Category:

1. Bristol declares ‘ecological emergency’

   Posted on 8:00pm Thursday 6th Feb 2020

   Bristol has become the first major city to declare an ecological emergency. They’ve done this in response to escalating threats to ecosystems and wildlife, as there’s been a worrying decline in numbers and the diveristy of wildlife in the city. 41% of UK wildlife species are in decline and 15% are at risk of extinction In Bristol the city’s swifts and starling populations are virtually wiped out – with a 96% decline in numbers of these birds between 1994 and 2014 Marvin Rees, Major of Bristol, and the CEO of the Avon Wildlife Trust Ian Barrett, are building on the 2018 declaration of a climate emergency. Plans to Tackle this Ecological Emergency  Marvin Rees has asked the One City Envrionment and Sustainability Board work with the council and other city partners to look at ways in which the destruction of wildife habitats can be stopped. He wants them to look at ways to mange land sustainably, which will create wildlife-rich spaces, not just right across Bristol but across the region as well. Everywhere and everyone needs to support wildlife, including new developments, so that species can grow alongside people.  It’s recognised that is not a quick thing to achieve.  Nature takes her time, but she needs a considerable amount of help now.  She needs restoring.  Climate breakdown and ecological emergency are everywhere as wild spaces are lost and wildlife with it. As Ian Barrett says, we can’t wait for national governments or international bodies to lead the way.  Collective action is needed so that wildlife can thrive and the natural world can flourish. Find out more here about Bristol’s response to the ecological emergency This includes of course people like you and me.  We can all take action to do things such as planting a single window box for pollinators, walking where possible -  and doing beach clean ups on team building days or helping a local wildlife charity. At the moment, the Avon Wildlife Trust is working with local communities through a project called My Wild City.  It’s transforming 8 local wildlife sites across the city, so enhancing important wildlife habitats and providing opportunities for people to visit and enjoy them. Its urban wildlife site in Stapleton has restored wildlife in the heart of the city;  people can learn practical skills in wildlife friendly planting and help fight for nature’s recovery. Actions you can take: Donate to the Avon Wildlife Trust and help its work Volunteer – give your time and energy!  It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and make new friends and do something really worthwhile with your time that can make a difference.  Take action to help wildlife – there are a number of things you can do, including Build a hedgehog home Create a hole for hedghogs Grow a wild patch Attract butterflies to your garden Grow a vertical garden Provide water for wildlife Provide bushes for nesting birds Build a bug mansion Pick up litter (so wildlife don’t eat it or get harmed on it) Take part in a citizen survey Buy local produce And there are LOTS MORE! Become a member or give a gift membership – there’s even a business membership

    

2. 5 easy ways to make a difference to climate change from the National Trust

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 3rd Feb 2020

   As a member of the National Trust, I receive its magazine. One of the things the Spring 2020 magazine covers was climate change and what the Trust is doing to care for the places in its care as they are affected by it. Things like daffodils appearing earlier; rope bridges being closed to visitors more frequently because of high winds; paintings being affected by the temperatures in the summer all point to a changing climate.  Houses close because of the heat, since it affects collections and the fabric of the building.  More pests and diseases are having an impact on the plants in the garden.  Together they make a picture that’s uneasy and that the Trust is trying to deal with.   The National Trust itself is taking measures to tackle climate change, such as a renewable energy investment programme. It’s pledged to reduce its use of fossil fuels by 50% by 2021.  It’s creating or restoring 25,000 hectares of natural habitats because areas such as wetland and woodland can capture and store thousands of tonnes of carbon.  And the Trust has created Fit for the Future, which brings together some of the UK’s largest charities and landowners to fight the impact of climate change and rising energy costs. So there’s lots the National Trust is doing, but as it points out, we all need to start lowering our impact on the world and start making changes.   The National Trust says there are five easy ways to make a difference are: Waste less – less food, less energy and less water Turn heating down and layer up (this is something Polar Bears International ask us all to do – they even have a Thermostat Challenge) Use an online carbon calculator to find out your carbon footprint and to work out how you can reduce it.  Can you walk, bike, car share or use public transport? Get involved in Leap for Nature on 29 February and make a promise for nature this year. Read the National Trust's 2019 wildlife and weather review A great and truly giving way to help them is to dig deep and be willing to make changes ourselves to help wildlife. Do it for the koalas, the polar bears, the penguins, the puffins…. your favourite wildlife...

