April 19, 2012
Moscow, Russia An environmental activist in an animal costume is detained by police during a protest outside a hotel hosting the “Russian Arctic Oil and Gas” business conference (via Reuters.com)

Moscow, Russia

An environmental activist in an animal costume is detained by police during a protest outside a hotel hosting the “Russian Arctic Oil and Gas” business conference (via Reuters.com)

12:25pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxJw8xr5
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Filed under: Russia Moscow Protest Demonstration Police Russian Arctic Oil and Gas Photography Environment Environmentalism 
December 11, 2011
Netherlands: 6,000 trees bought against new nature bill Over the past three days more than 6,000 people have bought a tree to protest against a new nature bill introduced by Deputy Agriculture Minister Henk Bleker, says the leader of the Animal Rights Party, Marianne Thieme. On Thursday, Ms Thieme announced she wanted to plant 10,000 “protest trees” within a week. Speaking on the radio on Sunday, she said the plan was well on track to meet its target. On the party’s website, people can buy a tree for five euros to protest against the new legislation. The radio programme sparked huge interest, with people buying some 500 trees every 30 minutes. The party will announce in a few days where the trees are to be planted. The bill introduced by the Christian Democrat politician has caused a storm of protest. Ms Thieme said Mr Bleker’s bill “completely destroy’s the country’s nature and once again declares all animals outlaws.” Other parties have also condemned the bill. Former conservative VVD leader Ed Nijpels described the law as a “dark page” in Dutch history. The bill severely cuts financial support to protect natural spaces and aims to decentralise their management. “There is absolutely no need to cut the government’s nature budget by 72 percent when 20 percent is the target in all other government areas”, said Mr Nijpels, who also served as environment minister. “Mr Bleker is a horse owner and all he cares about are his ponies and their pastures,” he added. (via Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

Netherlands: 6,000 trees bought against new nature bill

Over the past three days more than 6,000 people have bought a tree to protest against a new nature bill introduced by Deputy Agriculture Minister Henk Bleker, says the leader of the Animal Rights Party, Marianne Thieme.

On Thursday, Ms Thieme announced she wanted to plant 10,000 “protest trees” within a week. Speaking on the radio on Sunday, she said the plan was well on track to meet its target.

On the party’s website, people can buy a tree for five euros to protest against the new legislation. The radio programme sparked huge interest, with people buying some 500 trees every 30 minutes. The party will announce in a few days where the trees are to be planted.

The bill introduced by the Christian Democrat politician has caused a storm of protest. Ms Thieme said Mr Bleker’s bill “completely destroy’s the country’s nature and once again declares all animals outlaws.” Other parties have also condemned the bill.

Former conservative VVD leader Ed Nijpels described the law as a “dark page” in Dutch history. The bill severely cuts financial support to protect natural spaces and aims to decentralise their management. “There is absolutely no need to cut the government’s nature budget by 72 percent when 20 percent is the target in all other government areas”, said Mr Nijpels, who also served as environment minister. “Mr Bleker is a horse owner and all he cares about are his ponies and their pastures,” he added. (via Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

7:22pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxD727PC
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Filed under: Netherlands Holland Nature Trees Tree Planting Tree-Planting Protest Nature Bill Animals Rights Party Marianne Thienne Protest Tree Protest Trees Legislation Natural Spcaces Nature Environment Evironmental Legislation 
November 26, 2011
Germany is Europe’s biggest polluter German industry causes more environmental and health damage than any other country in the European Union, amounting to billions of euros each year, according to a new EU report. The study by the European Environment Agency (EEA) released Thursday ranked Germany ahead of other serious polluters like Britain, France or any eastern European countries. But if the polluters were ranked based on economy size, eastern countries such as Bulgaria and Romania would be on top, according to the environmental watchdog. The agency, which used 2009 numbers in factors including CO2 emissions, said that pollution from facilities like steelworks and power plants caused between €102 billion and €169 billion in health and environmental costs across the European Union. (via The Local)

Germany is Europe’s biggest polluter

German industry causes more environmental and health damage than any other country in the European Union, amounting to billions of euros each year, according to a new EU report.

The study by the European Environment Agency (EEA) released Thursday ranked Germany ahead of other serious polluters like Britain, France or any eastern European countries.

But if the polluters were ranked based on economy size, eastern countries such as Bulgaria and Romania would be on top, according to the environmental watchdog.

