The Conservative attack on the environment is being carried out for good reasons, writes Chris Rose: because they can; because it delights their support base; because it heads off UKIP; and because they think it carries no political risk. Now it's up the UK's green movement to prove them wrong. But have our 'herbivorous' NGOs got the stomach for a fight?
Strange happenings on a small island off Europe Chris Rose | 31st July 2015 News UK Politics Climate Change Society bullingdon-cut.jpg The Conservative attack on the environment is being carried out …
A new study led by RSPB shows that more than half of Britain's most precious upland moors are suffering from burning - widely used to increase the numbers of red grouse available for recreational shooting.
… July 2015 News Natural World Biodiversity Conservation Birds UK Law … A new study led by the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science has revealed that burning … This includes over half of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) designated under the EU's …
While the world gears up for Jungle Book fever, something sinister is afoot in the forests of India, writes Tom Linton. No, not Shere Khan, but zealous officials illegally evicting indigenous communities from their ancestral forests in the name of 'conservation' - and to make way for tiger tourism. And it's happening across India putting millions of people under threat.
… from their ancestral forests in the name of 'conservation' - and to make way for tiger … who regard them as an impediment to tiger conservation policies. Earlier this month, … government to declare any area a reserve or conservation zone. Subject to certain terms …
Extinction is not just for exotic species in Africa or Asia, writes Louise Ramsay. Right here in the UK we have almost allowed our very own Scottish wildcat to disappear through persecution and mismanagement - despite its being a protected species under EU and Scottish law. Now it will take swift and effective action to bring it back from the brink.
… landowners' desires for grouse or pheasant conservation for hunts, meant that by 1914 … anybody's pet. Last ditch effort for wildcat conservation With pressure mounting from conservation groups and to meet international …
The international pet trade presents itself as responsible and conservation-aware, writes Clifford Warwick - and a key part of the message is the idea that its animals are captive bred. But the truth is very different. Quite apart from the routine cruelty and high mortality, the trade continues to depend on captive wild animals and contributes only negatively to wildlife survival.
… pet trade presents itself as responsible and conservation-aware, writes Clifford Warwick - … does the evidence demonstrate unequivocal conservation and ecological benefits from … I contacted the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's most recommended …
A survey of threatened Arctic mammals highlights melting sea ice as a prime threat to eleven keystone species, writes Tim Radford - meaning that efforts to conserve them may be doomed to failure unless we also tackle the causes of climate change.
… Centre in Seattle, reports in the journal Conservation Biology that marine mammals are … making informed and efficient decisions about conservation challenges and trade-offs in the … international organisations concerned with conservation of Arctic marine mammals. They …
Indigenous forest dwellers in India's iconic Kanha Tiger Reserve have suffered another round of illegal forced evictions at the hands of the country's Tiger Conservation Authority - a move that is threatening the future of the tigers themselves.
… evictions at the hands of the country's Tiger Conservation Authority - a move that is … tale The Jungle Book - in the name of tiger conservation, according to Survival … were promised. In a letter to India's Tiger Conservation Authority , Survival reports: …
Conservation projects have pulled several endangered European birds back from the brink of extinction, but habitat loss, industrial farming, over fishing and climate change all represent growing threats that requires broader and deeper change in the EU and beyond.
… Photo: Satriver via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND). Conservation projects have pulled several … in trouble" , said Martin Harper, the RSPB's Conservation Director. "It would have been … is fit for purpose." Ivan Ramirez, head of conservation at BirdLife Europe and Central …
It's all change in Canada with the dramatic ousting of anti-environment Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, writes Carol Linnitt. Under the new Liberal PM Justin Trudeau things are looking a lot better for climate, science, environment, transparency and First Nations. But Canada is still set to go into the Paris climate talks with the same weak level of commitment.
… also fought against First Nations and conservation groups regarding the Species at …
An initiative to re-home abused, over-worked domestic elephants is supporting the conservation of one of Cambodia's last and most species-rich rainforests, writes William Laurance. Growing ecotourism in the area, attracted by the elephants, is engaging indigenous communities in forest protection and helping to stave off the pressure from loggers and plantations.
… domestic elephants is supporting the conservation of one of Cambodia's last and … and corruption on the one hand, and nature conservation, indigenous peoples, and rural … into a small but thriving ecotourism, conservation, and community-outreach venture. …
Countries at the UN have agreed to start formal negotiations on a new 'legally binding instrument' to conserve the biological riches of the high seas that cover 45% of planet Earth, and ensure their sustainable use for the benefit of all mankind.
… of 'by catch' by fishing vessels, and the conservation of endangered species. Other … agreement for the sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity in the … Earth Summit to address the governance and conservation of the high seas - the portion of …
Last week David Cameron backed down over his plans to bring back fox hunting by 'fatally amending' the Hunting Act, writes Dominic Dyer. The way he spun it, it was all about SNP interference in English law, but the real problem was opposition within the Conservative Party, which increasingly sees blood sports as a barbaric relic that alienates voters of all persuasions.
Fox hunting is political poison for David Cameron and the Tory Party Dominic Dyer | 20th July 2015 News UK Hunting Natural World Politics Law UK Last week David Cameron backed down over his plans to …
A consistent pattern is emerging in the UK government's plans and policies, writes Paul Mobbs: the stripping away of human rights and freedoms; the detachment of public institutions from democratic accountability; an increase of the powers of the state; and the empowerment of corporations at the expense of people. We must act to preserve our liberties, while we still can.
