Nature

The natural environment along Bradford Beck has had a welcome boost now a three year river restoration project is complete. Environment Agency 21 June 2021 The Environment Agency has worked in partnership with Bradford City Council, Friends of Bradford Beck and the Wild Trout Trust to complete a river restoration project on an urbanised stretch of Bradford Beck in Shipley since 2018. A range of measures have been introduced to improve the natural ecology and biodiversity of the beck and surrounding woodland. Rolls of natural fibre have been attached to the edges of the beck to help establish riverside plants and create varied habitats for fish and invertebrate species. Together with new planting near the beck, this will help slow the flow of water into the channel, which can p...

Speech Press conference to close the 2021 Subsidiary Bodies Session Cabinet Office and The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP Delivered on: 17 June 2021 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) It is a pleasure to be here to mark the end of the June period of the 2021 Subsidiary Bodies Session. These have been an important few weeks. It is undeniably challenging to undertake such complicated discussions virtually with such a large group of people. So I would like to thank each and every person who took part, for taking on the challenge and engaging so fully with the process. I know colleagues have worked all hours of the day and night. And I particularly thank the Subsidiary Bodies Chairs and their co-facilitators for their leadership; and colleagues across the UNFCCC...

23 April 2021 Prime Minister, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction The Morrison Government will make an additional $100 million investment to continue leading the world and our region in how we manage our ocean habitats and coastal environments and contribute to the global task of reducing emissions. As the world’s only island continent, Australia has always understood that how we manage our oceans and coastal environments will determine the success or failure of our world’s efforts to address climate change. That is why we have been leading the world in taking action in this important area. The investment package will target ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems that involve seagrass and mangroves playing a key role in drawing carbon out...

A new species of deep-sea dwelling dumbo octopus called Grimpoteuthis imperator sp. nov. has been described using a combination of MRI, micro-CT and minimally invasive gene analysis rather than traditional dissection methods. The findings are presented in the open access journal BMC Biology. The single specimen, which was identified as a mature male, was named G. imperator because it was discovered in the northern part of the Emperor Seamounts, an undersea mountain ridge in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. In addition to the scientific name in Latin, the authors suggest possible common names for this new species such as Emperor dumbo, Dumbo impérial (French), 天皇ダンボ (Japanese), and Kaiserdumbo (German). Finned or dumbo octopods, although considered rare organisms, form a significant part ...

14 April 2021 The ocean is at the heart of our planet. It provides many resources for those who live along its coasts and to the world as whole. To ensure a prosperous ocean now and in the future, marine research must offer clear recommendations based on representative information and demonstrate practical pathways, according to new research from Oxford University, the charity Nekton and the Seychelles Environment Ministry and published today in Biology Letters. The scientists say that the inadequate and inequitable distribution of research capacity and resources, and the practice of ‘parachute science’ limit both the opportunity for leadership and participation in science. Their paper argues that only with increased participation in ocean research and decision-making can usable know...

A trial to help test how nature based solutions such as creating wetlands can be used to help reduce the risk of flooding has been successfully completed at Marlfield Farm, in Earby. This is one of a series of pilot projects which are part of Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme using natural flood management (NFM) techniques to help protect the people of Leeds and those living near the River Aire from the risk of flooding. Evidence from these projects is being gathered to fully understand the benefits of NFM and develop how best to work with landowners, tenants and key partners in the future. A team from the Environment Agency has been working with the River Stewardship Company and landowners at Marlfield Farm, which is on the border of Yorkshire and Lancashire, since last September to...

Significant rainfall during Storm Christoph damaged one of the banks of the River Alt which caused flooding to the Lunt Meadows Lunt Meadows, which is managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, has been designed to act as both a flood storage area and a nature reserve, providing wetland habitats for species, such as water vole, marsh harrier and kingfisher, while also holding excess rain and river water Work to repair an embankment on the River Alt at Lunt meadows Nature Reserve and flood storage area has begun as part of the Environment Agency’s programme of recovery to last month’s floods. The river burst its bank on 20 January during significant and severe rainfall caused by Storm Christoph which also saw the Environment Agency issue two Severe Flood Warnings in Maghull, coverin...

A new study published in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature today offers a combined solution to several of humanity’s most pressing challenges. It is the most comprehensive assessment to date of where strict ocean protection can contribute to a more abundant supply of healthy seafood and provide a cheap, natural solution to address climate change—in addition to protecting embattled species and habitats. An international team of 26 authors identified specific areas that, if protected, would safeguard over 80% of the habitats for endangered marine species, and increase fishing catches by more than eight million metric tons. The study is also the first to quantify the potential release of carbon dioxide into the ocean from trawling, a widespread fishing practice—an...