Nature in the News

keps

A timely alert


Today's Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/24/there-will-be-no-12-days-of-christmas-if-we-lose-the-turtle-dove

recedite

Nice looking bird, I wonder did it get the name because of the tortoisehell colour pattern?
Not the sort of "migrants" the EU is interested in encouraging at the moment though.

keps

A possible blueprint for conservation in the future


Today's NYT


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/28/opinion/the-yellowstone-of-the-future.html?hpw&rref=opinion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Capercaillie

keps wrote: »

A possible blueprint for conservation in the future


Today's NYT


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/28/opinion/the-yellowstone-of-the-future.html?hpw&rref=opinion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

A great idea and probably the way forward. We have the "Orgin Green" ( http://www.origingreen.ie/ ) which is the greatest load of propaganda invented. Imagine people doing it properly and managing their lands to benefit wildlife (verified by doing census of species and habitat management). You could buy beef from corncrake/chough/Twite/barnacle geese lands in West Connaught. Beef from the Burren. Beef/Lamb from hen Harrier lands in Kerry. The landowners would get a premium price for their produce not the race to the bottom which we currently have

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

A great idea and probably the way forward. We have the "Orgin Green" ( http://www.origingreen.ie/ ) which is the greatest load of propaganda invented. Imagine people doing it properly and managing their lands to benefit wildlife (verified by doing census of species and habitat management). You could buy beef from corncrake/chough/Twite/barnacle geese lands in West Connaught. Beef from the Burren. Beef/Lamb from hen Harrier lands in Kerry. The landowners would get a premium price for their produce not the race to the bottom which we currently have

The above makes a lot of sense in an agricultural context, but if we are to make any real dent in the current decline/collapse of wildlife there also have to be no-take zones set aside, both terrestrial and marine. That means areas where only natural processes are allowed, and a total exclusion of all extractive activities such as agriculture, fishing, mining, foraging, etc., etc.

To encourage the creation of such areas on privately owned lands, there should be a system of state funding based on area (per ha., just as the CAP works now), degree of biological diversity, ecosystem health, and probably a range of other criteria, such as infestation by damaging invasive species (perhaps a penalty might apply for the latter, but with other grants to encourage eradication). If landowners were able to consider genuine biodiversity in terms of $$$, just as farmers now consider their livestock etc., many of them would actually begin to see wild nature as an economic asset to be allowed develop in richness.

That would make a massive difference.

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

To encourage the creation of such areas on privately owned lands, there should be a system of state funding based on area (per ha., just as the CAP works now), degree of biological diversity, ecosystem health, and probably a range of other criteria, such as infestation by damaging invasive species (perhaps a penalty might apply for the latter, but with other grants to encourage eradication). If landowners were able to consider genuine biodiversity in terms of $$$, just as farmers now consider their livestock etc., many of them would actually begin to see wild nature as an economic asset to be allowed develop in richness.

That would make a massive difference.

In an ideal world that would be the ideal thing to do. Unfortunately the money for large scale interventions especially in Ireland does not exist. The NPWS farm plan would represent the nearest thing. Would need to be extended (massively) but with that Humphreys specimen as Minister it would never happen.

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

In an ideal world that would be the ideal thing to do. Unfortunately the money for large scale interventions especially in Ireland does not exist.

The EU finds the financial resources to pay tens of billions of euros in payments to agriculture every year, often for completely uneconomic food-producing activities which damage the living fabric of our planet in the process.

Sooner or later, people - and those in charge - are going to have to come to a realisation that the so-called 'economy', along with our planet's capacity to support us, is totally dependant on retaining healthy ecosystems and the benefits they provide.

That realisation might seem a long way off here in Ireland, but it's just a matter of time here and everywhere else. When that penny does drop, it will be seen as nothing other than pure common sense to pay for activites that produce breathable air, clean water, a stable climate etc., etc.

Call it provision of 'ecosystem services' if you like, but I prefer to think of it in terms of the provision of a liveable planet.

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

The EU finds the financial resources to pay tens of billions of euros in payments to agriculture every year, often for completely uneconomic food-producing activities which damage the living fabric of our planet in the process.

Sooner or later, people - and those in charge - are going to have to come to a realisation that the so-called 'economy', along with our planet's capacity to support us, is totally dependant on retaining healthy ecosystems and the benefits they provide.

That realisation might seem a long way off here in Ireland, but it's just a matter of time here and everywhere else. When that penny does drop, it will be seen as nothing other than pure common sense to pay for activites that produce breathable air, clean water, a stable climate etc., etc.

Call it provision of 'ecosystem services' if you like, but I prefer to think of it in terms of the provision of a liveable planet.

530 million was allocated by EU for farmers in Natura 2000 sites to farm in an environmentally friendly fashion. Unfortunately the DAFM/IFA "diverted" (robbed) most to money to intensive farmers.
Common sense is sadly very lacking in this Country!

keps

Javan Green Magpie

BBC video report - may take a bit of time to load

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35156687

keps

The amazing hummingbird

Link from today's NYT


http://gfm.aps.org/meetings/dfd-2015/55f88e9bb8ac311c7100002c

Jayzesake

keps wrote: »

The amazing hummingbird

Link from today's NYT


http://gfm.aps.org/meetings/dfd-2015/55f88e9bb8ac311c7100002c

Cool.

