Latest news with #habitatrestoration
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Plan to protect habitats under 'intense pressure'
A plan to encourage and rebuild wildlife habitats in a nature-depleted county under "intense pressure" is set to be put to the public. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, which brings together the mayor and local councils, is set to approve a draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy at its meeting on Wednesday. There will be a consultation in July before it becomes one of 48 similar documents published across England setting out priorities and actions for that region. According to the draft strategy, Cambridgeshire has one of the lowest proportions of land designated for nature in the UK, at 3.3%, and the second-lowest woodland cover at 4.8%. But it said Cambridgeshire was home to many "internationally important" nature sites, with the Fens supporting populations of European eel and spined loach. It pointed to invasive species in the county, such as muntjac deer and American mink, and tree diseases that have impacted the Cambridgeshire landscape by killing elm and ash trees. The county's population had increased by 20% since 2000, the strategy said, putting "intense pressure" on local habitats such as Wicken Fen. The report said: "The rapidly growing population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough does not have national parks, national landscapes or large areas of open access downland, forest, moorland or coast on its doorsteps." Cambridgeshire was also said to have lost 88% of its marsh habitat, 84% of its semi-natural grassland but gained 85% of its woodland between 1930 and 2018. Part two of the draft plan talked about protecting Cambridgeshire's chalk streams and historic orchards, and for the county's grasslands, woodlands and wetland habitats to be "cherished and managed". The strategy discussed differences anyone can make, such as gardeners leaving some of their lawn unmown for part of the year, or for farmers to crop less land at the edges of fields. Each of the 48 strategies will map out areas important for biodiversity, and those with the potential to be important, and produce a local habitat map. If approved, an eight-week public consultation on the draft strategy will begin on 18 July. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk. Station project plants trees at expanded reserve Rare birds appear on restored wetland 'in hours' Nature reserve sees first crane chick take flight Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
BBC News
15 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire plan to restore under-pressure natural habitats
A plan to encourage and rebuild wildlife habitats in a nature-depleted county under "intense pressure" is set to be put to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, which brings together the mayor and local councils, is set to approve a draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy at its meeting on will be a consultation in July before it becomes one of 48 similar documents published across England setting out priorities and actions for that to the draft strategy, Cambridgeshire has one of the lowest proportions of land designated for nature in the UK, at 3.3%, and the second-lowest woodland cover at 4.8%. But it said Cambridgeshire was home to many "internationally important" nature sites, with the Fens supporting populations of European eel and spined pointed to invasive species in the county, such as muntjac deer and American mink, and tree diseases that have impacted the Cambridgeshire landscape by killing elm and ash county's population had increased by 20% since 2000, the strategy said, putting "intense pressure" on local habitats such as Wicken report said: "The rapidly growing population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough does not have national parks, national landscapes or large areas of open access downland, forest, moorland or coast on its doorsteps."Cambridgeshire was also said to have lost 88% of its marsh habitat, 84% of its semi-natural grassland but gained 85% of its woodland between 1930 and 2018. Part two of the draft plan talked about protecting Cambridgeshire's chalk streams and historic orchards, and for the county's grasslands, woodlands and wetland habitats to be "cherished and managed".The strategy discussed differences anyone can make, such as gardeners leaving some of their lawn unmown for part of the year, or for farmers to crop less land at the edges of of the 48 strategies will map out areas important for biodiversity, and those with the potential to be important, and produce a local habitat approved, an eight-week public consultation on the draft strategy will begin on 18 July. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
CTV News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
West Coast salmon habitat restoration earns financial boost, support toward completion
