatives for nature. Somerset Wildlife Trust will now work with the Council during 2013 to create a clear plan for the Council to continue delivering natural environment services. This positive outcome has been the result of strong, sustained public support for our work from our members and Somerset’s residents. The number of letters, calls, emails and tweets we and Somerset’s elected members have received asking the Council to reconsider their proposals attests to the strength of feeling Somerset citizens have for their natural world. It was thanks to the efforts of everyone who wrote, called and emailed their Councillors, chatted about the cuts with friends and neighbours, or spread the news via social media, that Somerset County Council were willing discuss and consider a better way forward. Next steps Whilst we are pleased with this initial outcome, there is still work to do. We need to address the key issue underlying the original proposals: the lack of understanding and appreciation for nature’s role in keeping Somerset a healthy, vibrant, successful and special place to live, work and play. Somerset’s natural environment benefits society, and supports and generates economic activity in this rural part of England. It is critical that we don’t take this for granted and abandon nature now. For this reason we will work with Council leaders to plan better action for nature. We will also maintain our campaigning efforts and ensure that nature is embedded at the heart of planning and decision making in the County for the benefit of our economy, our health, and our environment.     Write to your Councillor before Feb 20 All of Somerset’s County Councillors will meet on 20th February to ratify the MTFP, and therefore there is still an opportunity to influence what happens for nature from here on in. We are asking our members and the public to write to their County Councillor a second time, asking them to think about what the natural environment means for our county and communities, and to pledge their support for nature at the Council meeting on the 20th. With the backing of all our County Councillors we can really start to get nature where it belongs ­ at the heart of thinking about Somerset. Thank you for standing up for nature with us ­-  your voice has made a difference. You can read more about our campaign on the news pages.

Somerset County Council’s ecology, countryside and nature conservation services

I received this email from the Somerset Wildlife Trust  on the 4th Feb. I have written to my own local County Councillor and I'll post that next.

Dear Somerset Biodiversity Forum

I am writing to you on behalf of Somerset Wildlife Trust, and as a local resident – you get two for the price of one with me – and I hope I can appeal to you all similarly, both as professionals and also as people living in and loving Somerset’s environment.

At the SBP meeting on Wednesday 30^th January there was much discussion about the proposed cuts to Somerset County Council’s ecology, countryside and nature conservation services. The cuts, whose scale is unclear from proposals submitted to County Councillors, appear to indicate an almost complete severance of staff working in this area, and presumably a loss of the project budgets they held. More detailed information from senior managers and Cabinet members about the true depth of these cuts has not been forthcoming, and therefore Somerset Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and the Somerset Local Nature Partnership (SLNP) have been requesting urgent meetings with the County to discover precisely what is proposed. I have attached a briefing I produced for SWT staff last week for your information, and give you the same health warning I gave them – this is based on the information I have managed to extract. It’s sketchy because the information available is sketchy. Which, you know, really helps with the democratic process.

Simon Nash, interim Chair of the SLNP, is meeting John Osman (Leader of SCC) today along with James Diamond of NE to ask for the proposed cuts to be stalled until such a time as a complete service review, in consultation with partners and stakeholders, has been undertaken and reported on. This, I think, is crucial: until the full scale of impacts presented by varying options for cuts is known, no decision should be made. This isn’t about stopping cuts or preventing restructuring, it’s about being absolutely clear on what our natural environment does for our economy and society, and understanding what cuts will mean for this…and whether a short term financial relief will actually be economically sound in the mid to long term.

The attached letter has been prepared by the Somerset Local Nature Partnership, and was sent to John Osman and the members of Cabinet last week. If perhaps there are sentiments within that letter that your organisation, or you as an individual, support and might like to reiterate to your Cabinet members and County Councillors, your support would be greatly welcomed and might just make a difference. I think all of us who work, live and play in Somerset and rely on it’s natural environment are going to struggle without Somerset County Council’s commitment to protecting, enhancing and working in partnership to secure a healthier natural world.  

If you can take any action on this it would be great to have your voice. The Cabinet meets this Wednesday (6^th February) and a final decision will be taken by the full Council on 20^th February. If you can write to, email, or go see your County Councillor on this issue it needs to happen in advance of the 20^th. I’d be very interested to know how you get on, as I’ve received some truly cracking responses from some of the County Councillors.

