| News and views |
| An invitation to shape the Nature of England |
| Today Defra published a discussion paper “An invitation to shape the Nature of England” and invites all comments and submissions from anyone with an interest in the Natural Environment White Paper. All comments should be received by 30 October 2010. http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/our-responsibilities/nat-environment/ |
| 26 July 2010 |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystem Service Sustainability - Announcement of Opportunity |
| NERC is seeking an organisation to host the Directorate for the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Service Sustainability (BESS) programme, a planned five year (2011-2015), £13m research programme. http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/bess/events/ao1.asp |
| 23 July 2010 |
| Measuring Biodiversity Workshop 16 September |
| This Society for Experimental Biology workshop is on Thursday 16 September, from 13.00 – 16.00 at Lancaster University, UK. The aim of this short and focused workshop is to discuss Biodiversity research, methodologies and tools – what are we doing, how are we doing it and can we do it better? as well as provision of sustainable training and education for the next generation of ecologists. The event is free and open to all those wishing to attend. http://sebiology.org/meetings/Lancaster2010/Measuring_Biodiversity.html |
| 22 July 2010 |
| Biodiversity Beyond 2010: Missed Targets, New Opportunities |
| IEEM Autumn Conference, 2-4 November 2010, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland This conference aims to: - investigate how biodiversity policies and legislation including the Common Agricultural Policy, Fisheries Policy and the Marine and Coastal Access Bill) are affecting and driving biodiversity conservation; - showcase biodiversity tools and methods available to ecologists; and - review case studies of some of the more practical methods used in biodiversity projects. The conference will consider future targets and approaches to biodiversity conservation. http://www.ieem.net/2010autumnconference.asp |
| 21 July 2010 |
| Defra invites views on its Structural Reform Plan |
| Defra’s Structural Reform Plan (SRP) lays down three departmental priorities to support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production; help to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve quality of life; and support a strong and sustainable green economy, which is resilient to climate change. The Plan has been published on the Defra website in commentable format, to allow public discussion of the department’s priorities. Further details can be found at: http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/about/our-priorities/. |
| 18 July 2010 |
| First Global Business of Biodiversity symposium |
| The Natural Capital Initiative and other International Year of Biodiversity (IYB2010) partners, including the British Ecological Society and Society of Biology, attended the first Global Business of Biodiversity Symposium at ExCel London on 13 July. Leaders from business, science, government and non-government organisations converged to discuss the opportunities biodiversity provides for business, and the action needed to manage business risk. Opening the conference via video link, HRH the Prince of Wales welcomed participants and stressed the importance biodiversity has to business in the long-term. Overall, the conference aimed to provide the private sector with an insight into the dialogue and debate leading up to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya this October. Pavan Sukhdev, the study leader of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), chose the occasion to launch the highly-anticipated results of an independent review on TEEB especially for business (TEEB for business). The new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spellman MP, delivered her first major address on biodiversity, detailing the action the UK government is taking to safeguard these resources and launching a project to map UK use of palm oil, including public procurement. http://britishecologicalsociety.org/blog/blog/2010/07/14/safeguarding-biodiversity-is-good-for-business/ |
| 16 July 2010 |
| Commission asks for views on revamping environmental impact assessments |
| The European Commission has launched a wide public consultation in relation to the review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation. The consultation covers issues, such as the screening of projects for EIA, the quality of the EIA process, the harmonisation of assessment requirements among Member States, cross-border difficulties when projects affect more than one Member State, the role of the environmental authorities, and development of synergies with other EU policies, such as climate change and biodiversity. The findings of the consultation will feed into a Commission review next year. All interested parties – citizens, stakeholders and organisations involved in environmental assessments – are invited to respond to the public consultation by 24 September 2010. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/901&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en |
| 12 July 2010 |
| Defra to shift CAP balance away from environment |
