New invertebrate photo competition

Buglovers are invited to submit their images to a new photography competition – the Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020, in association with Buglife The Grand Prize winner of the competition will be awarded £2,500 cash and the title of ‘Bug Photographer of the Year 2020’, as well as other prizes. There is also a title available for ‘Young Bug Photographer of the Year’. aquatic bugs arachnids beetles flies, bees, wasps and dragonflies butterflies and moths snails and slugs all the other...

World populations day

The aim of this day is to focus the world’s attention on the importance of population issues. The Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended its introduction in 1989. Inspiration for this special day comes from the interest that was raised by “Five Billion Day” on 11th July, 1987. This was the day when the world’s population reached 5 billion. “Family Planning is a Human Right”, will be the focus of the 2018 celebration.Why Family Planning Has Been...

Why we need sharks

Why did dolphins get Flipper while sharks got Jaws? These majestic, diverse animals bring balance to the ocean ecosystem – and they’re in grave danger ( source : The Guardian) But if all you knew about sharks you learned from Hollywood, you’d think they were aquatic horrors. Sharks have a film genre all their own: there are movies about ghost sharks and zombie sharks, sharks that squirt acid, killer sharks that swim through sand or snow, and a staggering six...

Scientists plan universal species list

A plan to create the first universally recognised list of species on Earth has prompted hopes of an end to centuries of disagreement and confusion over how to classify the world’s library of life. The 10-point plan aims to finally bring order with an authoritative list of the world’s species and a governance mechanism responsible for its quality. Researchers hope a single recognised list would improve global efforts to tackle biodiversity loss, the trade in endangered wildlife, biosecurity and conservation....

Young people need positive roles in nature

The young birder and environmental campaigner Mya-Rose Craig – a friend of this blog – believes the coronavirus lockdown has had a positive impact on the environment. “Wildlife has been doing much better, as it is less disturbed by people, traffic and dogs. We are listening, noticing and looking much more,” she says. “Hopefully, people will continue to do these things now lockdown is easing, which can only benefit nature and our health.” ( source : The Guardian) “The highlights...

Learning with Nature during lockdown? [competition]

The British Ecological Society is running a competition – answer the question ‘Have you learned from nature during your time in lockdown’ ? Have you done some maths, counting butterflies? have you drawn pictures of creatures in your garden? anyone under the age of 16 years of age can enter – deadline is Monday 13th July at 10am British time Full entry details visit – https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/learning-and-resources/learning-resources/learning-with-nature/ Some of the prizes LearnFromNature  Tweet  ...

National meadows day

National Meadows Day is an annual celebration of wildflower meadows across the UK. National Meadows Day is your chance to celebrate wildflower meadows near you. National Meadows Day 2020 is … Saturday 4th July.  Today, we are reminded of the 7.5 million acres of meadows and flower-rich grasslands that have been lost since the 1930s. When a meadow isn’t a meadow… A true ‘meadow’ is an area of grass maintained by an annual hay cut. It’s made up of perennial plants –...

African elephants die mysteriously

More than 350 elephants have died in northern Botswana in a mysterious mass die-off described by scientists as a “conservation disaster”. A cluster of elephant deaths was first reported in the Okavango Delta in early May, with 169 individuals dead by the end of the month. By mid June, the number had more than doubled, with 70% of the deaths clustered around waterholes, according to local sources who wish to remain anonymous. Local witnesses say some elephants were seen walking around in circles, which...

Natural world Heritage

They are a ‘litmus test’ to protect biodiversity •    Natural World Heritage sites are globally recognised as the most significant protected areas on Earth.•    These sites provide life-supporting benefits to millions of people – 90% of sites provide jobs, two-thirds are crucial sources of water and about half help prevent natural disasters such as floods or landslides.•    Natural World Heritage sites are under increasing pressure from climate change, infrastructure development, mining, poaching and other threats. •    To protect sites from threats, investment in their protection and management is urgently needed. Closely monitoring the...

Koalas face extinction?

Koalas will be extinct in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) by 2050 unless there is urgent action, an inquiry has found. The once-thriving marsupial has been ravaged by habitat loss, disease and climatic events in recent years. About 5,000 koalas are thought to have died in devastating recent bushfires, the report to state parliament said. It urged lawmakers to ensure that remaining populations did not perish in rapidly diminishing habitats. IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare...

Very, very sad penguin picture…

The sad story behind this devastating photograph of a little penguin . This photograph is a shortlisted image in this years Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition. Little penguins are routinely victims of dog attacks and can become the victims of Victoria’s duck hunting season, which kicks off in March each year. “A couple of weeks ago, I was shocked to see a hunter hidden behind saltbush at the foreshore, and more shocked to be told that it...

Lockdown and lack of outdoors…

What outdoor space tells us about inequality, reports bbc Whether it’s a small balcony, a home garden, or access to a park, outdoor space has long been a luxury for many – not a given. And the pandemic’s made it even worse. “I don’t have anywhere to go, except outside into the pandemic – which feels extremely scary,” says Kgama.  Studies have long shown that access to green or open space is often linked to income, particularly in cities. Covid-19 has placed...

Culling one creature to save another?

There’s a very fine balancing act to be had…. culling – killing using humane methods – one species, to ensure the survival of another Large mice are devastating rare birds on a tiny island, now moves are afoot to exterminate the rodents. But should conservation ever be about killing? Patrick Barkham explains Gough Island is about as remote a fragment of land as it is possible to find on a map. Its 91 square kilometres of uninhabited volcanic rock rise...

Animals benefit from lockdown

Roadkill rates fall dramatically as lockdown keeps drivers at home, reports National Geographic As Americans stayed home in March and April, vehicle deaths declined up to 58 percent among large species like mountain lions, a new report says. During the peak of the lockdowns in March and April, traffic on U.S. roads fell by as much as 73 percent. During that same period, fatal collisions with deer, elk, moose, bears, mountain lions, and other large wild animals fell by as...

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