» Listings for 2019

1. World Leaders, Protect Half our Planet - Please sign this petition

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 4th Apr 2019

   There’s a new Petition on Avaaz which is called World Leaders, Protect Half our Planet. The petition is calling for world leaders to forge a new agreement such that at least 50% of our lands and oceans must be protected and restored.   A global study has just found that every insect on the planet is on track to be wiped out – causing life on Earth to collapse – and that includes humans.   The petition says: To world leaders: "We global citizens are deeply concerned by scientists warning that ecosystems critical to sustaining life on Earth could collapse in our lifetimes. We call on you to meet existing targets to protect biodiversity, forge a new agreement so that at least 50% of our lands and oceans are protected and restored, and ensure our planet is completely sustainably managed. This must take into consideration the needs of human development and have the active support of indigenous peoples. This long-term goal for nature can restore harmony with our home." Nature has never needed such a strong voice and scientists are offering a way to defend nature and people too – put half the planet under protection.  At the moment, France, Germany, Canada and other countries are about to hold talks to look at the idea before a global summit on extinction.  This is all happening at the time Sir David Attenborough’s programme Our Planet streams on Netflix, hoping for an audience in 190 countries.  It could be over ONE BILLION people watch it – that’s one in seven (give or take a few) on the planet.  The petition calls on these leaders to back protection for half the earth.  Sign here

2. Children take part in air pollution study - pollution affects us all

   Posted on 9:00pm Tuesday 26th Mar 2019

   Did you know there’s research being undertaken to find out how badly school children are affected by pollution every day? The Daily Mail reports that 250 pupils in schools across London are gathering data for one week.  They are carrying pollution sensors made by Dyson in lightweight backpacks.  The sensors only weigh just over 1kg and take one pocket, so the rest of the space in the backpack can be used for books etc. The sensors can measure both particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels and will enable the researchers to gain a better understanding of which pollutions are the most harmful.  The study is being run by King’s College London and it’s hoped that the findings will discover at which points and on which routes youngsters are most exposed to toxic pollutants.  As I’m so fond of saying, you can’t expect to be healthy if your environment isn’t healthy too.  If we can improve the air for people, it will help animals as well.

    

3. Blue Planet Live and Blue Planet UK comes to the BBC

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 24th Mar 2019

   There’s some fantastic television to watch on the BBC this week (starting Sunday 24 March 2019), with Blue Planet programmes in abundance. Pick of the Week, according to The Sunday Times (Culture Section) is Blue Planet Live.   It’s on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings on BBC1 at 8pm.  This short series sets out on a mission to explore the health of the oceans.  An aquadynamic team will be broadcasting live from different marine locations during the week. Chris Packham examines the well being of whales in Mexico; this includes mother-and-calf arrivals in the largest whale nursery in the world. Steve Backshall is in the Bahamas and sees sharks and shipwrecks. Liz Bonnin is at the Great Barrier Reef.   She is meeting baby turtles and shearwater chicks and she checks up on the coral itself. Visit Blue Planet Live’s website here And there’s more! Blue Planet UK looks at the UK side of marine life.  There’s reports on Yorkshire seabirds, kayak clean-ups and shark science with Gillian Burke, Steve Brown and Chris Packham. Blue Planet UK is on just after 4pm on BBC1 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Don’t miss it!  Visit Blue Planet UK’s website here Get involved in ocean conservation – tips from the programme’s website

   Blue Planet II from Amazon	Life on Earth from Amazon	No More Plastic from Amazon

    

4. Chitwan National Park - Entrepreneurs and Conservationists work together

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 11th Mar 2019

   There’s been an interesting development in Chitwan between conservationists and the local business community. The conservationists held an interactive programme with the business community to discuss the responsibility of all stakeholders in conserving wildlife in the area.  The programme was organised by the Ratnanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.   The conservationists said that conserving wildlife is vital to both save the ecosystem and help local communities enjoy economic benefits. The Chitwan National Park is home to areas such as one-horned rhinos, tigers, elephants and others.  It’s the first conservation area of the country and as such the area – especially the tourism industry – will benefit if wildlife is part of the agenda. Tourists will come far and wide to see the animals.   As well as revenue coming into the area, there will be employment opportunities for local people.  Businesses were urged to refrain from undertaking activities which could affect wildlife conservation.   And information was distributed about the legal repercussions of harming, poaching and smuggling wild animals.  Businesses were asked for help in raising awareness about smuggling animal parts and helping the local authorities to stop it.  Businesses were also reminded about their legal responsibilities in meeting and maintaining environmental standards so that the balance of the ecosystem would be preserved. The business community as a whole agreed to carry out their work while taking steps to protect animals and forests.  The interaction programme was organised to enable entrepreneurs to be aware of the conservation of the environment and wildlife as they ran their businesses.   About 100 entrepreneurs attended the event. This is a terrific initiative and wouldn’t it be great if there was more collaboration between businesses and conservationists elsewhere?  Well done to everyone involved :-)

    

5. Come swiftly to the swifts' rescue

   Posted on 8:00pm Thursday 28th Feb 2019

   Swifts need our help.   Their numbers are plummeting in the UK – according to the RSPB, there’s been a 53% decline between 1995 and 2016. The problem is that when buildings are refurbished or demolished, the nooks and crannies so vital for swifts are lost.  This means that swifts have nowhere to nest.  They need gaps high up on our homes and in other buildings. So the RSPB has a goal.  Swifts winter in Africa and make their way to the UK for the summer. To help swifts, it wants to get 1,000 swift nestboxes up before the swifts arrive at the end of April.  ©RSPB How you can help swifts You can make a swift nestbox or if you’re short of time or practical abilities, you can buy a swift nestbox from the RSPB’s shop.  Put up a Swift nest box from the RSPB £39.99 Buy 2 nestboxes by 9 July 2019 and you can save £2  (applies to selected nest boxes. watch for the offer) If you’re involved in a new build or renovation project, you can install a swift brick. For advice on bricks, email the RSPB’s conservation team at [email protected] and include 'swift bricks' in the subject line.   Every swift brick counts. Find out more about swifts here.