Plans to create "eel lanes" at the South Downs National Park
These "eel lanes" act like a narrow lane of water so eels can swim around the barriers in the way of their migration.In some places, eel brushes are also being added - they're strips of bristles to help eels make their way upstream. The project has been launched in partnership with the Western Sussex Rivers Trust to protect the habitat of the eel in the Rother and Ems rivers.Aimee Felus, chief executive of the trust, said: "With pollution, sewage and drought all playing a part in the diminishing water quality of our rivers and streams, it's more important than ever that we work together to help protect and enhance these precious habitats for wildlife and humans alike."
The migration of the European eel
European eels begin their lives in the Sargasso Sea, off the coast of Bermuda, as little larvae that look like a transparent leaf. They spend the next one to two years drifting across the Gulf Stream as their body flattens and elongates into what's known as the 'glass eel' stage.When they eventually reach the English coastline, they're about 8cm long. They use the force of the tides to push themselves upstream to make a home in rivers, including the Rother and Ems.Once they're in freshwater, they continue to transform, changing colour and growing up to 1m in length. They can live up to 20 years before they then make the 4,000 mile journey back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.
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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Is acid rain is back on our 2025 apocalypse bingo card?
You remember acid rain, right? Acid rain, like holes in the ozone layer, was a phrase that almost everyone knew from the 1970s to the 2000s. People had images of taking out their umbrellas only to see the fabric melt away and their clothes not long after – not something you want to sing in. While it wasn't quite that, acid rain makes wetlands more acidic, which is lethal to some fish; leaches nutrients from the soil, killing plants and gnaws at stone buildings and sculptures. Humanity got a rare environmental win when, after decades of work (and convincing) by scientists, European and North American officials acted to curb emissions and mostly put a stop to acid rain. But acid rain is back (kind of), an expert told Metro, after a chemical has shown up in lakes, rivers, bottled water, beer and even human urine. The precipitation is caused by fossil-fuel-burning power plants and vehicles pumping out sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. The pollution mingles with water vapour up in the clouds to create toxic, corrosive acid. Acid rain can happen far away from sources of emissions as the wind blows away the gases – acid rain in Japan has been traced back to China. Scientists have observed over the last few decades that, whenever it rains, the human-made chemical trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) falls with it. TFA has been found in Canadian ice, Danish groundwater, British rivers and even Austrian cereal, with Germany seeing a fivefold increase in TFA levels in rain since the 1990s. TFA is used to make blowing agents, like the foam and plastic in packaging materials, as well as pesticides and pharmaceuticals. But environmental experts like Rowan Stanforth know it as a 'forever chemical', or a PFAS, because it takes hundreds of years to break down. 'Scientists now believe that TFA is the most abundant PFAS pollutant in the world thanks to widespread use and environmental pollution of PFAS,' Stanforth, a project officer at the antipollution charity, Fidra, told Metro. TFA is a tiny, wily and agile chemical, easily able to enter waterways and swim around them after being coughed out from industrial discharges. In June, Firda worked with researchers from the University of York to analyse 32 UK rivers for TFA – just one was not contaminated. The chemical sneaks into rain through the gases used in air-conditioner units, refrigerators and insulation foam, said Stanforth. 'The prevalence of TFA in rainfall is a worrying illustration of how far this PFAS can spread and the global problem we are facing,' Stanforth added. So, there's a lot of TFA around us right now, apparently. Should we be worried? Like with other PFAS, how much of a risk, if any, TFA is unclear. Scientists have been debating for decades about how harmful the tiny molecule is, with some saying it's about as 'toxic as table salt'. While German scientists say that TFA is toxic for reproduction and harmful to the environment, calling on EU officials to label it a toxin. European scientists wrote in a paper last year that what worries them isn't so much what we do know, it's what we don't know, especially as TFA concentrations continue to rise. The increase could pose a threat to 'planetary boundaries', natural processes that must be kept in balance to keep Earth habitable, causing 'potential irreversible disruptive impacts'. 'The troubling reality is that we are still learning about the possible effects of TFA on people and wildlife – after we're already being exposed to it daily,' said Stanforth. 'The current levels of TFA pollution in the environment are unprecedented for any PFAS. 'We do not know the impact of long-term and consistent exposure to these chemicals on human or environmental health, but we do know that these chemicals are persistent and rapidly building in our environment.' There aren't any rules or regulations in place to identify and reduce the concentrations of TFA in the environment or water supplies in the UK. The Drinking Water Inspectorate, which monitors drinking water quality, has commissioned research into the TFA in our taps. Environmental and health and safety officials are involved in the programme. But Stanforth added that there's no easy way to remove TFA from the environment – you can't just run the water through a sieve. More Trending 'We must stop the introduction of these harmful chemicals at the source,' he said. 'Every day of delay locks in decades of pollution and environmental harm.' The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement to Metro: 'Drinking water must not contain any substance at a level which would constitute a potential danger to human health. If Trifluoroacetic acid were detected in drinking water, companies should take action in the same way as for other PFAS compounds. 'We continue to work closely across government and with regulators and the devolved administrations to assess levels of so-called forever chemicals occurring in the environment, their sources, and potential risks.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map shows where thunderstorms and heavy rain will hit UK MORE: This country will be underwater by 2050 — and people are entering a bleak competition to escape MORE: What happens to your body in a heatwave after Tampa hits record-breaking 100 degrees?