The Pacific Salmon Foundation is helping push a major salmon habitat restoration project near Tofino over the finish line with $100,000 in financial support. ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) First Nation has been leading the recovery of a salmon watershed at Tranquil Creek, in partnership with Redd Fish Restoration Society. 'We're really excited. This is one of the bigger projects we've ever taken on and having it properly and thoroughly funded means we don't cut corners. We don't have to do things less than we intended,' says Redd Fish restoration biologist, Tom Balfour. The multi-million-dollar project is in its eighth and final year of work. The groups are addressing historical impacts of forestry by recreating necessary log jams for salmon. 'That's been a restoration technique for a long time, but the difference for us here is working at a very larger scale,' says Balfour. 'At the end of this project, we're going to put over a thousand second-growth cedar conifers, cedar spruce hemlocks, into this river just replacing a process that was lost.' According to Pacific Salmon Foundation, the project has restored more than 40 hectares of riparian habitat, planted 800 trees and installed 41 log jams. There are another 18 engineered log jams that are needed. 'Around the world, people are working hard to save and restore wild salmon,' says PSF CEO and president, Michael Meneer, in a news release. 'These fish – both Pacific and Atlantic – need our help. By working together, we can raise awareness for the challenges wild salmon face and help drive meaningful change.' Balfour says the new funding will help address some unexpected financial hurdles – such as harsh winter weather eroding logging roads, which cost more money to maintain to access the site.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Hundreds of acres of rare temperate rainforest to be restored on Isle of Man
Hundreds of acres of rainforest are to be restored on the Isle of Man, in the largest project so far in a £38 million scheme to revive the rare habitat. Manx Wildlife Trust will restore 750 acres of temperate rainforest at Glen Auldyn, a 1,100 acre-landscape that also includes peat, protected heathland, wetlands and species-rich grasslands which will not be planted on, along with areas used by red-listed birds including curlew. The multimillion-pound project is the largest to enter the Wildlife Trusts' rainforest recovery programme, backed by £38 million from insurance giant Aviva, to restore a vanishing habitat and make it resilient to climate change, and will form the largest nature reserve on the Isle of Man. Wildlife experts describe temperate rainforest, a globally rare habitat that once swathed western coasts of England, Wales, Scotland, the island of Ireland and the Isle of Man, as the 'jewel in the crown' of the country's landscapes but warn they are a pale shadow of their former selves. The area of Britain covered by these woodlands has shrunk from a fifth to just 1%, cleared for timber, commercial forestry and agriculture. The surviving fragments of native wet woodland rich in lichen, moss and ferns as well as an array of rare and special wildlife, face multiple threats including isolation, invasive species and rising temperatures which put their unique micro-climate at risk. But restoring and linking up these remaining areas can make them more resilient to climate change, and provide natural services from supporting wildlife and access to nature, to storing carbon and reducing flood risk, conservationists say. Manx Wildlife Trust said local communities in and around Ramsey in the north of the Isle of Man will be closely involved in the project, with increased access to nature, volunteering, education and employment opportunities, while restoration will also help reduce the high risk of flooding. The last few fragments of rainforests in the Isle of Man are largely confined to steep-sided gorges of the glens, many close to Glen Auldyn. Tree seeds including Manx oak, downy birch, mountain ash, holly, alder, willows and hazel will be gathered from the glens and grown in the trust's nursery, which was set up to provide trees for Manx Wildlife Trust's rainforest restoration at other sites, Creg y Cowin and Glion Darragh. There will be an initial two years conducting ecological surveys of the moorland, peatland, glens and existing woodland while livestock grazing will continue, with longer term plans to continue farming appropriate areas of the reserve. David Bellamy, head of conservation and land at Manx Wildlife Trust, said: 'We are thrilled to start this exciting new chapter to restore the Isle of Man's natural heritage. 'The recovery of Glen Auldyn's temperate rainforest will not only create an invaluable habitat for wildlife but will also provide multiple benefits for local communities, including reduced flood risk and greater access to beautiful woodland.' Leigh Morris, Manx Wildlife Trust's chief executive, described it as a 'landmark moment' for the charity and the Isle of Man. 'Glen Auldyn is over seven times the size of our largest nature reserve and its size provides a fantastic opportunity for landscape scale nature conservation and create a model for how the Isle of Man uplands could be managed in future,' he said. Claudine Blamey, chief sustainability officer at Aviva, said: 'Aviva is proud to support such a transformative project, which not only enhances the beauty and biodiversity of the island but also provides lasting benefits to local communities, including green jobs, tourism and improved flood resilience, helping them get ready for the future.'
BBC News
13-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Chester Zoo receives £4m National Lottery grant for eco projects
A zoo has been awarded more than £4m for a project to restore and reconnect at Chester Zoo aim to restore nearly 985 ft (3,000m) of hedgerows and more than 247 acres (100 hectares) of other habitats in National Lottery heritage fund grant will also fund a project for 4,500 students to improve school grounds for Brooks, from Chester Zoo, said the cash injection was "an exciting moment for the project". Ms Brooks said the Networks for Nature initiative "could really transform things for the environment in Cheshire and for the people who live here".She also said: "There has been a lot of work behind the scenes to bring people together and find out what these community groups need to take action to improve spaces for wildlife and people."The cash will help Chester Zoo to fund 14 new jobs, and continue to work with community groups to improve their outdoor spaces. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
