Our blog & news: Get involved to help wildlife

 
 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." 
Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, 1901-1978
 


Search Take Action for Wildlife Conservation
 


 RSS Feed

» Listings for 2017

  1. France ready to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040

    Posted on

    The BBC reports today that France is ready to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040.

    Nicolas Hulot is a veteran environmental campaigner who was appointed by the new French President Emmanuel Macron.  

    The planned ban on fossil fuel vehicles is part of the French renewed commitment to the Paris climate deal;   France plans to be carbon neutral by 2050.  The decision was a factor as a result of the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. 

    It is not yet clear what will happen to existing fossil fuel vehicles still in use in 2040.   It is intended that poorer households will get financial help to replace older more polluting cars with cleaner ones.

    Volvo has announced that all its cars will at least be partly electric from 2019.  Renault's "Zoe" electric vehicle range is one of the most popular in Europe.

    The French also want to end coal power plants by 2022, to reduce nuclear power to 50% of total output by 2025 and end the issuing of new oil and gas exploration licences.  

    Paris saw several days of peak pollution in March, and it's put into place some measure to cut down on cars.  Several French cities have high levels of air pollution - but it's also a problem in mountain areas!

    Norway wants to move to electric-only vehicles by 2025, as does the Netherlands.   And Germany and India have proposed similar measures, their target date being 2030.

    While it's good to see governments taking action, that won't be enough.  We all need to see what we individually can do to cut pollution. 

  2. Elephant news from Liberia

    Posted on

    There's good news for elephants!

    The Librarian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has formally signed off on a National Elephant African Plan.

    The plan was devised by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and its partners and it's being funded by Stop Ivory.  It aims to tackle the increasing threat to Liberia's forest elephants. 

    Poaching has escalated, and forest elephants are severely threatened.   Numbers are difficult to estimate with any degree of accuracy but they are thought to be as low as 300 individuals. 

    Forest elephants captured via camera traps in Sapo National Park. Credit: FFI/FDA.

    The National Elephant Action Plan helps to identify specific actions and interventions for which targeted funding will be sought to address this data gap.  The first nationwide baseline assessment of forest elephants in Liberia is one such action. 

    West Africa has lost over 90% of its suitable elephant habitat over the last 35 years, due to logging, mining and agriculture.  Elephants need enormous areas to roam, so in order for them to survive, it's essential to safeguard their remaining habitats and the wildlife corridors that connect them.  

    Fauna and Flora say that you can only find forest elephants in 8 African countries now.  Liberia has the largest forest cover, so the population of forest elephants there is really important.

    The new National Elephant Action Plan will complement the broader African Elephant Action Plan by providing a guide for the protection and conservation of forest elephants in Liberia.

    This plan is vital as FFI's Liberia Programme Manager, Michelle Klailova, says, "and I quote,  “It will allow us to obtain a better understanding of the issues surrounding the distribution and conservation of Liberia’s elephants, identify the key threats and establish a programme of measures to ensure the survival of the species in Liberia.

    “The Liberian President’s signature will ensure the ideas and objectives towards elephant conservation are not just theoretical but actually implemented through the action plan,” she added.

    This new commitment by the Liberian President proves the government’s commitment to protecting its natural environment.

    FInd out more from Fauna and Flora International here

  3. Watch out for.....Secrets of your cruise....

    Posted on

    In the UK on Monday 3 July 2017, Channel 4 have a programme called:  Secrets of your Cruise:   Channel 4 Dispatches.

    The write up for the programme says:

    Tazeen Ahmad goes undercover to investigate the impact that some cruise ships could be having on the environment and public health, including pollution that some passengers could be exposed to.

    Should make interesting viewing.

    Click here to go to Channel 4 

    		  

  4. Solar Independence Day - 4th July 2017

    Posted on

    The Fourth of July is of course widely recognised as Independence Day in the US.

    But there's another 4th of July - Solar Independence Day.   I discovered this from the Solar Trade Association

    We've got solar power to heat our water now, and if I could and our roof had been more appropriate, I'd have gone for solar heating in the house as well.  

    But the least I can do is to tell you how pleased I am with the solar power in our house that we do have - I'm determined to see what else I can do to switch off our need for power produced by any fossil fuel and to use solar instead.  

    Our bills for water have reduced our overall electricity bill, which is great news - and it's lovely to feel that hot water in a shower and to know we haven't had to fork out for it this month.  Yes, we had to pay for the solar system to be put in but prices are coming down all the time, so find out if you are eligible and go solar if you can!

    What I REALLY love about solar is the fact that we have acquired more control over our use of energy.  Now that the system is in, we've got more control over at least some of our electricity bill and - I think - greater protection against rising electricity prices for hot water use. 

  5. Help stop bear farming in Vietnam - your voice is needed now

    Posted on

    Today I had an email from the amazing charity Four Paws asking for all our help in supporting their petition to encourage the Vietnamese government to stop bear farming once and for all.

    In just six weeks, 275,000 people have signed the charity's petition - including comedians Matt Lucas and John Bishop, MEP Jean Lambert and VietPro.  

    Will you add your voice to the petition to stop bear farming?  

    Four Paws are hoping to have half a million names on their petition.  

    Add your voice to this petition to stop bear farming in Vietnam now

    Every single signature could help encourage the Vietnamese authorities to end bear farming once and for all.   Four Paws is asking everyone to share, share, and share - and if you know any famous people who can help raise the profile of the petition, that would be great :-) 

    Please sign now

    Share now using #saddestbears

    Although the Vietnamese government has taken steps to end bear farming over the last 10 years, there are still about 1,300 bears living in tiny cages.  Bears are being used for bile extraction. So more action is needed to end bear farming once and for all. 

    The petition calls on the Vietnamese government to (and I quote):

    • Take even greater steps in ensuring that bears are not farmed for bile extraction.
    • Ensure bears currently on bear farms are strictly monitored with confiscations and penalties for noncompliance.
    • Close all bear farms by 2020 and ensure the transfer of all remaining bears to rescue centers and sanctuaries.

    Please take action and sign the petition here