Latest news with #habitatdestruction
BBC News
3 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
White Wood butterflies found in Powys after decades-long absence
One of the rarest butterflies in the UK has returned Wales, decades after last being seen in the endangered Wood White, known for its delicate cream colour and striped antennae, was recorded at four sites in Powys by the Butterfly Conservation, including a female laying species used to have a permanent colony in south-east Wales but died out several decades ago due to a destruction of habitat, with only some "sporadic sightings" Conservation said butterflies had suffered in recent years "because of human actions" but now there was new hope for conservationists, with a "real success story" in the new species in Wales. Since 1979, the species' abundance has decreased by 82% at its few remaining sites. Butterfly Conservation said the new arrivals "almost certainly" come from sites just over the border in Shropshire, where targeted conservation work has been ongoing to maintain Wood White charity said its conservation team saw at least four individuals, including a female laying eggs, at Natural Resources Wales (NRW) sites at now plan to do further surveys next spring and are in contact with NRW to discuss managing roadside verges along forestry plantation roads. The news comes after a host of "surprising butterfly and moth activity", the charity said, much of it linked to this year's record-breaking Conservation have recorded 18 species of butterfly emerging at least two weeks earlier than average, with a further 24 species at least a week Dr Dan Hoare, Butterfly Conservation director of nature recovery, said while the charity loved to see butterflies and moths doing well in the UK, there were "going to be winners and losers from the very rapid climate change we're experiencing".Dr Hoare added: "One way we can increase the number of climate winners is by managing habitats positively so that threatened species can benefit as well as widespread mobile species."That means creating and maintaining good quality, connected habitat at a landscape scale, which Butterfly Conservation has been doing for years and will continue to do."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Crocodile attacks endangered pygmy elephant crossing river in Malaysia
This is the moment a crocodile attacks an endangered pygmy elephant in Sabah, Malaysia on August 6. Otherwise known as Borneo elephants, the pygmy elephant has lost 50% of its population in the past 60-75 years due to the destruction and degradation of its habitat, mostly caused by expanding human populations in Borneo, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Calls for action as road safety project remains incomplete after five years
After Australia approved new housing developments in the middle of one of the nation's most important koala habitats, the amount of traffic began to increase. In 2020, the NSW government was told new road crossings were needed to protect them along Appin Road in Sydney's southwest, but five years on, none have been completed. Since then, koalas have been listed as endangered, and their remaining habitat has been fragmented by development and bushfire. A NSW Parliamentary inquiry has warned the iconic marsupials are on track to be extinct across the state in just 25 years, with habitat destruction a key driver of their demise. But while construction of the underpasses has been slow, there's one area where there has been rapid progress, and that's the construction of houses around the Campbelltown area, and as a result, there are more cars, and koalas are dying at an alarming rate. Research by ecologists at Biolink indicates: Since 2019, vehicle strikes have impacted up to 62 per cent of Campbelltown's koala population. Vehicle strikes of koalas across southwest Sydney rose by 56 per cent from 2023 to 2024. This year, over 20 koalas have already been killed in southwest Sydney. Why haven't developers completed any underpasses? The koalas in southwest Sydney are considered the most important in NSW, because they are the only population free of chlamydia, an infectious disease that causes sterility and death. One of the biggest projects on Appin Road, also referred to as the "killing corridor", is the controversial 1,700-home Fig Tree Hill development. It was originally conceived by developer Lendlease, and its impact on koalas attracted fierce criticism and resulted in Australian Ethical Super divesting from the company. Lendlease promised to build two underpasses along the road at the former homesteads of Beulah and Glen Lorne as part of a voluntary planning agreement. It forecast the latter would be complete by mid-2025. Since then, the project has been sold to developer Stockland, but its records indicate it has only managed to construct 50 per cent of the Glen Lorne underpass. 'Stockland is committed to delivering on the vision for the Figtree Hill community and good progress continues to be made on the Glen Lorne underpass,' a Stockland spokesperson told Yahoo News. It appears progress on the underpass is being held up due to negotiations with LendLease, which still owns the land on the other side of the road, as Stockland needs to get access to this property to complete the project. A Lendlease spokesperson confirmed, 'Discussions are underway to facilitate access to the Glen Lorne underpass.' A third underpass at Ousedale Creek is currently being planned, according to Transport for NSW, but construction has not begun. Report finds koalas are being failed The Sydney Basin Koala Network, which was founded by the Total Environment Centre, and received three years of funding from WIRES, has issued its 2025 progress report. It warns the situation for koalas is 'increasingly dire' in Campbelltown, and calls on the Minns Labor Government to acknowledge its efforts to protect them are 'failing'. Sydney Basin Koala Network spokesperson Stephanie Carrick told Yahoo News koala protections are moving slowly, but development is being fast-tracked. 