10 June 2011
Two young men are being sought by police following the largest heath fire in Dorset for 35 years.
The pair were seen walking toward the A35 footbridge leading to Heights Road in Upton on Thursday.
Residents living nearby have returned to their homes after being evacuated when the fire spread rapidly over about one sq km (247 acres) of heath.
At its height, 200 firefighters were tackling the blaze which started at about 1400 BST.
Det Insp Jim Beashel, from Dorset Police, said: "This was a major incident that had a considerable impact on the community.
"I believe that those responsible are likely to have told friends or family about their involvement and would urge anyone with information to contact us urgently."
'It was panic'
Dorset Fire and Rescue's Neil Rickett said: "This fire was extremely difficult given the access and the high winds. The heath is quite marshy so it was difficult to get vehicles onto the heath."
Four people were treated after breathing in smoke and one firefighter was taken to hospital with exhaustion.
Another firefighter suffered minor burns to his arm, during what the fire service said was Dorset's biggest heath fire since 1976.
Resident Russell Bourton had water pumped from his swimming pool to fight the flames.
He said: "Within an hour the smoke was getting closer and closer. At one point I thought we were going to lose the house."
The flames came to within 100m (330ft) of Claire Graves' house.
She said: "We realised immediately it was around our house.
"It was panic - we didn't have time to pick anything up. We just had to get out for our own safety."
Fire crews remained on the site damping down on Friday, helped by rainfall during the morning.
Ecosystem affected
Dorset Wildlife Trust said the damage has put wildlife development in the area back about 25 years.
Steve Davis, from the trust, said it will have "massive implications".
He added: "It's not just the bigger animals that have been affected... it is the whole ecosystem, the insects, for example, would have been taken out by the smoke.
"The site is internationally important, it has all six species of British reptiles which are only found in a few selected locations in the south coast."
Homes in Beacon Road and Kingcup Close were among those evacuated. Properties in nearby Long Meadow Lane were also under threat at the height of the blaze.
Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around and at one point was blowing across parts of the A35.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-13723882
Showing posts with label native wildlife threat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label native wildlife threat. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Friday, November 26, 2010
Kokako discovery in New Zealand
Threatened North Island Kokako have been discovered nesting in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges for the first time in 80 years.
The discovery on Tuesday of a nest is a triumph for the Ark in the Park open sanctuary, which is a project by Forest & Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand), the Auckland Council and West Auckland iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki.
“It’s fantastic news. When the Ark was started in 2003, this event would only have been in our wildest dreams,” said Forest & Bird North Island Conservation Manager Mark Bellingham.
The nesting pair, named Maurice and Kowhai by workers and volunteers in the Ark, were transferred from Pureora Forest in the King Country in September last year.
“They have been moving around as a tight pair for the last nine weeks, and Forest & Bird field staff found their nest on Tuesday,” Dr Bellingham said.
“The female, Kowhai, is incubating eggs. We expect them to hatch in the second week of December and the chicks should be off the nest and moving around by Christmas.”
Pest control is carried out throughout the 2,300 hectares in the Ark and volunteers are intensifying trapping efforts around the nest. The main threat from stoats and cats is likely to come after the chicks have hatched and start making a noise.
Forest & Bird staff and volunteers are now searching for other Kokako – a total of 22 have been transferred into the Ark.
One other pair has been together for about a month, and the female has not been seen much in recent days, so searchers want to see if she is building a nest.
The discovery of the nest follows the first transfer of six Kokako from the King Country in 2009 and this year 14 more came from the King Country and two from Tiritiri Matangi island in the Hauraki Gulf.
Kokako live for up to 40 years and it is hoped this will be the first of many breeding seasons for Maurice and Kowhai and other Kokako in the park. Dr Bellingham said it is hoped the population in the Ark will start growing in a self-sustaining way in the next three or four years.
The Ark in the Park sanctuary aims to restore some of the glory of the forest and wildlife in the Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland. Possum control has allowed forest vegetation to recover and intensive control of rats, stoats and wild cats has led to work restoring some of the bird life in the forest.
Among other species reintroduced are whitehead, North Island robin, and hihi (stitchbird). This has been achieved with Forest and Bird volunteers putting in more than 8,000 hours a year managing biodiversity in the Ark in the Park project area.
http://www.birdlife.org/community/2010/11/kokako-discovery-in-new-zealand/
The discovery on Tuesday of a nest is a triumph for the Ark in the Park open sanctuary, which is a project by Forest & Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand), the Auckland Council and West Auckland iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki.