Jayzesake

Jayzesake wrote: »

Sooner or later, people - and those in charge - are going to have to come to a realisation that the so-called 'economy', along with our planet's capacity to support us, is totally dependant on retaining healthy ecosystems and the benefits they provide.

Ecological Civilization
China is better known for its environmental challenges — air pollution, desertification, high carbon emissions and more — than for its environmental solutions. In recent years, however, its government has adopted a formal policy of “ecological civilization” — development that respects and protects nature. Specific actions — which could boost the health of China’s environment and provide a model for other countries — include establishing model environmentally friendly villages, conserving areas that provide ecosystem services, factoring ecosystem services into economic reports, and investing in reforestation.

Not mentioned here is the fact that the Chinese continue to trash ecosystems all around the world outside of China. Still, they're steps in the right direction.

http://ensia.com/notable/top-trends-conservationists-should-be-paying-attention-to-but-arent/?utm_content=bufferac452&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Capercaillie

http://www.lifegate.com/people/news/sumatran-rhino-is-extinct-in-the-wild-in-sabah
The eastern Sumatran rhinoceros is extinct (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni), also known as the Bornean rhino, is the worold’s smallest rhino, a subspecies of the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), and is a shy and lone creature that inhabits Bornean forests.

keps

CorkHarbour have issued this image of Storm Frank as of 6.20 pm this evening






Edit - hope this fits within the forum paramaters?

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

http://www.lifegate.com/people/news/sumatran-rhino-is-extinct-in-the-wild-in-sabah
The eastern Sumatran rhinoceros is extinct (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni), also known as the Bornean rhino, is the worold’s smallest rhino, a subspecies of the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), and is a shy and lone creature that inhabits Bornean forests.

Another amazing creature that took millions of years to evolve gone forever, another massive irreparable hole in ecosystems, in the web of life, and probably 99.999% of members of the species that caused its disappearance haven't a clue.

Capercaillie

Jayzesake wrote: »

Another amazing creature that took millions of years to evolve gone forever, another massive irreparable hole in ecosystems, in the web of life, and probably 99.999% of members of the species that caused its disappearance haven't a clue.

Or really care to do anything about it! It is beyond tragic. Humanity truely is the greatest species of vermin to have ever lived on this planet.

Jayzesake

Capercaillie wrote: »

Humanity truely is the greatest species of vermin to have ever lived on this planet.

As a species, we sure are the asteroid causing an accelerating mass extinction event - the sixth and most rapid in the history of our planet.

But the other side of the coin is that many people, yourself and most of the other contributors to this forum included (I presume), are doing what they can to reverse that. Every single one of us has choices, and every single one of us has the power to make a positive difference in myriad ways.

vistafinder

I don't know. I think nature and the environment has to become a regular subject in schools all the way to the end of secondary level.

Just from my own experience and growing up in the country the natural world was always respected and admired and we used get a guy calling to our national school teaching us about it once in a blue moon. But once i went to secondary school I had no contact with it and I forgot all about it and did not care. Its this loss of contact that is a huge problem. And very sad

Being out and in nature is just good for the soul and its free. It could be the answer to a lot of modern problems.

Jayzesake

Biodiversity progress not enough to rescue species - report

Research shows natural habitats in Ireland under pressure due to changing land use

Climate change is having an impact on biodiversity and is putting all kinds of species under pressure. This does not only relate to average temperatures, it can also have impacts through drought or too much rain. The human impacts are more profound however, he said. Mostly they relate to changing land use and this has implications for species on the edge due to other factors.

www.irishtimes.com/news/science/biodiversity-progress-not-enough-to-rescue-species-report-1.2460777

OpenYourEyes

Cork has had a lot of rare and unusual visitors in the last few weeks - an American Bittern a few weeks ago, several loggerhead turtles more recently, and yesterday a guy called Fionn Moore found a Glaucous-winged Gull - the first time one has been recorded in Ireland! Rather than post a list of links, here is a birdwatchers blog about the Gull that also includes links to the above sightings too. Well worth a read!

http://www.johncoveney.ie/blog/2016/1/glaucous-winged-gull-in-castletownbere-in-west-cork

OpenYourEyes

The Irish Raptor Study Group 2016 conference is on the 30th of January (saturday) in the Green Isle Hotel, Newlands Cross, Dublin.

To register email: secretary@irsg.ie and the cost is €25.

Dr. Allan Mee presents on the success of White-tailed Sea Eagle Re-introduction Project

Dr. Ewan Weston presents on Golden Eagle dispersal in Scotland

John Lusby, Raptor Conservation Officer with Birdwatch Ireland, presents on our current knowledge of Merlin ecology in Ireland

Dr. Marc Ruddock presents results of the quinquennial Republic of Ireland Hen Harrier Survey for 2015

(and there'll be more speakers announced later)

OpenYourEyes

Unfortunately the response to recent catastrophic floods have been a series of 'quick-fixes' and calls for measures that will make it look like something is being done, but in reality is useless at best and will likely cause even worse flooding downstream (e.g. dredging).

