Below-par farm biosecurity should block farmers from participating in England's badger culls, writes Anna Dale. But a large body of evidence of poor and negligent biosecurity by farmers suggests that Natural England, the government's official regulator, is turning a blind eye to this strict requirement - and undermining the purpose of the cull.
… Is Natural England granting unlawful badger cull … biosecurity by farmers suggests that Natural England, the government's official … purpose of the cull. I'm not a scientist or a naturalist and I don't have a legal …
The official 'fitness test' on the EU's nature directives carried out for the EU Commission under its 'better regulation' initiative finds that the laws are 'fit for purpose' in every respect, writes Oliver Tickell. But there's a mystery: the report was completed in January, yet it remains unpublished. Did it reach the 'wrong' conclusion for a Commission intent on a bonfire of red tape?
… in the context of the ongoing decline in natural / semi-natural habitats and wider biodiversity before …
Offset schemes, fees replacing fines, and framing nature as a financial asset will exacerbate environmental crises.
… urgent crisis in biodiversity worldwide, with natural ecosystems diminished by 47 … of endless, unstoppable economic growth. Natural capital Through a process known as the … for their benefit. By reframing nature as “natural capital”, they are able to assign a …
The president of the Biomimicry Institute on learning from nature, designing cities to perform like ecosystems and why chemists, engineers and architects need to learn more biology
… design Laura Sevier | 30th June 2010 Comment Natural World Science And Technology … scientists were studying not just 'about' the natural world - they were trying to learn from … as you see random, yet beautiful order in the natural world. Thanks to the lack of rigid …
English Nature's decision to licence England's badger cull has no scientific basis, write Iain McGill and 26 other distinguished vets in this Open Letter to EN's Chief Scientist. Science Advisory Committee and Board. The body must urgently re-examine the entire issue before issuing any more licences to kill badgers.
… licences to kill badgers. Dear Tim Hill, (Natural England Chief Scientist) We write to … subject to letters of authorisation from Natural England. There is also speculation … opinion that before making any decision the Natural England Scientific Advisory Committee …
As industrial development and human encroachment intensifies globally, academics believe the study of natural soundscapes could teach us much about how ecosystems function - and how they are under threat
… globally, academics believe the study of natural soundscapes could teach us much about … are under threat ‘Acoustics tie us to nature. Natural, ambient sounds give us a picture over … humans we’ve become accustomed to what these natural sounds are but as ecologists we …
A new scientific paper presents the radiation produced by fracking as 'natural' and harmless. But it's based on sketchy data, hyperbolic statistics and questionable assumptions, writes Paul Mobbs. Is it an attempt to stifle an essential public debate?
… on Ikaria, Greece, carry high levels of natural radioactivity - but that does not mean … the radiation produced by fracking as 'natural' and harmless. But it's based on … pose a threat to public health'. 'Within the natural range' I was immediately suspicious …
Gas flaring of natural at shale oil wells is carried out on such a scale in North Dakota and Texas that 'phantom cities' show up at night in satellite photos, writes Sharon Kelly. Billions of dollars worth of gas are going up in smoke, adding to CO2 emissions - but far worse for the climate is when the gas is 'vented'. Regulators are doing too little, too late.
… flaring and venting billions of dollars in natural gas Sharon Kelly DesmogBlog | 20th … Fuels gas-flaring-nd.jpg Gas flaring of natural at shale oil wells is carried out on … While their shale wells extract valuable oil, natural gas also rises from the wells …
The more I think about it, the more sense it makes: gardening will save the world. For in a garden is truth, beauty and lots of good food...
… as far as possible from interfering with the natural process. In a world in which … just wander up there and you will meditate naturally. You could make the same argument …
A 5,000-house development has just won planning permission on a SSSI nature area in Kent which is home to over 1% of the UK's nightingales. It violates government planning policies, and ministers have the power to stop it. But will they? Yes they will, writes Martin Harper - provided enough people show they care!
… RSPB | 8th September 2014 Activism Birds Natural World UK Housing Development … the development goes against the advice of Natural England, the government's own … crop. They'll need to be. We're leaving our natural world in a mess and, if we carry on as …
A new UN report warns of a threefold increase in extraction of the Earth's primary materials between 1970 and 2010, writes Alex Kirby. The boom in the production of minerals, ores, fossil fuels, timber and biomass and will be to intensify climate change, increase air pollution and reduce biodiversity.
… Plunder of Earth's natural resources up 200% in 40 years Alex … a new UN report, the amount of the planet's natural resources extracted for human use has … to 70 billon tonnes in 2010. It refers to natural resources as primary materials, and …
Think tank IPPR report advises government to extend climate change style laws to prevent breakdown across the natural environment.