“It’s fantastic news. When the Ark was started in 2003, this event would only have been in our wildest dreams,” said Forest & Bird North Island Conservation Manager Mark Bellingham.
The nesting pair, named Maurice and Kowhai by workers and volunteers in the Ark, were transferred from Pureora Forest in the King Country in September last year.
“They have been moving around as a tight pair for the last nine weeks, and Forest & Bird field staff found their nest on Tuesday,” Dr Bellingham said.
“The female, Kowhai, is incubating eggs. We expect them to hatch in the second week of December and the chicks should be off the nest and moving around by Christmas.”
Pest control is carried out throughout the 2,300 hectares in the Ark and volunteers are intensifying trapping efforts around the nest. The main threat from stoats and cats is likely to come after the chicks have hatched and start making a noise.
Forest & Bird staff and volunteers are now searching for other Kokako – a total of 22 have been transferred into the Ark.
One other pair has been together for about a month, and the female has not been seen much in recent days, so searchers want to see if she is building a nest.
The discovery of the nest follows the first transfer of six Kokako from the King Country in 2009 and this year 14 more came from the King Country and two from Tiritiri Matangi island in the Hauraki Gulf.
Kokako live for up to 40 years and it is hoped this will be the first of many breeding seasons for Maurice and Kowhai and other Kokako in the park. Dr Bellingham said it is hoped the population in the Ark will start growing in a self-sustaining way in the next three or four years.
The Ark in the Park sanctuary aims to restore some of the glory of the forest and wildlife in the Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland. Possum control has allowed forest vegetation to recover and intensive control of rats, stoats and wild cats has led to work restoring some of the bird life in the forest.
Among other species reintroduced are whitehead, North Island robin, and hihi (stitchbird). This has been achieved with Forest and Bird volunteers putting in more than 8,000 hours a year managing biodiversity in the Ark in the Park project area.
http://www.birdlife.org/community/2010/11/kokako-discovery-in-new-zealand/
Kokako discovery in New Zealand
Threatened North Island Kokako have been discovered nesting in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges for the first time in 80 years.
The discovery on Tuesday of a nest is a triumph for the Ark in the Park open sanctuary, which is a project by Forest & Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand), the Auckland Council and West Auckland iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki.
“It’s fantastic news. When the Ark was started in 2003, this event would only have been in our wildest dreams,” said Forest & Bird North Island Conservation Manager Mark Bellingham.
The nesting pair, named Maurice and Kowhai by workers and volunteers in the Ark, were transferred from Pureora Forest in the King Country in September last year.
“They have been moving around as a tight pair for the last nine weeks, and Forest & Bird field staff found their nest on Tuesday,” Dr Bellingham said.
“The female, Kowhai, is incubating eggs. We expect them to hatch in the second week of December and the chicks should be off the nest and moving around by Christmas.”
Pest control is carried out throughout the 2,300 hectares in the Ark and volunteers are intensifying trapping efforts around the nest. The main threat from stoats and cats is likely to come after the chicks have hatched and start making a noise.
Forest & Bird staff and volunteers are now searching for other Kokako – a total of 22 have been transferred into the Ark.
One other pair has been together for about a month, and the female has not been seen much in recent days, so searchers want to see if she is building a nest.
The discovery of the nest follows the first transfer of six Kokako from the King Country in 2009 and this year 14 more came from the King Country and two from Tiritiri Matangi island in the Hauraki Gulf.
Kokako live for up to 40 years and it is hoped this will be the first of many breeding seasons for Maurice and Kowhai and other Kokako in the park. Dr Bellingham said it is hoped the population in the Ark will start growing in a self-sustaining way in the next three or four years.
The Ark in the Park sanctuary aims to restore some of the glory of the forest and wildlife in the Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland. Possum control has allowed forest vegetation to recover and intensive control of rats, stoats and wild cats has led to work restoring some of the bird life in the forest.
Among other species reintroduced are whitehead, North Island robin, and hihi (stitchbird). This has been achieved with Forest and Bird volunteers putting in more than 8,000 hours a year managing biodiversity in the Ark in the Park project area.
http://www.birdlife.org/community/2010/11/kokako-discovery-in-new-zealand/
The discovery on Tuesday of a nest is a triumph for the Ark in the Park open sanctuary, which is a project by Forest & Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand), the Auckland Council and West Auckland iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki.