'It should be the opposite. Koala protections need to come first if they're serious about protecting koalas,' she said. Most of the farmland on the west side of Appin Road is slated for housing developments, and this will fragment a corridor that koalas have used for thousands of years to travel between the Nepean and Georges Rivers. Although the underpasses have not been completed, bushland along the edge of Appin Road has been bulldozed, and fencing has been erected to stop koalas crossing. But because of their need to continue to cross between the rivers, the Sydney Basin Koala Network has found they're travelling into new areas they haven't been seen in years, and are being killed there instead. Responding to questions from Yahoo News about the issue, Transport for NSW said its fencing is reducing the risk of koala strikes. 'Some of the current fencing along Appin Road is temporary while the developer undertakes this significant upgrade along Appin Road,' it said. 'A permanent fence connecting from Noorumba Reserve through to Ousedale Creek will create a continuous safety barrier. The temporary fencing reduces overall risk of koala strikes while works are underway.' Signage has been installed along Appin Road to warn motorists about koalas, but the government's own research has raised doubts about its effectiveness. What happens when a koala is struck by a vehicle? Carrick said most koalas are killed instantly when they're struck by vehicles. But often no one stops to check if they've survived, and evidence has been collected showing animals have been hit multiple times. Anger in Aussie tourist region after council kangaroo shooting ban rejected Warning 'nowhere is safe' as Australia's 500km toxic problem spreads Irreplaceable 6.5-hectare forest protected for future generations 'When you think about a small koala being hit on an 80km/h road, you're not going to have much of the animal left. We're seeing horrific injuries where they're squashed or torn apart,' she said. 'It is terrible that nothing has happened to protect them.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
How to support the birds in your garden
Many of the UK's bird species are in serious decline, largely due to habitat destruction and the collapse of food chains caused by development, intensive farming, pesticide use and climate change. Red-listed species at risk of extinction include the swift, house sparrow, house martin, tree sparrow, starling, greenfinch, skylark and cuckoo. The song thrush, wren, tawny owl, curlew, bullfinch and dunnock are on the amber list. These lists are compiled by wildlife organisations, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). According to the RSPB, between 1995 and 2023 the UK's swift population fell by 68 per cent, house martins by 42 per cent and starlings by 57 per cent. Chaffinch numbers are down 34 per cent, while greenfinches have declined by 66 per cent. Since 1970, almost 30 million house sparrows have disappeared from the UK. In response, the Swift Garden – a show garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, running from today (1 July) until 6 July – demonstrates how a naturalistic approach can benefit all garden birds. A collaboration between the RHS and the RSPB, the garden by landscape designer Lilly Gomm and horticulturist Coralie Thomas offers practical ideas we can all adopt to support the birds that visit our gardens. Here is some expert advice from Gomm and Thomas, along with wildlife specialists Adrian Thomas (RSPB) and Helen Bostock (RHS). Introduce multiple habitats To support garden birds, we need to focus on increasing the natural availability of food and shelter. 'A good habitat is all about creating a nature-rich, insect-rich space,' says Thomas. A garden can be neat and attractive while still being wildlife-friendly – but a clinically tidy space won't do. Multiple habitats help sustain a wide range of insects and invertebrates: woodlice and termites thrive in decaying log piles; slugs and snails shelter under dead leaves; grasshoppers and ants live in grassy areas; and dragonflies and beetles are drawn to ponds. Look to woodland glade design Many popular garden birds – including blackbirds, robins, blue tits and great tits – were originally woodland species, so they're naturally drawn to a woodland glade-style layout. This means planting shrubs and trees around the edges, with open areas of grass and flowers in the centre. The outer planting provides shelter, nesting sites and food, while the inner space offers ideal hunting grounds. Aim for plant diversity and continuity Diversity feeds biodiversity, so a wide variety of plants will help attract a range of edible insects and pollinators. 