Good luck, thanks for your time, and have a lovely week.

Best wishes

Michelle

Michelle Osbourn

Policy and Advocacy Manager

Somerset Wildlife Trust

Tonedale Mill

Wellington

Somerset

TA21 0AW

01823 652437 (direct dial)

01823 652400 (switchboard)

michelle.osbourn@somersetwildlife.org

Somerset County Council cuts.

On the news page of the Somerset wildlife Trust web site is this statement.


"Somerset Local Nature Partnership (SLNP), which represents a wide range of organisations and individuals, including RSPB and Somerset Wildlife Trust has today sent a strongly worded letter to council leader John Osman asking him to urgently suspend implementing the cuts outlined in the County’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for its Countryside, ecology and environment services. These were considered by the County’s scrutiny committee yesterday and will go to full cabinet on 6 February."



This political development is one of the most worrying so far . The flow of bad news for the natural beauty and health of the natural environment in our lovely Somerset has been gathering pace for several years now and this latest  is unacceptable.

The Wildlife Trust together with the RSPB are making strong representation to the Leader of the Council and I expect we will hear a lot more about this from now on.

Article By        Louise Gray,     Environment Correspondent

( The Telegraph)

7:00AM GMT 13 Dec 2012

You can read this article by clicking on the link above.

"Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, is considering merging the work of Natural England and the Environment Agency as part of the “bonfire of the quangos”.

The Wildlife Trusts fear this will lead to a cut in staff and budgets, threatening key programmes to protect rare species.

Even more seriously, the review suggests that Natural England should “support and contribute to the Government's aims and priorities as effectively as possible".

But legal advice commissioned by the RSPB points out that this clashes with NE’s original purpose, that is "to ensure that the natural environment is conserved.”

Mike Clarke, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said the review threatened the independence of NE and therefore its ability to stand up to the Government on controversial planning decisions."

Just seen this news item. I must do some more research on it!

Bees and the Rachel Carson legacy

I'm posting this item because it is a good example of how we can use the Internet to see what is going on in the world of environmental concern. In this case concern about the threat to the Bee population in the UK and of course world wide. Starting with a brief look at the Guardian Environmental website which contains many reports,reviews and news items was this headline shown here:

Science under pressure as pesticide makers face MPs over bee threat

This is a link to the item I was checking.  The article is by Damian Carrington dated Nov 28th. Its quite a long piece and takes a bit of time to read in total so I guess I speed read such material. As usual in these articles there are many links and this time I went over them all to follow them up. That opens up a treasure trove of many sources of information which given some time can give you a very full appreciation of the current status of this issue.

As a Member of the Somerset Wildlife Trust I was pleased to see and read the short write up below, buried as it was with many other such items in the Government web site reporting on the Commons Select committee activities. I've copied a very brief part of the proceedings as a taster of what can be found. I found it all of considerable interest if only to show that the Wildlife Trusts are active in this way, something  which I think they could do more to promote to their members.

You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Committee Publications > All Select Committee Publications > Commons Select Committees > Environmental Audit > Environmental Audit

Session 2012-13 

Insects and Insecticides

Written evidence submitted by The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts welcome the opportunity to submit evidence to the Environment Audit Committee (EAC) regarding insects and insecticides.

Our evidence focuses on neonicotinoid insecticides, in particular:

· The impacts of neonicotinoids on insect pollinators (honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths)

· Half-life in soil; routes of exposure and contamination of non- target vegetation (such as that found along field margins)

· Impacts on ecosystems in the agricultural landscape

· Inadequacy of risk assessment for these types of insecticides

The Wildlife Trusts’ position

1. There is a growing body of evidence that shows that neonicotinoids have a detrimental effect at sub-lethal doses on insect pollinators. For this reason, The Wildlife Trusts believe that until it can be categorically proven that neonicotinoids are not adversely impacting pollinator populations, and by extension ecosystem health, Government should adopt the precautionary principle and place a moratorium on their use on all outdoor crops.

The Heat of the Moment

The Heat of the Moment

Another Block Buster from George!

When I have read it again I'll try to comment. Just thinking about its subject is challenging enough right now.