Latest news with #natureconservation
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Ex-Hong Kong athlete swims 360km around Swedish island as part of mental health fight
A former Hong Kong athlete, who said the city was where he 'fell in love with open-water swimming', has swum 360 kilometres around a Swedish island as part of his battle with mental health and to raise awareness of the issue and for nature conservation. Karl Palmqvist, a Swedish national who trained with the Hong Kong Sports Institute's triathlon national development squad as a teenager, completed the 21-day swim around Gotland, Sweden's largest island, on Thursday. But the mammoth achievement comes two years after he was at his 'absolute lowest' following years of injuries, an identity crisis and the constant pressure to perform. 'The way sports are nowadays, you push kids so early on that it's almost the only thing that they're banking on, or in my case, such a big part of my identity,' Palmqvist said. 'And then, when you've almost gone professional or been elite within your sport, and then it's taken away from you due to injuries or mental burnout, we're just left there floating on our own without any tools to be able to work through it. Karl Palmqvist checked himself into a psychiatric ward but has since pulled through. Photo: Anders Klapp Palmqvist moved to Shanghai when he was three years old and relocated to Hong Kong aged 10. He lived in the city for five years before returning to Sweden.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must treasure the natural assets that help make it special
Hong Kong is well-known as a busy and bustling metropolis, with crowded streets, congested roads and tightly-packed skyscrapers. The city's amazing biodiversity, including many endangered species, is not widely appreciated. But flora and fauna is an integral part of what makes Hong Kong special. The city boasts more than 50 types of land-based mammal, over 130 dragonfly species, and 240 kinds of butterfly. There are 580 bird species, 1,000 types of marine fish and 3,300 species of vascular plants. It is imperative that these assets are preserved and able to flourish. Sadly, many are under threat. A two-month public consultation on the updating of Hong Kong's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan concluded this month. The plan, required by an international convention, was introduced in 2016. The review is a chance to make biodiversity a top priority for all sectors, public and private, and instil a love of nature in the community. Four action areas are highlighted in the document: nature conservation, mainstreaming, capacity building and collaborative partnering. But the most important part is the 10 questions posed to the public at the end. These are broad and open-ended, essentially asking what Hong Kong's vision should be for nature conservation and how to realise it. The government should be very receptive to submissions that can take the strategy to a new level. Think-tank Civic Exchange, in a compelling submission, argues that nature should be integrated into decision-making across public and private sectors, with Hong Kong making an active contribution to the world's efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, becoming a regional leader in the field. It advocates the establishment of a central hub for 'nature-based solutions'.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wildlife trust tells dog owners to keep pets on leads at reserves
Dog owners have been warned to keep their pets on leads at nature reserves after a series of incidents where dogs have attacked people and Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire put out the caution after a sheep was killed by a loose dog at Pegsdon Hills nature reserve in Bedfordshire, despite signage stating dogs must be kept on leads at all times. It added the Nene Valley Special Protection Area (SPA), which covers the Nene Wetlands, Summer Leys and Titchmarsh nature reserves, has employed an officer to engage with dog walkers. Matt Jackson, the trust's conservation director, said: "No-one deserves to feel fear at work or on a nature reserve." "Our conservation officers are simply doing their job and visitors are enjoying these special places," he added. Other incidents include a small dog being killed by a larger dog at Trumpington Meadows in Cambridge, a person being bitten by a dog at Beechwoods Nature Reserve near Cambridge and a reserve officer injured by a dog at Waresley Wood. A study carried out in the Nene Valley found dogs let off the lead were four times more likely to cause a disturbance to dogs on leads. It also found that out of 619 incidents, dogs off the lead were the most common cause of bird disturbances and there had been areas on the reserve where birds had not nested despite it being a good habitat. When sharing the news of the sheep found dead at the Pegsdon Hills reserve, Mr Jackson said it caused distress to staff members. He said: "It's the latest in a line of similar incidents and has caused distress for staff members who work hard to care for these animals and the reserve."He said while responsible dog walkers were welcome, the reserves were for wildlife and people to enjoy. He said: "We're wildlife conservationists and we love all animals, many of us have dogs of our own... our rules state clearly that all nature reserves - aside from a small number of designated areas - are for dogs on leads only, at all times of the year." 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.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Conservation site approved for former quarry in Surrey
A former quarry in Surrey is to be converted into a nature conservation site, a council has said. Plans for Clockhouse Quarry in Capel, near Dorking, could take at least 14 years to from Surrey Council Council have granted planning permission to utility company firm will now begin importing around 740,000 cubic metres of inert material, such as soil, from nearby construction projects to create the site. It will bring an end to the industrialisation of the land that has stretched back to 1947, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Gerry Cavanagh, regional manager at Suez, said: "We look forward to delivering all the excellent enhancements for local wildlife and keeping the community updated on our activity as we look to the months ahead."The company said it wanted to "reduce the size and depth" of man-made reservoirs to "minimise both health and safety risks associated with unauthorised access, as well as bird strikes for aeroplanes approaching or taking off from Gatwick Airport".It said the plans should help native great-crested newts and other flora and first decade of the project will see large swathes of the site refilled before a potential two-year pause to allow habitats to establish. This would be followed by another two years of work, ensuring water can drain freely from the restored is expected to start in 2026.