| The proportion of CAP rural development funds going into environmental schemes is set to drop in favour of schemes to encourage farmers to be more competitive, Farm Minister Jim Paice has revealed. Mr Paice said the previous Government dedicated 80 per cent of its CAP rural development (pillar two) pot to environmental schemes and only 10 per cent to ‘competitive agriculture’. But he said there must be ‘a massive shake-up’ to help farmers compete in a liberal market. “Our objective is to move more CAP money into schemes to encourage competitiveness,” said Mr Paice at a Family Farmers Association meeting in Westminster this week. http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/business/business-news/defra-to-shift-cap-balance-away-from-environment/32740.article |
| 30 June 2010 |
| New environment protection laws |
| New laws to protect wildlife and better regulate the management of Scotland's natural environment have been presented to the Scottish Parliament. They are designed to update ancient gaming laws, introduce robust deer management policies, minimise confusion and prevent invasive non-native species gaining a foothold in Scotland's unique landscape. Introducing the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "Scotland's natural environment covers a staggering 95 per cent of our land and contributes around £17 billion to our economy every year.” |
| 16 June 2010 |
| Big firms fail to recognise risk of biodiversity loss |
| A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers finds that only two of the world’s largest 100 companies have identified biodiversity and ecosystem loss as a strategic issue. This is despite the estimated $2 - $4.5 trillion annual economic cost of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Only 18 companies made any mention of biodiversity or ecosystems in their full annual report, of these six have measures in place to reduce their impacts, and only two identified it as a strategic issue. In sectors identified with a high dependency or impact, including food producers and primary industrial sectors, 89 companies producing sustainability reports; 23% disclosed some detail on biodiversity and nine identified it as a key sustainability issue. The analysis by PWC was undertaken as part of the UN report on the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for business to be released in summer. |
| 15 June 2010 |
| New UN science body to monitor biosphere |
| Representatives from close to 90 countries gathering in Busan, Korea, this week, have approved the formation of a new organization to monitor the ecological state of the planet and its natural resources. Dubbed the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the new entity will likely meet for the first time in 2011 and operate much like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). |
| 14 June 2010 |
| Government’s White Paper commitment reiterated |
| A written parliamentary question tabled by Bob Russell MP to DCLG received an answer from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Fisheries in DEFRA, Richard Benyon MP. Question: “To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 17 of The Coalition: Our Programme for Government, what plans he has to promote green spaces and wildlife corridors in order to halt the loss of habitat and restore biodiversity.” [348] Answer: (Richard Benyon) “I have been asked to reply. We look forward to receiving Sir John Lawton’s report, “Making Space for Nature”, later in the summer. Sir John’s update in March reported that to achieve a coherent and resilient ecological network we will need to look beyond existing designated sites and take account of landscape designations, local wildlife sites and green spaces. The Government are also looking forward to the completion of work currently being carried out by Natural England on the implementation of landscape-scale enhancements to benefit wildlife. This will build on and use the lessons learned from existing work such as the Great Fen, a collaboration between Natural England, Environment Agency, the local Wildlife Trust and district council, which is joining up two national nature reserves through creating 3,700 ha of wetland habitat in Cambridgeshire, which will deliver benefits not only for biodiversity but also for water quality, recreation and local communities. In addition, this Government will deliver a White Paper, the first since 1990, that will, finally, take an integrated approach to the natural environment in all its aspects. By reflecting nature’s real value in our social and economic decisions we will be able to review and improve the ways in which we both harness and protect it. We are currently considering options and time scales for taking this commitment forward.” This reaffirms DEFRA’s commitment to publishing a White Paper on the natural environment, as suggested by the Prime Minister before reaching government. |
| 7 June 2010 |
| Survey on environment, nature and well-being |
| Researchers at the Macaulay Land use Research Institute, would like to invite you to answer an electronic questionnaire about your everyday experiences with the environment, nature and well-being. Please click here to read more information about the questionnaire and help you decide if you are willing to help them: The questionnaire is part of a larger project called BeWEL: Behaviour for Well-being, Environment and Life, funded by the UK Research Councils. The purpose of the project as a whole is to understand the influences on attitudes and behaviour in relation to the environment and nature. A further aim is to look at links between these behaviours and well-being. |