STV News
3 days ago
- STV News
Highland juniper forest given special European status
A Highland forest has become the first in the UK to receive special European protection for its unique genetic diversity. The native juniper and silver birch woodlands at Trees for Life's Dundreggan rewilding estate near Loch Ness have been designated as official Gene Conservation Units. The European status is only given to long-standing, naturally occurring tree populations that show distinct local adaptation. It's a UK-first for any juniper forest and recognises the 10,000-acre site in Glenmoriston as internationally significant for conserving genetic diversity in native species. The designation forms part of a continent-wide network overseen in the UK by Forest Research, aiming to safeguard the genetic resilience of key tree populations against threats such as climate change, pests and disease. Gwen Raes, Dundreggan estate manager, said: 'This designation underlines why letting our ancient woodlands grow back naturally is so important to us at Dundreggan, and it celebrates the remarkable remnants of naturally occurring and locally adapted juniper and silver birch that still survive on the estate. 'Through this designation and further management, we aim to ensure these unique woodlands secure the extra care and attention they need, so they are protected and enhanced going forward.' The unusually high rainfall at Dundreggan – rare for juniper habitats – and its position at the western edge of silver birch's natural range have contributed to the genetic uniqueness of these trees. Forest Research scientists believe the species at the site have evolved over generations, making them valuable on both UK and European levels. Tom Sim, the scientist responsible for registering the UK's Gene Conservation Units, said the trees' natural origins and adaptation make them genetically distinct. 'They have likely adapted to their local conditions over many generations,' he said. 'As a result, we would expect the stands to be representative of distinct genetic variation for each species at a UK and European level.' The estate employs a 'dynamic conservation' approach, encouraging natural regeneration to help the trees continue adapting. The designation means ongoing monitoring to protect and enhance their long-term survival. Juniper, more common in drier eastern parts of Scotland, supports a wide variety of wildlife and plays a role in gin production. Silver birch, fast-growing and nutrient-rich, supports over 300 insect species and contributes to healthy soils. The Dundreggan Rewilding Centre offers visitors access to the woodlands via a range of forest trails, including the accessible Juniper Path. The lower part of the estate is home to around 50,000 juniper and 80,000 silver birch trees. Trees for Life says the designation is a milestone in its mission to restore Scotland's wild forests for nature, people, and climate. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
'Unique' Highland forest given special European status
The network – managed in the UK by Forest Research, the country's principal organisation for forestry and tree-related research – aims to ensure coordinated protection for the genetic diversity of tree species at a European scale. It brings together sites recognised for their protection of genetic diversity and natural processes. Key parts of both the juniper and silver birch woodlands at Dundreggan have received the prestigious classification – adding to recognition of their importance, and opening up opportunities for further scientific studies. 'This designation underlines why letting our ancient woodlands grow back naturally is so important to us at Dundreggan, and it celebrates the remarkable remnants of naturally occurring and locally adapted juniper and silver birch that still survive on the estate,' said Gwen Raes, Trees for Life's Dundreggan Estate Manager. READ MORE: Scotland's Forests: Targets and timber shortages. Full series Scottish university project to plant 570000 trees underway Academics call for Scottish forestry grants to be scrapped 'The unusually wet location for juniper, and the extreme westerly location of silver birch, have contributed to making their populations at Dundreggan very special. Through this designation and further management, we aim to ensure these unique woodlands secure the extra care and attention they need, so they are protected and enhanced going forwards.' Also key to the designation is the estate's use of 'dynamic conservation' which helps protect the trees' genetic diversity. The land is being managed to encourage natural regeneration – enabling the trees to continuously adapt to their specific environment, including weather conditions and temperature. Forest Research scientist Tom Sim, responsible for registering the UK's Gene Conservation Units, said: 'The juniper and silver birch at Dundreggan are naturally occurring without historic planting, and have likely adapted to their local conditions over many generations. 'As a result, we would expect the stands to be representative of distinct genetic variation for each species at a UK and European level.' Juniper seed collections (Image: Trees for Life) Dundreggan has relatively high rainfall for juniper, and experts believe this could have driven some local adaptation. Juniper is a slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree, with small blue-green needles and berries that ripen to a dark, blue-purple colour. It is more abundant in the drier, eastern part of the Highlands, where it reaches a larger size. The species boosts biodiversity by providing shelter and food for a range of wildlife including insects, mammals and birds. Juniper is also valued for its culinary, medicinal and ritual properties, including use of its berries in game dishes and its role in producing gin. Dundreggan is also at Europe's western edge of silver birch's natural range. This fast-growing species readily spreads over open ground, and supports many insects and other invertebrates, with over 300 species known to feed on it. The tree's roots draw up crucial nutrients, and its fallen leaves add richness to soil. As part of the Gene Conservation Unit designation, Dundreggan's juniper and silver birch will be regularly monitored to ensure their survival, health and successful natural regeneration. Visitors to Dundreggan and its acclaimed [[Rewilding]] Centre can explore the lush juniper and birch woodlands and enjoy walks along forest trails, including an accessible, low-level Juniper Path, known as Ceum an Aitinn in Gaelic. In total, the woodlands on the lower part of the estate are home to some 50,000 juniper and 80,000 silver birch.