The agency, which used 2009 numbers in factors including CO2 emissions, said that pollution from facilities like steelworks and power plants caused between €102 billion and €169 billion in health and environmental costs across the European Union. (via The Local)

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Filed under: CO2 Emissions EEA Environment Europe European Environment Agency Germany Health Industry Pollution European Union 
November 2, 2011
Picture Gallery: GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 (via GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011)

Picture Gallery: GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011

(via GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011)

9:29am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWxBPJQBG
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Filed under: Wildlife Wildlife Photography Art Photography Animals Environment 
September 14, 2011
UK: Record numbers of golden eagles poisoned in Scotland in 2010 Four golden eagles were found illegally poisoned in Scotland last year, the highest number since records began 18 years ago. The poisoned carcasses are just the tip of the iceberg, according to the RSPB, and the continued persecution of the golden eagle is preventing it from recapturing old territories to the south and east. Tests by the Scottish government also confirmed the poisoning of 13 buzzards, seven red kites, two peregrines and one white-tailed sea eagle in 2010. A further 20 illegal incidents related to the illegal shooting, trapping and nest destruction of birds of prey. All of the 442 pairs of golden eagles in Britain nest in Scotland. While breeding pairs are surviving in their north-western strongholds, the victims of poisoning were all young adult birds attempting to establish new territories in eastern and south-west Scotland, according to Bob Elliot, head of investigations for RSPB Scotland. (via guardian.co.uk)

UK: Record numbers of golden eagles poisoned in Scotland in 2010

Four golden eagles were found illegally poisoned in Scotland last year, the highest number since records began 18 years ago.

The poisoned carcasses are just the tip of the iceberg, according to the RSPB, and the continued persecution of the golden eagle is preventing it from recapturing old territories to the south and east.

Tests by the Scottish government also confirmed the poisoning of 13 buzzards, seven red kites, two peregrines and one white-tailed sea eagle in 2010. A further 20 illegal incidents related to the illegal shooting, trapping and nest destruction of birds of prey.

All of the 442 pairs of golden eagles in Britain nest in Scotland. While breeding pairs are surviving in their north-western strongholds, the victims of poisoning were all young adult birds attempting to establish new territories in eastern and south-west Scotland, according to Bob Elliot, head of investigations for RSPB Scotland. (via guardian.co.uk)

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Filed under: UK United Kingdom Scotland Environment Animals Birds Wildlife RSPB Golden Eagle Golden Eagles Crime Scotland Poison Poisonings 
August 24, 2011
Europe’s farmland birds on decline If you have never heard the lilting song of the linnet, spotted the distinctive plumage of a goldcrest, or waited for the whirring wings of a grey partridge, it is increasingly unlikely that you ever will. These once common farmland birds, along with many others, including the meadow pipit, lesser spotted woodpecker and nutcracker, are now at their lowest levels across Europe since records began, according to a survey. The birds’ rapid decline is attributed to intensive farming, urbanisation, encroachment on habitats, and failure to sustain fragile populations. The grey partridge has declined by 90% in the UK alone, and the linnet by 57%. Over the past 30 years farmland birds have suffered more threats than most of the wildlife in Britain: they are now the most endangered avian group in Europe. The figures come from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme, which looked at population figures for 145 of the most common bird species in 25 European countries between 1980-2009. (via The Guardian)

Europe’s farmland birds on decline

If you have never heard the lilting song of the linnet, spotted the distinctive plumage of a goldcrest, or waited for the whirring wings of a grey partridge, it is increasingly unlikely that you ever will.

These once common farmland birds, along with many others, including the meadow pipit, lesser spotted woodpecker and nutcracker, are now at their lowest levels across Europe since records began, according to a survey.

The birds’ rapid decline is attributed to intensive farming, urbanisation, encroachment on habitats, and failure to sustain fragile populations. The grey partridge has declined by 90% in the UK alone, and the linnet by 57%. Over the past 30 years farmland birds have suffered more threats than most of the wildlife in Britain: they are now the most endangered avian group in Europe. The figures come from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme, which looked at population figures for 145 of the most common bird species in 25 European countries between 1980-2009. (via The Guardian)

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Filed under: Environment Birds Wildlife Farming Conservation Intensive Farming Land Use Animals Europe 
August 24, 2011
Invasion of the Asian bee-eating hornet The Asian hornet arrived in France in 2004 and has become the scourge of all amateur beekeepers. From the beginning of August, Frédéric Wielezynski, a beekeeper in the Médoc region of France, spends every weekend tirelessly repeating the same futile gestures. He positions himself in front of his hives armed with a fly swat and tries to crush the enormous bee-eating hornets. These are not just any hornets, but the Asian Vespa velutina. “I know it’s useless, because a dozen more will arrive as soon as my back is turned, but I have to do something,” said Wielezynski, president of the Gironde and Aquitaine beekeepers’ association. “I love my bees and I can’t just stand by and see them being eaten up without doing anything about it.” The attacks are quite impressive. Groups of five or 10 hornets hover in front of a hive waiting for the return of the forager bees. “It’s like a barbarian invasion, they destroy everything in their path,” said Richard Legrand, vice-president of the beekeepers association in Dordogne, one of the worst-hit departments in France. Once the Vespa velutina has got hold of its prey, it attaches itself to a branch and begins its sinister dismantling of the bee. First the head falls to the ground, then the wings and the legs. The hornet keeps only the protein-rich thorax, which it carries back to its nest for the hungry larvae. (via Guardian Weekly)

Invasion of the Asian bee-eating hornet

The Asian hornet arrived in France in 2004 and has become the scourge of all amateur beekeepers. From the beginning of August, Frédéric Wielezynski, a beekeeper in the Médoc region of France, spends every weekend tirelessly repeating the same futile gestures. He positions himself in front of his hives armed with a fly swat and tries to crush the enormous bee-eating hornets. These are not just any hornets, but the Asian Vespa velutina. “I know it’s useless, because a dozen more will arrive as soon as my back is turned, but I have to do something,” said Wielezynski, president of the Gironde and Aquitaine beekeepers’ association. “I love my bees and I can’t just stand by and see them being eaten up without doing anything about it.”