| 1 June 2010 |
| The portfolios for the new Defra Ministerial team |
| Secretary of State (Caroline Spelman MP) Minister of State for Agriculture and Food (Jim Paice MP) Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries (Richard Benyon MP). Portfolio includes • Natural environment • Ecosystem services • Biodiversity Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Lord Henley) Portfolio includes • Sustainable development • Science, evidence and research http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=413390&SubjectId=2 |
| 26 May 2010 |
| NGO proposes 'rescue plan' for Europe's biodiversity |
| On the occasion of Global Biodiversity Day, celebrated on 22 May, environmental NGO BirdLife International argued that lack of concern for biodiversity across EU policies and a shortage of funding are the main reasons for the European Union's failure to halt ecological degradation. BirdLife's new report on the EU's progress towards halting biodiversity loss sets out a number of specific recommendations for resolving the biodiversity crisis. These are grouped under four main headings: governance and legislation, investing in natural capital, building green infrastructure and addressing the drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem loss. http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/NGO-proposes-rescue-plan-europes-biodiversity-news-494434 |
| 22 May 2010 |
| Announcement of Opportunity - Valuation Network |
| The Natural Environment Research Council invites proposals to establish and manage a two year Valuation Network, with the aim of increasing the research capacity in the valuation of biodiversity, natural resources and ecosystem services, by facilitating the development of an integrated interdisciplinary community, collaborating with relevant Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) partners and other stakeholders. The AO and further information can be found on www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/valuation |
| 19 May 2010 |
| Stark warnings on biodiversity loss |
| 10 May saw official admission of international failure to stem the tide of biodiversity loss. This will surprise few in the scientific community who have been warning for many years that key natural resources are undervalued and neglected to a dangerous degree. However it is hoped that the stark warnings to emanate from the Convention on Biodiversity’s third report will galvanise sustained and improved support for natural systems, including biodiversity, which underpin our economic activity and wellbeing. There are renewed calls for biodiversity to be accorded the same prominence in global politics as climate change. http://www.societyofbiology.org/newsandevents/news/view/100 see also http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE64927W20100510 |
| 10 May 2010 |
| Protecting natural capital for human wellbeing and sustainable development |
| The modern concept of ‘ecosystem services’ has progressed significantly in recent decades. Conceived of primarily as a communication tool in the late 1970s to explain societal dependence on nature, it now incorporates economic dimensions and provides help to decision makers for implementing effective conservation policies which support human wellbeing and sustainable development. This thematic issue of Science for Environment Policy provides a snapshot of the latest research in the most recent chapter of ecosystem services’ story. It aims to help guide future conservation and sustainable development policies. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/20si.pdf |
| 10 May 2010 |
| Theory and Practice Collide in Efforts to Stack Multiple Ecosystem Values on One Piece of Land |
| Common sense would seem to dictate that land generating the greatest environmental good should also command the highest price in the ecosystem marketplace, and that one way to do that might be to let people stack different ecosystem values on the same patch of land. In the real world, however, such schemes are proving difficult to construct – as mitigation bankers are learning at this week's National Mitigation & Ecosystem Banking Conference in Austin, Texas. http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/dynamic/article.page.php?page_id=7544§ion=news_articles&eod=1 |
| 10 May 2010 |
| Poor want biomass, not biodiversity, finds study |
| Preserving biodiversity may be the goal of conservationists and environmental activists, but preserving biomass is a more important priority for the poor, says a literature review. The "unexpected" finding, was the result of one of three reviews presented to a symposium this week (28-29 April). "People just don't care about biodiversity," said Craig Leisher of the US-based Nature Conservancy, at the meeting, 'Linking biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction: what, why and how?' held at the UK's Zoological Society of London. Leisher, who conducted the research with Neil Larsen, also from the Nature Conservancy, gave the example of a poor fisherman, for whom the route out of poverty is to catch more fish — not more kinds of fish. The findings were presented on the same day as a study was published in Science magazine, showing that the world has failed in its bid to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2010. |
| 5 May 2010 |