'When combining plants, make sure there's something of interest each month – both visually and for wildlife – so your garden evolves throughout the year,' says Gomm. Using a mix of native and non-native ornamentals can help achieve this. In the Swift Garden, native species such as Galium verum (lady's bedstraw), Acer campestre (field maple) and Rosa canina (dog rose) attract native insects, while non-natives like Nepeta kubanica (catmint), Verbascum bombyciferum (Broussa mullein) and Scabiosa columbaria ssp. ochroleuca (pale yellow scabious) help extend the supply of pollen and nectar. Include 'weeds' Leaving some 'weeds', such as dandelions and bird's-foot trefoil, adds colour and provides nectar and food for caterpillars, a delicacy enjoyed by many birds. Plant to attract pollinators Pollinators help keep your garden thriving, providing not only plant life but also shelter, berries, seeds and insects for birds. The nectar in single-flowered and spiked herbaceous perennials and annuals – such as helenium, cranesbill and lavender – is far more accessible to pollinators than that of dense, double-headed cultivars. Planting a variety of flower shapes attracts a broader range of species, including some of the UK's 250-plus types of bee. For example, tubular flowers like foxgloves and penstemons are ideal for long-tongued bumblebees. Late-winter and early-spring blooms, such as snowdrops and crocuses, are vital for early-emerging bees, while autumn-flowering asters, chrysanthemums and rudbeckia provide sustenance as other sources fade. Provide food for birds All kinds of creatures provide food for birds. Flying insects such as aphids, mosquitoes, hoverflies and small beetles are favourites of swifts and house martins. Blackbirds feed on slugs uncovered beneath dead leaves, while robins, starlings and wrens hunt for grubs and worms in lawns and soil. Berry-bearing shrubs and trees – including female holly, ivy (which is high in fat and especially nutritious), hawthorn and pyracantha – also help sustain birds, says Bostock. Overwintering seedheads, such as teasel and sedum, further boost the food supply. Grow fruit trees Fruit trees are a great starting point, says Thomas, as you can choose a rootstock to suit the size of your garden. They provide blossom for pollinators, while moth and butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves – and are, in turn, eaten by birds and their chicks. The bark shelters spiders and butterfly eggs, and windfall apples offer food for winter thrushes and redwings. Plus, you get to enjoy some of the fruit yourself. Accept some pest damage Allowing foliage to be nibbled by caterpillars and earwigs helps maintain a healthy food chain. The Swift Garden includes a chewed-up Tilia henryana, an aphid-covered Epilobium hirsutum (great willowherb), and dead stems left in place on Viburnum opulus and Rosa canina to support overwintering wildlife. 'Some people get very annoyed when their hostas are eaten, but you could look at it as having some very healthy slugs – and, in turn, some very happy birds,' says Gomm. 'A garden will balance itself out naturally, without us needing to spray it.' Avoid an antiseptic garden Far from being low-maintenance, gardens dominated by hard landscaping – such as decking, fencing and artificial grass – are costly in more ways than one, says Thomas. 'A hedge is cheaper to install and easier to maintain than a fence. Fences may seem like the quick, simple option, but they're not – they blow down, rot, need preserving or end up having to be replaced. People often worry they haven't got green fingers, but many plants are very easy to care for – especially trees and shrubs. Once they're established and watered in, they pretty much look after themselves.' Offer places for birds to nest Meticulously restored buildings can also pose a problem. Swifts spend nearly their entire lives on the wing – eating, sleeping and mating in flight. They arrive in the UK from Africa in April or May and leave by August, only landing to lay eggs and raise their young. These birds typically return to the same nest each year, but their favoured sites – small holes under the eaves of houses and churches – have been largely lost to redevelopment. Some developers, such as Barratt and Redrow, are now incorporating swift bricks into new builds, and anyone can fit a nesting box for swifts or other species onto the side of their home. Birds also need nooks, crannies and thick foliage to thrive. 'Retaining cavities in mature trees and pruning bushes helps create dense nesting opportunities,' says Bostock. Tree cavities are especially important for species such as the starling, blue tit, little owl, nuthatch and kestrel. Do not sideline wildlife 'Some people think, 'I like wildlife, so I'll allocate a little corner of the garden to it – maybe behind the shed,'' says Thomas. 'But you can support wildlife throughout the whole garden. Rather than dividing it into a 'human' bit and a 'wildlife' bit, the more we think of humans and wildlife as interconnected, the better.' Choose feeding stations with care Unless you're prepared to keep bird tables and feeding stations scrupulously clean, you could be harming birds rather than helping them. Increasing evidence suggests that, for some species, feeding stations can be deadly. Trichomonosis – a parasitic disease that affects birds' ability to swallow – is a growing concern, particularly among finches. Greenfinch and chaffinch populations in the UK have been badly affected. The disease is thought to spread through infected birds' saliva left on tables and feeders, and organisations such as the RSPB are actively researching the issue. The RSPB recommends thoroughly cleaning feeders, bird baths and tables once a week with hot, soapy water and detergent (for guidance, visit
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
B.C. First Nation builds small island, fisheries officials check for habitat damage