Not only that, but a number of populist politicians and lobby groups have pointed the finger of blame at the Nature Directives, saying that they stop dredging works being carried out. In reality that is very rarely the case, and it is the lack of enforcement of the Nature Directives that has caused much of the problem - water has to go somewhere, if we still had intact bogs and wetlands then the water would be there instead of on farms and in towns. Bad planning, and those who influenced and encouraged it, is also to blame in many cases.

Here are a list of some of the more topical and interesting articles I've come across in the last week or two. For anyone interested in wildlife, nature, politics or how we as a society should be responding to these terrible floods, I think the below are all well worth being mindful of.

'Roscommon TD criticises President Higgins over EU habitats directive'
http://www.shannonside.ie/news/roscommon-td-criticises-president-higgins-over-eu-habitats-directive/
http://mattiemcgrath.ie/criticism-of-president-highlights-lack-of-legislation-impact-analysis-mcgrath/

'Flooding crisis: ‘Birds, frogs, and fish getting priority’ according to the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association'
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/flooding-crisis-birds-frogs-and-fish-getting-priority-1.2485897#.Voy8d1uwqWg.twitter

'European Commission hits out at Irish politicians' claims EU rules are to blame for flood crisis'
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/european-commission-hits-out-at-irish-politicians-claims-eu-rules-are-to-blame-for-flood-crisis-34336970.html

'Bogs can help stop flooding'
http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/outdoors/donal-hickey/bogs-can-help-stop-flooding-373296.html

'UK flooding: How a Yorkshire town worked with nature to stay dry'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-flooding-how-a-yorkshire-flood-blackspot-worked-with-nature-to-stay-dry-a6794286.html

'Water, water everywhere but why did we build on flood plains?'
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/water-water-everywhere-but-why-did-we-build-on-flood-plains-1.2486152

'Fintan O’Toole: Genuine local democracy part of the solution to flooding'
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-genuine-local-democracy-part-of-the-solution-to-flooding-1.2484701

'An Taisce: Dredging the Shannon is not the solution to Shannon Floods (2)'
http://www.antaisce.org/articles/dredging-the-shannon-is-not-the-solution-to-shannon-floods-2

recedite

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

'Fintan O’Toole: Genuine local democracy part of the solution to flooding'
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-genuine-local-democracy-part-of-the-solution-to-flooding-1.2484701

That photo of the sign "for sale - residential rezoned land" with the lake in the background is a cracker. That was back in 2004.
But unfortunately Fintan O'Toole is wrong if if he thinks local govt. is part of the solution. They are largely the cause of the problem.
It was John Gormley of the Greens who finally did something about the rezoning of floodplains in 2009.
He got fed up with cute hoor councillors and their antics, and introduced national legislation to overrule them. And of course we heard the same old refrain.... "Gormley up there in D4 is more interested in the frogs and the fish and the birds than the people who live here ...."
You just can't win with these guys.

keps

No copyright for Monkeys:eek::eek:

Today's Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/monkey-selfie-case-animal-photo-copyright

OpenYourEyes

'Farmers in England could be paid to let land flood'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35246752

Currently, farmers receive money from the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy for keeping land in farmable condition.

Under the flooding farmland grant plans, farmers could be rewarded for designating land to be inundated in heavy rains to prevent excess water flooding property in towns downstream.

OpenYourEyes

Golden eagles and Ireland’s uplands crisis

'Birds reintroduced to Co Donegal are struggling. The reasons may lie in a centuries-old ecological problem'

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/golden-eagles-and-ireland-s-uplands-crisis-1.2489767#.VpDnxUeueP0.twitter

OpenYourEyes

'Why a woodland walk is good for your head'

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/why-a-woodland-walk-is-good-for-your-head-1.2475324#.VpDqDssx3Q0.twitter

Take the Woodlands for Health project, in Co Wicklow. Set up in 2012, it has offered 12 weekly walks in nature to people using Wicklow mental-health services. Led by guides from Coillte and accompanied by a community mental-health nurse, Ita Kelly, the gentle three-hour walks include a talk on the environment, environmental art and relaxation. At the end of the programme, participants share a meal to celebrate their achievements.

Last year the project was evaluated by the HSE and University College Dublin, which found that participants improved their mood by 75 per cent and sleep by 66 per cent; in addition, their thoughts of suicide declined by 82 per cent.

Well worth a read.

keps

A bird id quiz from today's Guardian. All well known - they must be as I got them all right!


http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/27/quiz-rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-garden-birds

feargale

keps wrote: »

A bird id quiz from today's Guardian. All well known - they must be as I got them all right!


http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/27/quiz-rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-garden-birds

1. I can't find the answers.

2. I only read the Guardian on Saturday. Has it a quiz every Wednesday?

Mrs cockett

keps wrote: »

A bird id quiz from today's Guardian. All well known - they must be as I got them all right!


9/10 Easy indeed