| When payments are an appropriate policy tool for ecosystem services |
| Payments for ecosystem services (PES) are one of a number of policy options available to support the provision of ecosystem services. Based on the characteristics of ecosystem services, a recent study has developed a framework for deciding when payments are a suitable tool for delivering ecosystem services. |
| 5 May 2010 |
| New NCI events |
| Towards no net loss and beyond 22 June 2010 A one day inter-disciplinary workshop addressing practical challenges for biodiversity offsetting in the UK Limited places available. Ecosystem services and the delivery of health benefits 28 September 2010 A one day seminar to explore how health considerations can be integrated into the ecosystems approach, and into planning and development decisions more broadly. |
| 30 April 2010 |
| Internship opportunities at the Natural Capital Initiative: Closing Date - 21st May |
| The Natural Capital Initiative has two volunteer opportunities to assist the Secretariat in the planning and running of its activities. Volunteers would need to commit a minimum of three days per week. Each placement would be for a minimum of two months full time equivalent and for a maximum of three months full time equivalent. Volunteers will help: •Investigate topics related to NCI work themes (volunteers are likely to need to work on multiple work themes) • Assist with the organisation and running of NCI events • Assist with the preparation of reports and articles • Assist with administrative tasks Further information and details of how to apply are available here. http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/documents/policy_documents/Internship_advert-FINAL.pdf |
| 29 April 2010 |
| Natural capital underestimated by regional development plans |
| Recent research has established how forest, wetland and agricultural ecosystems could affect economic growth in Sweden. The findings suggest that regions conventionally considered to be of low economic benefit, are in fact rich in valuable ecosystem resources. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/192na1.pdf |
| 22 April 2010 |
| Eurobarometer: Europeans not well informed about biodiversity loss |
| The European Commission has published a Eurobarometer survey which shows that many Europeans do not understand what is meant by biodiversity and do not feel well informed about biodiversity loss. The Commission has at the same time launched a campaign aimed at informing the public about the loss of biodiversity in the EU. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Biodiversity is the natural engine for our future, and we must learn to treat it with care. I hope this campaign will help do that, and raise awareness about the need to be kinder to the natural world we depend on." The campaign is built around the slogan, ‘Biodiversity – we are all in this together’. It will have an educational dimension that reveals the benefits biodiversity brings, and stresses in particular the idea of ecosystem services and the dangers of their disappearance. The aim will be to make citizens more aware of the role they can play in slowing and preventing this loss. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/411&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en |
| 19 April 2010 |
| TEEB workshop, India |
| Inaugural address delivered by Mrs. Usha Thorat, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India at ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Workshop on April 13, 2010 at Mumbai. http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_SpeechesView.aspx?Id=499 |
| 19 April 2010 |
| Pricing nature |
| The BES blog reports on a BBC Radio Four programme on valuing ecosystem services |
| 18 April 2010 |
| Valuing Ecosystem Services – Not Currently Practical? |
| The BES blog reports on a conference about valuation of ecosystem services. |
| 28 March 2010 |
| Restoring natural capital in degraded landscapes |
| In a BBC article, Earthwatch projects consider natural capital. |
| 27 March 2010 |
| An emerging marketplace for protecting and restoring nature |
| Interesting examples from the USA of a market for ecosystem services. |
| 26 March 2010 |
| Can the CAP bring considerable benefits to our environment? |
| Speech by EC environment commissioner Janez Potočnik, in which he puts forward a vision for a 'Common Agricultural and Environmental policy''. |
| 23 March 2010 |
| EU agrees new biodiversity target |
| On 15 March the European Union’s Environment Council agreed a new target to halt biodiversity loss across Europe. UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, who attended the Council meeting, welcomed the target. The EU have set the target ahead of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) International Conference of the Parties, that will take place in Nagoya, Japan, in October. The new European target aims at “halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restoring them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss”. The Council of the European Union agreed “a long-term vision that by 2050 European Union biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides – its natural capital – are protected, valued and appropriately restored for biodiversity's intrinsic value and for their essential contribution to human wellbeing and economic prosperity, and so that catastrophic changes caused by the loss of biodiversity are avoided”. |