“It’s fantastic news. When the Ark was started in 2003, this event would only have been in our wildest dreams,” said Forest & Bird North Island Conservation Manager Mark Bellingham.
The nesting pair, named Maurice and Kowhai by workers and volunteers in the Ark, were transferred from Pureora Forest in the King Country in September last year.
“They have been moving around as a tight pair for the last nine weeks, and Forest & Bird field staff found their nest on Tuesday,” Dr Bellingham said.
“The female, Kowhai, is incubating eggs. We expect them to hatch in the second week of December and the chicks should be off the nest and moving around by Christmas.”
Pest control is carried out throughout the 2,300 hectares in the Ark and volunteers are intensifying trapping efforts around the nest. The main threat from stoats and cats is likely to come after the chicks have hatched and start making a noise.
Forest & Bird staff and volunteers are now searching for other Kokako – a total of 22 have been transferred into the Ark.
One other pair has been together for about a month, and the female has not been seen much in recent days, so searchers want to see if she is building a nest.
The discovery of the nest follows the first transfer of six Kokako from the King Country in 2009 and this year 14 more came from the King Country and two from Tiritiri Matangi island in the Hauraki Gulf.
Kokako live for up to 40 years and it is hoped this will be the first of many breeding seasons for Maurice and Kowhai and other Kokako in the park. Dr Bellingham said it is hoped the population in the Ark will start growing in a self-sustaining way in the next three or four years.
The Ark in the Park sanctuary aims to restore some of the glory of the forest and wildlife in the Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland. Possum control has allowed forest vegetation to recover and intensive control of rats, stoats and wild cats has led to work restoring some of the bird life in the forest.
Among other species reintroduced are whitehead, North Island robin, and hihi (stitchbird). This has been achieved with Forest and Bird volunteers putting in more than 8,000 hours a year managing biodiversity in the Ark in the Park project area.
http://www.birdlife.org/community/2010/11/kokako-discovery-in-new-zealand/
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Urgent call on EU to stop billion-euro 'alien invasion' (via Dawn Holloway)
Leading experts on invasive species are demanding Europe-wide legislation be put in place by next year to tackle the threat to native wildlife.
The researchers want urgent action from the EU to protect Europe's indigenous species from these "alien invaders".
Invasive, non-native animals, plants and microorganisms cause at least 12 billion euros of damage in Europe each year.
The scientists are meeting at the Neobiota conference in Copenhagen.
They are demanding Europe-wide legislation to be in place by next year to ensure the threat doesn't worsen.
Invasive species are defined as those that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a place where they are not normally found.
A European inventory in 2008 found more than 10,000 alien species in Europe, with 1,300 having some kind of impact. This impact was exerted either on the environment, economy or, on human health.
And numbers are on the rise. Research published this year in the journal Science found alien species in Europe have increased by 76% in the last 30 years alone.
Piero Genovesi is chair of the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), a global network of experts on invasive species. He told BBC News that the figure of 12 billion Euros represents a significant underestimate of the impact of alien species.
Huge cost
"For many species we have no idea what damage they cause or their economic impact. This is just a fraction of the actual cost," he told BBC News.
And he added that this estimate does not include any assesment of the economic value of lost biodiversity caused by non-native species.
Scientists gathered at the conference are calling for urgent action by the European Union to implement laws similar to those that already exist in countries like New Zealand and Australia.
"We're asking the EU to rapidly develop and approve a policy on invasive species, fulfilling the formal commitment agreed by the council of European ministers in June 2009," Mr Genovesi told BBC News.
"This is urgent, we would like this to be in place by next year."
Some species introductions have been intentional. The Ruddy duck was introduced to Europe as an ornamental species. It is one of the worst culprits because of its aggressive courting behaviour and willingness to interbreed with endangered, native duck species.
Mr Genovesi, who is also a senior scientist with the ISPRA (The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) in Italy hopes new legislation will also help prevent non deliberate introductions of species.
"Legislation on aquaculture, for example, would reduce the risks of accidental escapes from fish farms into the environment, he told BBC News.
Human health
As well as the impact on biodiversity and agriculture some species are also a problem for human health.
The Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) originally native to areas of South East Asia has, in the last couple of decades, invaded many countries throughout the world because of increasing international travel and transport of goods.
A. albopictus is one of the 100 worst offenders in Europe according to DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe) an inventory of invasive species in Europe.
It is the vector for Chikungunya fever which, in humans, causes a severe illness which affects the joints and can last for years.