The attacks are quite impressive. Groups of five or 10 hornets hover in front of a hive waiting for the return of the forager bees. “It’s like a barbarian invasion, they destroy everything in their path,” said Richard Legrand, vice-president of the beekeepers association in Dordogne, one of the worst-hit departments in France. Once the Vespa velutina has got hold of its prey, it attaches itself to a branch and begins its sinister dismantling of the bee. First the head falls to the ground, then the wings and the legs. The hornet keeps only the protein-rich thorax, which it carries back to its nest for the hungry larvae. (via Guardian Weekly)

4:55am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWx8hedWR
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Filed under: France Insects Bees Beekeeping Invasive Species Asian Hornet Vespa velutina Environment 
August 21, 2011
Bear hunting season opens in Sweden Bears in Sweden unwittingly live on the edge as the year’s autumn bear hunting season opens in both central and northern parts of the country. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency - EPA (Naturvårdsverket) will now continue a research project begun last year regarding the highly controversial bait hunting technique (åteljakt). “We have now come far enough in our investigation to put the technique into practice in order to understand its effects. We have hired bear experts to study the effect the bait-technique has on bears and will therefore allow it in this year’s hunt,” said EPA wildlife management head Per Risberg in a statement. The study, which involves bait hunting, or food that is intentionally placed to facilitate scouting and hunting of the bears, investigates a technique which is under great debate in Sweden. (via The Local)

Bear hunting season opens in Sweden

Bears in Sweden unwittingly live on the edge as the year’s autumn bear hunting season opens in both central and northern parts of the country.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency - EPA (Naturvårdsverket) will now continue a research project begun last year regarding the highly controversial bait hunting technique (åteljakt).

“We have now come far enough in our investigation to put the technique into practice in order to understand its effects. We have hired bear experts to study the effect the bait-technique has on bears and will therefore allow it in this year’s hunt,” said EPA wildlife management head Per Risberg in a statement.

The study, which involves bait hunting, or food that is intentionally placed to facilitate scouting and hunting of the bears, investigates a technique which is under great debate in Sweden. (via The Local)

2:17pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWx8akdMA
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Filed under: Sweden Environment Wildlife Wildlife Management Animals Bears Hunting 
August 19, 2011
Sweden halts licensed wolf hunt There won’t be a licensed hunt on wolves in Sweden this winter following a government decision on Wednesday to scrap the controversial policy, while at the same time expanding the option to cull nuisance wolves. (via The Local)

Sweden halts licensed wolf hunt

There won’t be a licensed hunt on wolves in Sweden this winter following a government decision on Wednesday to scrap the controversial policy, while at the same time expanding the option to cull nuisance wolves. (via The Local)

12:33am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWx8ULywB
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Filed under: Sweden Environment Wildlife Wildlife Management Animals Wolves Hunting Shooting 
August 18, 2011
UK: Otters are back – in every county in England It has been a long and perilous journey, but otters have finally managed to swim back from the brink of extinction and into every county in England. Two otters have been spotted building their holts on the banks of the rivers Medway and Eden in Kent, delighting conservationists who had previously predicted they would not return to the county for another 10 years. “The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England and is a symbol of great success for everybody involved in otter conservation,” said Alastair Driver, the national conservation manager for the Environment Agency. Otters have reappeared in places where they have not been seen since the industrial revolution, including Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, and even on the Thames and the Lea in north London. A recent survey on the river Ribble, in Lancashire, showed a 44% increase in otter numbers since 2008. (via The Guardian)

UK: Otters are back – in every county in England

It has been a long and perilous journey, but otters have finally managed to swim back from the brink of extinction and into every county in England.

Two otters have been spotted building their holts on the banks of the rivers Medway and Eden in Kent, delighting conservationists who had previously predicted they would not return to the county for another 10 years.

“The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England and is a symbol of great success for everybody involved in otter conservation,” said Alastair Driver, the national conservation manager for the Environment Agency.

Otters have reappeared in places where they have not been seen since the industrial revolution, including Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, and even on the Thames and the Lea in north London. A recent survey on the river Ribble, in Lancashire, showed a 44% increase in otter numbers since 2008. (via The Guardian)

6:11pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZuyxWx8TV8Pv
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Filed under: UK United Kingdom England Rivers Wildlife Animals Otters Environment 
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