| 17 March 2010 |
| New 'Nature and Biodiversity News and Views' website launched |
| As a contribution to the UK National Science and Engineering Week, a new website has been launched aiming to raise public awareness of nature and biodiversity. The website is hosted by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, partner organisation of the NCI, and is an initiative of the European long term ecology research network ALTER-Net. The site encourages the public to think about and respond on topical issues to do with biodiversity and nature, such as biofuels, invasive harlequin ladybirds and the impact of farming on wildlife. Visit the Nature and Biodiversity News and Views site here. |
| 16 March 2010 |
| How Welsh agriculture can reduce greenhouse gas emissions |
| A major report which recommends how agriculture and rural land use in Wales can play its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been welcomed by the Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones. The report recommends a set of initiatives by which Wales can maintain its food production potential while cutting emissions. The group adopted an ecosystem approach, seeing the challenge as being to balance continuity of these services (food security, water, biodiversity, recreational opportunity etc) in ways that meet greenhouse gas obligations. Key elements suggested by the report for reducing emissions are: • the introduction of anaerobic digestion to reduce methane emissions • improving farm productivity, including more efficient use of manure, fertilisers and energy • expansion of woodlands • the development of renewable energy sources. The report’s emphasis is on maintaining intensive dairy, sheep and beef sectors while diversifying and increasing vegetable crops. In the longer term, the report recommends development of a more radical approach where much of the cattle herd is housed and methane emissions are captured. By 2040, agriculture and land use sectors could make substantial progress to carbon neutrality. |
| 15 March 2010 |
| The price of extinction: what losing biodiversity costs |
| A panel discussion was held this week at the Judge Business School in Cambridge, entitled ‘The price of extinction: what losing biodiversity costs’. The event was part of the Cambridge Science Festival, in collaboration with Cambridge Conservation Initiative and Science Magazine. See the write-up on the BES blog. |
| 12 March 2010 |
| Distribution and targeting of the CAP budget from a biodiversity perspective |
| The EU has highlighted the importance of using the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) to prevent the abandonment of high nature value farmland and its intensification as a key action to halt biodiversity decline. A new report sets out to assess whether the current distribution of CAP funds is likely to favour the maintenance of farmland with high nature value (HNV). And it explores the extent to which CAP funds are likely to support the long-term economic and ecological sustainability of these HNV farming systems. Currently the CAP budget amounts to around 53 EUR billion per year. This is equivalent to an annual expenditure of approximately 290 EUR/ha of Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) across the EU as a whole. Overall, the analysis suggests that, despite CAP reform and decoupling of subsidies from production, the majority of funding still goes to the most productive agricultural land. Relatively little is spent in areas with a high proportion of HNV farmland and particularly Pillar 2 support measures are inconsistently applied across Member States with a view to the objective of maintaining HNV farming. The distribution of CAP support across Pillars, measures and farm systems suggests that favourable management of HNV farmland is insufficiently supported. |
| 12 March 2010 |
| Ecosystem Marketplace report published |
| Ecosystem Marketplace, a non-profit organisation based in Washington DC, is launching a report into the State of Biodiversity Markets today, the 9th of March. The report summarises the biodiversity offset and compensation programmes around the world. Variously termed habitat, mitigation or biodiversity banking, the concept of buying habitat or biodiversity ‘credits’ in one area to compensate for ecologically damaging action in another is gaining increasing interest from governments and developers. Both Defra and the EC have recently published reports (available here and here) into the prospects of a more formalised habitat banking system in the UK and the EU respectively. The NCI will be running a workshop on habitat banking in June, details of which will be posted on the website shortly. |
| 9 March 2010 |
| Should We Put A Dollar Value On Nature? |
| Time Magazine discusses valuing ecosystem services. |
| 9 March 2010 |
| Land Use Futures report |
| A new approach to managing the UK’s land will be vital to meet the challenges of the 21st century, according to the latest report from Foresight, the Government’s futures think tank. ‘Land Use Futures’ looks at how landscapes and land use could change in the UK over the next 50 years. It concludes that the present way the land system is managed in the UK will need to change. There are already pressures on land, but these will intensify in parts of the country, such as in the South East of England. Shortages in critical public goods – such as water supply, biodiversity, carbon sinks and urban green space – could result unless carefully managed. “Business as usual is not an option over the long-term. Without being smart about how land is used, we risk missing targets, such as halting biodiversity loss. The effects of climate change and new pressures on land could escalate, seriously eroding quality of life,” Professor John Beddington, the Government’s Chief Scientist and the project director said. |