CTV News
12-07-2025
- CTV News
Nova Scotia nature reserve gets bigger thanks to new partnership with climbing group
There aren't many outdoor climbing sites in Nova Scotia, so when a group of dedicated climbers found one in Musquodoboit Harbour, they wanted to make sure it would stay open and protected. Jamie Simpson, board member with Climb Nova Scotia, said the people often use the Musquodoboit trails to reach the climbing rocks, and the group wanted to preserve the area. 'We were concerned it could be bought up and developed,' Simpson said. 'We were quite concerned the climbers would lose access to this property.' Simpson reached out to the Nature Conservancy of Canada about a possible partnership over the land, which ultimately led to the expansion of the Musquodoboit River Valley Nature Reserve. 'Climb Nova Scotia came to us with this idea,' said Dave Ireland, Nova Scotia program director with the Nature Conservancy. 'Without community partners, we can't do what we do. They're eager to steward this land.' Musquodoboit nature reserve The Musquodoboit River Valley Nature Reserve spans several wetlands. (Source: Andrew Herygers) (Andrew Herygers) Twenty-six hectares have been added to the nature reserve, bringing the total to more than 300 hectares. The new partnership includes the Nature Conservancy, Climb Nova Scotia and the Musquodoboit Trailway Association, which watches over five trails in the area. 'We're excited to be able to provide more opportunities for climbers, hikers, and all trail users to take part in active transportation activities and enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds us in Musquodoboit Harbour and the larger community,' said Craig McCrea, chair of the Trailway Association, in a news release. 'We look forward to maintaining stewardship of this land in tandem with CNS and thank them and NCC for their efforts and work on this exciting accomplishment.' Ireland said the expansion of the nature reserve is crucial for wildlife as it improves the connectivity between different spots across the region. 'Connectivity is really important to biodiversity, making sure animals have a way to move from A to B,' he said. 'This property adds to this puzzle.' Musquodoboit River Valley Nature Reserve A section of the Musquodoboit River Valley Nature Reserve is pictured. (Source: Andrew Herygers) (Andrew Herygers) According to the Nature Conservancy, the Musquodoboit reserve features an abundance of wetlands and riparian ecosystems that provide habitats for at-risk species such as snapping turtles and the freshwater pearl mussel. It also borders the Musquodoboit River, which is one of the most ecologically rich rivers in central Nova Scotia. 'The Musquodoboit River Valley has some critters that aren't found anywhere else,' Ireland said. 'There are some old growth trees, warblers, bear tracks, deer tracks. It's a bustling place for wildlife.' Ireland said the land on the nature reserve will be protected from development in perpetuity. He notes Nova Scotia's goal of protecting 20 per cent of its land and water by 2030 is achievable and something the Nature Conservancy is working towards. 'There is still more opportunity to conserve land around the Musquodoboit River Valley Nature Reserve,' the news release says. 'Nature conservation flourishes through partnerships and the involvement of community members and landowners. In the face of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change, nature is our ally.' For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
