Latest news with #InternationalNatureandClimate


BBC News
19-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Moving on 'bitter sweet' for Manx Wildlife Trust boss
Moving on from working directly in conservation on the Isle of Man is "bitter sweet", the outgoing boss of local organisation has Wildlife Trust (MWT) chief executive Leigh Morris will leave in May to take on the role of Director of International Nature and Climate at the Wildlife on his five years in the post he said a key achievement was the expansion of the charity, which had tripled in size of both its team and land said he had "learnt a huge amount" about conservation through working on the island because it was a "wonderful microcosm", but said he hoped he had "given a lot too". The MWT was also in a "stronger place" in terms of its finances, he said, which had in part been possible through the rise in corporations focusing on environmental, social and governance (ESG).A key project Mr Morris has been instrumental in is the ongoing planting of 30,000 trees at Creg y Cowin as part of a £38m rainforest restoration programme being rolled out by the Wildlife his time, Mr Morris pushed for MWT to gain a government contract to help deliver an agri-environment scheme, with agriculture taking up about 75% of the land on the said while the organisation only managed about 0.3% of the land when he joined in January 2020, that had now increased to 1%. Although there was a "historic battle" between farmers and conservationists, the scheme had enabled the charity to work with farmers to "make things better for nature", he said. Mr Morris also organised for a survey of the island's wild wallaby population after realising there was "no information" about how many there were on the said he was "gobsmacked" when the count in the Ballaugh Curraghs showed there were 700 wallabies, with the total on the island now estimated to be between 1,200 and 1,500. He said he hoped the survey meant there was "enough information" about the animals on the island to allow for a management plan to be developed. Other highlights during his time in the role included rolling out an education programme across the island's 32 primary schools, the charity's 50th anniversary celebrations, and MWT receiving the King's Award for voluntary said the team had done a "huge amount over the past five years" and it was a "good moment to step away", Mr Morris all those involved in projects across the island he said: "People are the reason we need conservation and people are the solution to the island being a wonderful showcase of what a biosphere could look like," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Leader 'instrumental' in growth of wildlife group
A conservation group leader who has been "instrumental" in ensuing the growth of the organisation is moving on after five years in the post. Manx Wildlife Trust chief executive Leigh Morris will leave the post in May to take on the role of Director of International Nature and Climate at the Wildlife Trusts. Mr Morris, who took up the post in September 2019, said he was leaving with a "sense of pride " in what had been accomplished and "a deep confidence in the team". His new role, which works with an association of 46 local trusts including the Isle of Man, aims to bridge the gap between local conservation efforts and global environmental challenges. He said the last five years had been "a wonderful chapter of my life", and he was "particularly proud" of the work carried out during the group's 50th anniversary in 2023 and its receipt of the King's Award for Voluntary Service. "Though I will be embarking on a new chapter, I know that my connection to MWT and the Isle of Man is far from over," he added. A spokesman for the Manx Wildlife Trust said that Mr Morris had been "instrumental" in expanding the charity's work and "ensuring its growth". He would continue to be involved in the Inter-island Environment Meeting, which will be hosted on the Isle of Man for the first time in September. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Volunteers sought to guide conservation charity King's Award honours 'backbone of wildlife trust' Manx Wildlife Trust seeks new woodland rangers Manx Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trusts
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Leader 'instrumental' in growth of wildlife group
A conservation group leader who has been "instrumental" in ensuing the growth of the organisation is moving on after five years in the post. Manx Wildlife Trust chief executive Leigh Morris will leave the post in May to take on the role of Director of International Nature and Climate at the Wildlife Trusts. Mr Morris, who took up the post in September 2019, said he was leaving with a "sense of pride " in what had been accomplished and "a deep confidence in the team". His new role, which works with an association of 46 local trusts including the Isle of Man, aims to bridge the gap between local conservation efforts and global environmental challenges. He said the last five years had been "a wonderful chapter of my life", and he was "particularly proud" of the work carried out during the group's 50th anniversary in 2023 and its receipt of the King's Award for Voluntary Service. "Though I will be embarking on a new chapter, I know that my connection to MWT and the Isle of Man is far from over," he added. A spokesman for the Manx Wildlife Trust said that Mr Morris had been "instrumental" in expanding the charity's work and "ensuring its growth". He would continue to be involved in the Inter-island Environment Meeting, which will be hosted on the Isle of Man for the first time in September. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Volunteers sought to guide conservation charity King's Award honours 'backbone of wildlife trust' Manx Wildlife Trust seeks new woodland rangers Manx Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trusts


BBC News
06-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Leader 'instrumental' in growth of Manx Wildlife Trust
A conservation group leader who has been "instrumental" in ensuing the growth of the organisation is moving on after five years in the Wildlife Trust chief executive Leigh Morris will leave the post in May to take on the role of Director of International Nature and Climate at the Wildlife Morris, who took up the post in September 2019, said he was leaving with a "sense of pride " in what had been accomplished and "a deep confidence in the team".His new role, which works with an association of 46 local trusts including the Isle of Man, aims to bridge the gap between local conservation efforts and global environmental challenges. He said the last five years had been "a wonderful chapter of my life", and he was "particularly proud" of the work carried out during the group's 50th anniversary in 2023 and its receipt of the King's Award for Voluntary Service."Though I will be embarking on a new chapter, I know that my connection to MWT and the Isle of Man is far from over," he added.A spokesman for the Manx Wildlife Trust said that Mr Morris had been "instrumental" in expanding the charity's work and "ensuring its growth".He would continue to be involved in the Inter-island Environment Meeting, which will be hosted on the Isle of Man for the first time in September. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.