| 3 March 2010 |
| Feeding 9 billion |
| This paper looks at approaches to closing the ‘yield gap’, the need for ‘sustainable intensification,’ GM, waste, dietary changes and aquaculture. It concludes “The goal is no longer simply to maximize productivity, but to optimize across a far more complex landscape of production, environmental, and social justice outcomes.” Godfray H C J, Beddington J R, Crute I R, Haddad L, Lawrence D, Muir J F, Pretty J, Robinson S, Thomas S M and Toulmin C (2010). Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People Science 12 February 2010: 812-818 |
| 23 February 2010 |
| Scotland's land use strategy |
| How do you think Scotland's land should be used in the future? The development of the country's first Land Use Strategy is a landmark opportunity for you to have your say on the way Scotland's land is used. The Scottish Government are inviting you to have your say on the issues and help shape the draft strategy. So, if you have views on food production and food security, the development of renewable energy and the protection of landscapes and habitat, get along to one of the discussion workshops being held across the country or comment on the Land Use Strategy website. A full consultation on the Land Use Strategy will follow later in the year. http://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/en/node/1841 |
| 22 February 2010 |
| National Ecosystem Assessment update |
| Attending an event to mark progress on the National Ecosystem Assessment, Secretary of State for Defra, Hilary Benn, emphasised the importance of being able to value the natural environment. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2010/bio-0222.htm |
| 21 February 2010 |
| Valuing Natural Capital: Have your Say |
| The Natural Capital Initiative has published an article for comment on the ‘Future Countryside’ website. Future Countryside has been established by the Shadow Environment Secretary, Conservative MP Nick Herbert, to debate new ideas in environment policy. In the article members of the Natural Capital Initiative discuss whether movements towards valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services represent a paradigm shift amongst policy-makers and within the scientific community. Yet, say the NCI, policy is running far ahead of the ability to put an accurate ‘price’ on nature. The article calls for an approach which integrates monetary and other approaches to valuation as a way forward which reflects the true worth of society’s natural capital. Have your say on the points raised in the article on the Future Countryside website. |
| 19 February 2010 |
| Defra's new Evidence Investment Strategy |
| Defra's Evidence Investment Strategy was published on 26 January. It provides guidance to Defra on gathering and using evidence effectively for policy making and evaluating the outcomes. It identifies three big evidence challenges: climate change, a sustainable food supply and protecting ecosystem services. Defra proposes “a modest reorientation of priorities from such areas as animal welfare and pesticides towards areas such as water, biodiversity, soils and climate change”. |
| 2 February 2010 |
| Earthwatch lecture on 'Farming and sustainable environments' |
| The next 2010 Earthwatch Lecture will be looking at how we can reconcile the need to produce ever more food with the vital task of conserving of our natural ecosystems. Chaired by Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury, speakers Professor Ken Norris of the University of Reading and Dr Mark Chandler of Earthwatch will discuss 'Farming and sustainable environments' on Wednesday 17 March at The Royal Geographical Society in London. For more details and to book tickets, please visit the Earthwatch website. |
| 1 February 2010 |
| GM discussion at the British Library |
| Chair of the NCI, Prof Rosie Hails MBE, led a lively public debate on the topic of 'GM crops and food security: curing the world's growing pains?' last Thursday, 21 January. As part of the British Library 'TalkScience@BL' cafe scientifique style series of discussions, the organisers invited members of the public to air their views on the contribution GM technology can make to solving the current challenges in world food production. You can read more about the event on the BES blog, and contribute to the discussion on the Society of Biology blog. |
| 26 January 2010 |
| Benn promotes ecosystems approach |
| Environment secretary Hilary Benn, writing in the BBC’s Green Room, says: “So when it comes to biodiversity, we desperately need to start restoring links between science and policy, between taking action and evaluating it and between economies and ecosystems. The big challenge will be for the real benefits of biodiversity and the hard costs of its loss to be included in our economic systems and markets.” The Natural Capital Initiative is actively promoting this approach. |
| 24 January 2010 |
| New members of the NCI Steering Group |
| The NCI is pleased to announce the addition of fiv |