In August 2022, French climate activists filled in holes at golf courses near Toulouse with cement. In July 2023, Spanish activists followed suit, filling in holes at courses across Spain with soil and planting seedlings on the courses. The reason? Protesting golf’s very thirsty use of water in times of drought. At a time of unprecedented heatwaves and droughts fuelled by the…
What’s going on here? Orca attacks on boats have been on the rise, and are currently at a seasonal peak. The attacks mainly occur in the Strait of Gibraltar: the strip of ocean separating Spain from Africa, but Scotland’s first attack was just reported. What does this mean? The attacks involve multiple orcas circling and ramming boats. Following the incidents, boats are…
What is permafrost? Permafrost is a mix of soil, rocks, and sediment that absorbs water which then turns to ice and freezes. The ice combines the materials and creates solid areas of frozen ground. These areas are officially considered permafrost if they remain frozen for at least two years. Above the frozen ground is an ‘active’ layer that thaws during warmer summer…
Whatʼs going on here? Air quality monitoring stations dotted around the planet have been inadvertently collecting airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) without anybody noticing, finds a new report. The remarkable discovery reveals that thousands of filters routinely testing for pollutants are unintentionally breathing in trace eDNA shed by animals, plants, and fungi. What does this mean? In recent years, researchers have discovered eDNA…
Earlier this month the Scottish government announced they were considering an annual LIDAR scan of all Scotland’s forests. The project would allow high-level and up-to-date monitoring of forest cover, giving insights into biodiversity and progress on climate targets. Large scale monitoring like this takes place all over the world, and is vital if we want to protect species and ecosystems for generations…
What’s going on here? The Scottish wildcat is close to extinction. Most wildcats in the UK are now hybrids: the result of breeding with feral and domestic cats. This summer, the first captive-bred individuals are due to be released into the Scottish highlands. What does this mean? NatureScot, a public body of the Scottish Government, has released the results of a five-year…
What’s going on here? These are the words of Pascal Canfin, of the European Parliament (environment committee) which has recently passed a law banning the importation of goods that are linked to deforestation. This approach aims to prevent products entering the European market which are produced at the expense of natural forests and habitats. What does this mean? The new rules will…
Without bees pollinating our crops, we would be hard-pressed to grow much of anything without costly and time-intensive intervention. The relationship between bees and plants is a win-win. The plant provides the pollinator with nectar and pollen for food, and the pollinator transfers genetic material for the plant that allows it to reproduce. This makes another crucial bee fact particularly concerning: The…
What’s going on here? A new study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that rewilding could have a bigger impact on climate change than previously thought. The study shows that protecting wild animals can act as a natural method for carbon capture and storage (CCS). What does this mean? The research shows that animals like whales, wolves, and sea otters can play…
