What’s going on here? Rosewood is a precious, endangered wood in high demand especially in China. The Gambia has been its largest exporter, but it’s an open secret that the wood is illegally smuggled from Senegal. Last week all timber exports were banned in The Gambia to combat the illegal trafficking. What does this mean? Rosewood has a distinct red colour and…
What’s going on here? The EU is planning to propose a new nature restoration law in the next few weeks. The planned law will aim to restore nature to cities, farmland, and marine environments, and strive to revive rivers and plant trees. What does this mean? In 2021 just 15% of habitats in the EU had a ‘good’ conservation status while 81%…
What’s going on here? Trials for a new fishing technology are taking place that use light instead of fish bait. The method attracts scallops as well, meaning this could be a promising alternative to dredging. What does this mean? Scientists from Fishtek Marine have been working alongside fishermen trialling the use of LED lights in pots to catch crabs and lobsters. Surprisingly,…
What’s going on here? The Eden Project in Cornwall has come under fire from environmental campaigners for laying an artificial lawn in a children’s play area. What does this mean? The UK’s well-known eco tourism attraction may have decided that plastic grass is a practical solution for its needs. But the problem here is more about the signal it sends. The demand…
What’s going on here? Sunday marks the start of May and the fourth time the conservation charity Plantlife will run their annual #NoMowMay campaign. What does this mean? For those lucky enough to be responsible for a patch of lawn, it means locking up the lawn mower, sitting back and relaxing as your lawn grows and comes to life. For those who…
We often view insects as pests, invading our picnics or homes and sometimes even stinging us. But their ecological importance, although often overlooked, is vast. Insects are the most common animal on the planet, with 1.5 million species identified. They are the reason that humanity is sustained as we know it – they pollinate many of the flowers, fruits and vegetables that…
What’s Going On Here? A recent study revealed high levels of PFASs (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) in the livers of otters. PFASs are known as ‘forever chemicals’ as they don’t break down easily. Instead they accumulate in humans and animals and persist in ecosystems. PFASs are powerful chemicals responsible for the grease and water-resistant properties of a variety of products, from non-stick…
What’s going on here? Under the EU, BUnder the EU, British farmers received grants through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Following Brexit, the government has promised to introduce the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), consisting of: The Sustainable Farming Incentive, Landscape Recovery and Local Nature Recovery schemes. ELMs promises the restoration of 300,000 hectares of land 2042 by paying farmers and landowners…
What’s Going On Here? A new study from WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and WWF has revealed that around 20% of intact tropical forests overlap with extractive industries, mining, oil and gas projects. This overlapping area amounts to 975,000 km2, almost equivalent to the size of Egypt! What Does This Mean? Tropical Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) are defined as continuous patches of forest…