… Set binding targets to protect natural systems Emily Beament | 1st August … style laws to prevent breakdown across the natural environment. UK climate change laws … breakdown" with binding targets to protect natural systems, a think tank has said. A new …
The EU is already paying farmers and landowners for creating and maintaining valuable habitats, write Dominic Hogg & Luke Dale-Harris. But could the UK do better by creating markets in 'ecosystem services' that would put financial value on clean water, key wildlife habitats, endangered species and precious landscapes?
… Luke Dale-Harris | 1st September 2016 Comment Natural World Ecology Economics Regulation UK … Ask an English person to think of the natural landscape, and most would imagine a … needed for something as complex as the natural world. Instead, Ecosystem Services …
The UK has just opened a bidding round for fracking licences. But the rules contain only weak protections against fracking in National Parks and AONBs - and none at all for even the most important wildlife sites and drinking water aquifers.
… Gas UK Regulation Politics Pollution Water Natural World Law stonehenge2-cut.jpg The UK … Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites. … with the World Heritage status of natural sites on the World Heritage List." And …
The revolution in remote monitoring should help solve environmental problems, but might it also increase our distance from the natural world?
… might it also increase our distance from the natural world? Deep in the rainforests of … Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) is keeping an eye on … able to predict tipping points in entire natural systems, possibly in time to avert a …
A Vision for Science and Society, in today’s technological vista, sounds an honourable aim. Guy Cook reads between the lines of this new UK government paper
… science (which develops knowledge of the natural world) and technology (which applies … itself. They are not the same thing. The natural sciences pursue rational, objective, … disinterested knowledge of the natural world. Their achievements are immense. …
The EU is considering the exclusion of gene-edited plants and animals from GM regulations, write Janet Cotter & Ricarda Steinbrecher. However gene-edited organisms clearly fall within the definition of GMOs in both European and international law. They also present real risks to the environment and human health - and must be regulated like any other GMOs.
… of genetic material that do not occur naturally, and alterations to genetic material … has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination;" Likewise, the …
Nanotechnology has the power to affect every aspect of life on the planet. Here, the Ecologist presents the many claims of its promoters and outlines some of the major developments taking place now or in the near future. In response, some of it’s leading critics analyse the risks that nanotechnology poses in their various fields of expertise.
… Synthesising molecular alternatives to natural products will displace millions from … deliver 236 times more oxygen to tissues than natural red blood cells. The artificial cell, … the skin. In addition, there appears to be a natural ‘passageway’ for nanoparticles to get …
Little publicised government plans to 'reform' court costs are intended to foreclose access to environmental justice for all but the wealthiest individuals and communities, writes Paul Mobbs. Meanwhile cuts to agencies and regulators will make it ever harder for them to do their jobs - making public participation in environmental protection all the more important.
… | 30th November 2015 Comment Politics Law Natural World Pollution UK EU Regulation … of the democratic process is the concept of ' natural justice ' - that all should be equal … by independent courts. A key enabler of natural justice that the costs of accessing …
Scientists are on the brink of creating the world’s first artificial life form – a living organism never before found in nature. They promise solutions to everything from malaria to climate change. Salvation? Or a step too far?
… genetic engineers use as hooks to copy the natural DNA of interest, in order to decipher … and industrial chemicals. Isoprenoids are natural substances produced primarily by … commercially feasible, and isolation from natural sources yields only very small …
As US climatologists and scientists are urging the world that greenhouse gas emissions be curbed rapidly to prevent runaway global warming, the UK Met Office appears to be back pedalling on human induced climate change. Peter Bunyard reports on some mixed messages
… at worse enormously distracting. Overplaying natural variations in the weather as climate … expression of the swings and roundabouts of natural climatic variability? “A common … look at the long-term trend and then at the natural variability on top. Dramatic …
Information about information, ideas without place, facts without action… It’s time we got off the net, into the world and with the programme, says Michael Bugeja
… helped create the culture of place, freeing natural science from the chains of religion, … she wrote that fanciful thinking inverts the natural order of things; people forget where … ecology. Technology has displaced us from our natural environment to such an extent that …
Wildlife groups are celebrating following the announcement that the Gloucestershire badger cull is being abandoned early, after it failed to meet any of its targets.
… Ecologist | 29th November 2013 News Badgers Natural World Regulation Farming Wildlife … any of its targets. The wildlife watchdog Natural England has called off the … tomorrow was agreed by the cull company and Natural England as a sensible point to stop …
The promise that cloning will be a boon to conservation is, says Malcolm Tait, a complete cop-out
… Tait | 22nd December 2000 Comment DNA Genetic Natural World Conservation Extinction Natural World Science And Technology The … it’s about reducing our destructive impact on natural processes that are in increasing …