3. Double your money with a donation to ZSL by 31 December 2019

   Posted on 3:00pm Sunday 15th Dec 2019

   Saving wildlife starts with people. ZSL have established a project to help both people and wildlife on the edges of national parks in Nepal and Kenya. Life is very difficult here. Elephants trample crops; tigers attack livestock.   Families risk their lives as they enter the forest to gather firewood and graze their cattle.  These activities damage wildlife habitats. Unfortunately, some people become involved in wildlife crime, such as hunting bushmeat, to feed their families.  Worse, they can be exploited by the international illegal wildlife trade. For People For Wildlife So ZSL are tackling the problem with a project to help people – and so help wildlife – with a project For People For Wildlife ZSL are teaming up with communities to help them establish sustainable livelihoods.  They will help with start-up costs e.g. training nature guides, fencing to safeguard crops, starting a salon – and also develop ways to live alongside wildlife peacefully. The plan is that families will then have a reliable, sustainable income and escape poverty, and thus be better placed to help protect the forest and its wildlife, and indeed to help it survive and thrive. The donations will help tackle various threats to people and wildlife.  And they will help wildlife through science, education and conservation. £1 really does = £2 if you donate by 31 December 2019! Donate here You can help by making a donation - and for every £1 donated by 31 December 2019, the UK Government will MATCH your donation, up to £2 million.  Find out more and DONATE here

    

4. Slipped up with plastic? Donate your guilt!

   Posted on 5:00pm Wednesday 28th Aug 2019

   So with the best will in the world, there will be times when we forget to bring along a re-usable bag, or we need to buy a plastic bottle of water. And we think, “Oh dear, I shouldn’t have done that.  I must be more organised next time,” or “Oh dear, that’s one more bottle to add to the millions that will end up in a whale’s stomach…” or “I must do better next time” or “Oh well, it doesn’t happen very often”  etc etc Well, the Marine Conservation Society have come up with a way to help us all overcome those moments of guilt! Donate your guilt to the Marine Conservation Society!!  Yes, you can now donate your guilt and help the MCS continue its work to stem the plastic tide. You can donate in different ways: Donate money Donate your time – clean up a local beach, for instance Donate a share online with this idea – let’s spread it about! Remember, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse Repurpose, Recycle.  I repurpose all the water we don’t use e.g. in water glasses – it goes straight onto the garden.  Donations will help the MCS organise more beach cleans and run more campaigns to encourage the UK government to bring in vital legislation.  It will also help them hold companies, industry and governments to account. Find out more here Make a donation here

    

    

5. Polar bears heading to unusual places as sea ice melts

   Posted on 2:00pm Thursday 9th May 2019

   I had an interesting email from Polar Bears International (PBI) today. They have noticed that polar bears are showing up in odd places.   An exhausted polar bear was seen recently in a village on Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula – and that’s 600 kilometers plus from its home range. Their Senior Director of Conservation, Geoff York, thinks this could be that the bear hitched a ride on an ice floe and drifted south, as the ice broke up earlier in the Bering and Chukchi seas this spring.  Unusual and fast ice loss this year has displaced polar bears form their preferred hunting areas.   Seals give birth to their pups in spring In snow lairs or on the sea ice surface.  This makes the polar bear’s dinner more abundant and accessible than at any other time of the year. However the Russian polar bear was far from this area. It was decided to air-lift him back north, to Chukotka in the Russian Arctic. But there have been other unusual occurrences in the region over several months.  Some have been far from the sea.   This could be because of unstable ice cover. Sustained early sea ice is bad news for polar bears Polar Bears International know from other regions that sustained early sea ice break up doesn’t do polar bears any good.  Fewer hunting opportunities Decreased body condition Impacts on reproduction which aren’t good Negative impacts on survival, especially the old and  young If there’s less sea ice in the Arctic, it gets more difficult for polar bears to make a living from the frozen ocean.  Of course people living on the Arctic rely on stable ice to get around on, and to gather food.  We all need a frozen Arctic ecosystem to regulate our climate.    So we ALL need the Arctic to be in good health. Polar Bears International works in 3 ways: Education and outreach.  As more polar bears appear onshore, the charity works to help keep polar bears and people safe, with outreach on best practices for avoiding human-polar bear conflict.   These include getting rid of things such as open garbage dumps and installing bear-proof ones.  Research – the charity is studying the effectiveness of using surveillance radar to detect approaching polar bears.  This means alerts can be given before a bear enters town.  PBI help with research on the best deterrants – and that includes putting together a  history of polar bear attacks, and their causes to help avoid future conflicts. Climate Action. PBI is one working to solve the climate crisis, sharing their knowledge of polar bears and coming up with solutions.  This includes the Climate Alliance training program for zoo staff members, outreach to motivate citizen involvement, and advocacy to policy makers on the urgent need to act. Get involved and help polar bears