Behind the Magna Carta spin, Britain's 'dictatorship of the 1%' is taking shape Paul Mobbs | 11th June 2015 News Human Rights Politics UK Society Fracking Health great-dictator-cut.png A consistent …
The Paris Agreement is facing its first big test in Queensland, Australia, writes Justine Bell. After a long process beset by legal challenges, the massive Carmichael coal mine is inching closer to approval - which would open up the entire 250,000 sq.km Galilee basin and its 28 billion tonnes of coal to exploitation. Both state and federal governments have the power to ban it. But will they?
… the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, issued by the federal … This approval was challenged by the Mackay Conservation Group in the Federal Court. The … Hunt had failed to consider the relevant conservation advice for the yakka skink and …
Longer than England, almost as deep as the Grand Canyon, Russia's Lake Baikal is one of the world's greatest aquatic wonders, writes Bryce Stewart. But it's a fragile paradise: the limpid waters are warming much faster than the global average, with as yet unknown effects on its ecology. And it faces the danger of a huge dam on its principal tributary, Mongolia's Selenga River.
… News Water Ecology Russia Mongolia Forests Conservation Dams Climate Change 5 … view of Russian environmental history and conservation than the predominately negative … the lake itself. This joined up approach to conservation was well ahead of its time. The …
Thirty years after diamonds were first discovered in Botswana's Kalahari desert, the Bushmen have been evicted, and the first diamonds have gone on sale. Happy Valentines!
… policy ever since. Botswana's 2015 'conservation conference' In 2015, President … Khama, board member of US organization Conservation International, will host a … The consortium of the world's largest conservation organizations, headed by Princes …
At the 'United for Wildlife' conference in Botswana, backed by princes Charles and William, Indigenous organizations from around the world are calling on world leaders to recognize tribal peoples' right to hunt for subsistence.
… and other conference participants: "Several conservation organizations in United For … human rights violations, does no service to conservation." Khama, who is set to open the … conference, presents himself as a great conservationist, and in 2010 received a …
Australia's government can breathe a sigh of relief as UNESCO keeps the Great Barrier Reef off its 'World Heritage in danger' list, writes Emily Lindsay Brown. But in return, it has committed to protect the reef from farm run-off and dredgings, and to implement its 'Reef 2050' sustainability plan. If Australia fails, the Reef could be officially 'in danger' as soon as 2020.
… for years to come. Callum Roberts, a marine conservation biologist at the University of … significant strides made toward improving the conservation and protection of the Great … campaign - organised by the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the WWF - has also …
Emboldened by the Tory election victory and the appointment of Amber Rudd as energy Secretary, writes Ben Lucas, planning applications to frack have been coming in thick and fast - even in densely populated London boroughs.
Fracking surge follows Tory election win Ben Lucas DeSmog.uk | 31st May 2015 News Fracking UK Politics Energy Fossil Fuels fracking-balcombe-protest-cut.jpg Emboldened by the Tory election victory …
New regulations that will allow fracking under national parks, water sources and nature sites won the approval of MPs today in a Commons vote, write Kyla Mandel & Oliver Tickell, even though four Tory MP's rebelled against the party whip. But the new rules won't apply in Wales and Scotland.
… 2015 News Fracking Fossil Fuels Politics Law Conservation UK derwent-valley-cut.jpg New …
The previous government came in on a bold promise to be the 'greenest ever', writes Jonathon Porritt. But what we got was a shameful record of ideologically driven policies that promoted fossil fuels, undermined action on climate, obsessed over nuclear power, did nothing to arrest the decline in the nation's wildlife and biodiversity - and suggest even worse to come.
… of the natural environment Environmental and conservation NGOs have come to expect very … Forest Estate in England and Wales. The UK's conservation and environmental NGOs either …
The European Commission has proposed new rules on foods derived from GMOs that would allow EU countries to opt out from the Europe-wide approval system - a move that has attracted strong criticism from all parties in the GMO debate.
EuroComm proposes EU country opt-outs on GMO foods Euractiv | 23rd April 2015 News EU USA GMOs Politics Law norway-gmo-demo-cut.jpg The European Commission has proposed new rules on foods derived …
A new report by accountancy giant EY says the UK's Conservative government has sentenced renewable energy sector to 'death by a thousand cuts', writes Emma Howard, and left investors puzzled at inexplicable policy changes.
UK drops out of top 10 countries for renewable energy Emma Howard the Guardian Environment | 16th September 2015 News Energy Renewables Finance Politics scout-moor-wind-farm-cut.jpg A new report by …
Reports that Syria's iconic Northern Bald Ibis colony is endangered by IS's capture of Palmyra are mistaken, writes Gianluca Serra. The species is already extinct as a breeding population for reasons unconnected with IS. The war that is destroying Syria came only as the last straw for a long-dwindling species whose plight the world chose to ignore.
… western Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. A 10-year conservation saga Reduced to only seven … as sufficient reasons by international conservation organizations to raise to the … has been engaged in front line biodiversity conservation as a researcher, civil servant, …