An excavator is seen on the shores of Coles Bay, B.C., where it was used to help build a small island and a land bridge. May 30, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Richard Smith, *MANDATORY CREDIT* VICTORIA — A British Columbia First Nation has built up a small artificial island in the tidal shallows of Coles Bay off Vancouver Island, triggering an investigation by fisheries officials into whether it involved habitat destruction and if authorization should have been required. Two yellow excavators could be seen at work last week in the bay, heaping up stones and gravel on top of an existing rock outcrop, in a project the Department of Fisheries and Ocean said was linked to a 'clam garden.' Nearby resident Richard Smith said he watched dump trucks carry loads of rock to the shore, where the excavators hauled it into the bay, also building a temporary land bridge during the construction process. He said the rock outcrop was previously visible at low tide, but the island is now exposed at all times after the construction, which lasted from May 26 to May 30. The Canadian Press watched the excavators at work on May 30, then saw that they had left the scene later that day. That afternoon, about 20 workers, some wearing outfits with the logo of the Pauquachin First Nation, were on the bay's mud flats spreading what one described as 'shell hash.' The worker declined to be identified. Shell hash, made of finely ground sea shells, is used in some aquaculture operations to promote growth of mollusks, such as clams. The Department of Fisheries and Ocean was asked by The Canadian Press about the construction last Friday, and on Tuesday the department said in a statement it was 'aware of work being undertaken involving excavators and dump trucks to move and stockpile rocks in Coles Bay, B.C., to facilitate construction of a clam garden,' a traditional form of aquaculture. It said fisheries officers and biologists visited the site on Monday to evaluate the work. 'Assessment of the work will determine whether there has been any harmful alternation, disruption or destruction of fish and fish habitat that would require authorization under the Fisheries Act,' the statement said, adding that 'it would be premature to comment further at this time.' Work above the high-water mark occurred on Pauquachin territory, maps show. The First Nation did not respond to questions about the work. But it had previously announced an event in August to build a 'traditional sea garden' in Coles Bay, with guests invited to help construct a 250-metre long wall on the tidal flats using 'mindfully sourced and prepared rocks' from a quarry. 'A traditionally designed sea garden will nurture clam beds, welcome the return of numerous sea life, provide food sustainability, awaken sleeping traditional teachings, harvesting practices and sharing to future generations,' a description says on a Pauquachin First Nation website. Shellfish harvesting in Coles Bay was prohibited in 1997 on health grounds because of pollution from septic systems. The Pauquachin First Nation of 423 people along the western shore of the Saanich Peninsula has said the prohibition represents an 'infringement' of traditional fishing rights granted under an 1852 treaty. Chief Rebecca David said in a June 2023 letter to the provincial government that government-authorized septic systems represent the 'primary source of pollution,' calling on Ottawa and Victoria to fulfil obligations under the 1852 treaty by cleaning up the bay so shellfish harvesting can resume. The University of Victoria's Environmental Law Centre said in a report attached to David's letter that the closure of shellfish harvesting had deprived families of a critical food source and 'failure to redress the pollution' represents 'a grievous breach of treaty rights.' David's letter calls for the decontamination of Coles Bay to serve as a 'pilot project for developing a systemic approach to decontaminating shellfish beaches in British Columbia.' The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said in a statement the province 'has supported Pauquachin's efforts to rehabilitate shellfish harvest in Coles Bay through regularly scheduled meetings and other technical support.' It did not respond directly to questions about the construction in Coles Bay. The lack of public information about the work has frustrated Smith, who said he is a 'big supporter of reconciliation' and supports 'anything that we can do to assist, co-operate and partner' with First Nations in almost any sphere. 'My frustration is really with the enforcement people or the people that are supposed to be governing this, who provide me with no information at all,' he said. Smith said this uncertainty is weighing heavily on him given the environmental stakes. 'It's the ocean and we all have to protect the ocean,' he said. 'That's part of our lives … theirs (the First Nation's), everybody's, and I'm constantly out on the beach, cleaning it, pulling tires out of the water.' North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones said on Tuesday that neither he nor the council received any notice about the work, but would have to confirm whether the First Nation contacted the municipality. 'I know for myself, I have not been contacted,' he said, adding the municipality has a 'very, very positive and very open' relationship with the First Nation. Jones said he does not know what the First Nation is doing, but said it has been working for a long time with Victoria, Ottawa and the Capital Regional District on restoring clam beds. 'This council is very, very hopeful that the (First Nation) can, in fact, restore the clam beds to a level that would make them very, very useful to them,' he said. 'Again, I hope they are successful, and with regard to what's happening there right now, council and I have no idea.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
