Latest news with #NatureFund
South Wales Guardian
02-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Swift nesting boxes installed at Pontardawe Library
The boxes at Pontardawe Library are part of a nationwide effort to increase swift numbers. Neath Port Talbot Council's Countryside and Wildlife Team collaborated with the council's Library Service to put up the boxes, which will provide additional nesting space for up to 10 pairs of breeding swifts. The boxes are a human solution to the long-term loss of traditional nest sites in buildings, caused by renovations and sealing up of gaps in roofs. They are screwed into the external walls of a building to provide a space in which a pair of breeding swifts can raise their young. These boxes are designed to last decades, and an information panel at the library explains what a swift is and what the boxes are for. Swifts are on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in recognition of the fact that populations across the UK have declined by 58 per cent since 1995 and by 75 per cent in Wales. Swifts spend the winter in Africa and return to the UK in May to breed. Swifts nest almost exclusively in buildings, making use of holes to raise their young. However, with lots of old buildings being renovated to improve insulation or simply demolished, swifts are losing their nesting sites. The Countryside and Wildlife Team secured funding from the Welsh Government Local Places for Nature Fund to get the boxes. This fund aims to make local areas more nature-friendly and raise awareness of wildlife to residents. Recording by members of the NPT Local Nature Partnership has revealed Pontardawe is a hotspot for sightings of swifts in the county. Councillor Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council's cabinet member for nature, tourism and wellbeing, said: "Providing additional nest sites in this location could provide a vital opportunity to boost the swift population. "Visitors to Pontardawe Library will also be able to enjoy seeing the swift boxes, hopefully the swifts investigating and nesting in the boxes and learn more about this declining bird." The library also has Swift-themed resources for children.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This country's multimillion-dollar investment could change the future of electric vehicles — here's what's driving the push
Philippine conglomerate Ayala has announced plans to expand the country's electric vehicle charging network thanks to new funding from the Asian Development Bank's Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. The expansion includes the purchase of EVs for commercial distribution. The Philippines only just recently received its first Tesla Supercharger, but there are about 370 charging points across the country, the first having been installed in 2013. Ayala is the biggest and oldest conglomerate in the Philippines. The scope of its business is broad, including real estate, telecommunications, banking, renewable energy, electronics, automotive, and health care. It also has investments in coal, but it has committed to getting out of that business by 2030 and has started divesting. Nationally, the Philippines has committed to cutting pollution by 75% by 2030. The country has been making progress toward that goal, thanks especially to large-scale projects that clean up the electrical grid. These are sensible investments, given the circumstances. Among all countries affected by extreme weather events, the Philippines ranks 10th. Charging infrastructure is one of the biggest roadblocks to the adoption of EVs. Big investments such as this one can help fill gaps and lower the barrier for drivers to make the switch. Once the chargers are in place, EVs are cheaper to run than gas cars and are much kinder to the environment. If you think you're ready to upgrade, TCD has a beginner's guide for EV shoppers that's worth a look. Ayala officials are optimistic about the advancement of EV charging infrastructure. "As we help build a comprehensive EV ecosystem for the Philippines, we wish to thank like-minded institutional partners like ADB for helping us expand our electric mobility initiatives, accelerate our contribution to the Philippines' climate goals, and reaffirm our purpose of building businesses that enable people to thrive," said ACMobility President and CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, according to the Daily Tribune. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