Avian invaders
New research in the journal Biological Conservation has shown that many bird species have an impact on agriculture and human health as far reaching, if not worse, than many mammals.
Wolfgang Nentwig, from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Switzerland has just published one of the first detailed studies of the impact of alien birds in Europe.
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) was the worst culprit, having the biggest impact on both the environment and economy.
Studies like his and new legislation will, scientists, hope lead to better targeting, eradication and control of non-native, damaging species in Europe.
By Pamela Rutherford
Reporter, BBC News
The researchers want urgent action from the EU to protect Europe's indigenous species from these "alien invaders".
Invasive, non-native animals, plants and microorganisms cause at least 12 billion euros of damage in Europe each year.
The scientists are meeting at the Neobiota conference in Copenhagen.
They are demanding Europe-wide legislation to be in place by next year to ensure the threat doesn't worsen.
Invasive species are defined as those that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a place where they are not normally found.
A European inventory in 2008 found more than 10,000 alien species in Europe, with 1,300 having some kind of impact. This impact was exerted either on the environment, economy or, on human health.
And numbers are on the rise. Research published this year in the journal Science found alien species in Europe have increased by 76% in the last 30 years alone.
Piero Genovesi is chair of the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), a global network of experts on invasive species. He told BBC News that the figure of 12 billion Euros represents a significant underestimate of the impact of alien species.
Huge cost
"For many species we have no idea what damage they cause or their economic impact. This is just a fraction of the actual cost," he told BBC News.
And he added that this estimate does not include any assesment of the economic value of lost biodiversity caused by non-native species.
Scientists gathered at the conference are calling for urgent action by the European Union to implement laws similar to those that already exist in countries like New Zealand and Australia.
"We're asking the EU to rapidly develop and approve a policy on invasive species, fulfilling the formal commitment agreed by the council of European ministers in June 2009," Mr Genovesi told BBC News.
"This is urgent, we would like this to be in place by next year."
Some species introductions have been intentional. The Ruddy duck was introduced to Europe as an ornamental species. It is one of the worst culprits because of its aggressive courting behaviour and willingness to interbreed with endangered, native duck species.
Mr Genovesi, who is also a senior scientist with the ISPRA (The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) in Italy hopes new legislation will also help prevent non deliberate introductions of species.
"Legislation on aquaculture, for example, would reduce the risks of accidental escapes from fish farms into the environment, he told BBC News.
Human health
As well as the impact on biodiversity and agriculture some species are also a problem for human health.
The Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) originally native to areas of South East Asia has, in the last couple of decades, invaded many countries throughout the world because of increasing international travel and transport of goods.
A. albopictus is one of the 100 worst offenders in Europe according to DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe) an inventory of invasive species in Europe.
It is the vector for Chikungunya fever which, in humans, causes a severe illness which affects the joints and can last for years.
Avian invaders
New research in the journal Biological Conservation has shown that many bird species have an impact on agriculture and human health as far reaching, if not worse, than many mammals.
Wolfgang Nentwig, from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Switzerland has just published one of the first detailed studies of the impact of alien birds in Europe.
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) was the worst culprit, having the biggest impact on both the environment and economy.
Studies like his and new legislation will, scientists, hope lead to better targeting, eradication and control of non-native, damaging species in Europe.
By Pamela Rutherford
Reporter, BBC News
Urgent call on EU to stop billion-euro 'alien invasion' (via Dawn Holloway)
Leading experts on invasive species are demanding Europe-wide legislation be put in place by next year to tackle the threat to native wildlife.
The researchers want urgent action from the EU to protect Europe's indigenous species from these "alien invaders".
Invasive, non-native animals, plants and microorganisms cause at least 12 billion euros of damage in Europe each year.
The scientists are meeting at the Neobiota conference in Copenhagen.
They are demanding Europe-wide legislation to be in place by next year to ensure the threat doesn't worsen.
Invasive species are defined as those that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a place where they are not normally found.
A European inventory in 2008 found more than 10,000 alien species in Europe, with 1,300 having some kind of impact. This impact was exerted either on the environment, economy or, on human health.
And numbers are on the rise. Research published this year in the journal Science found alien species in Europe have increased by 76% in the last 30 years alone.
Piero Genovesi is chair of the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), a global network of experts on invasive species. He told BBC News that the figure of 12 billion Euros represents a significant underestimate of the impact of alien species.
Huge cost
"For many species we have no idea what damage they cause or their economic impact. This is just a fraction of the actual cost," he told BBC News.
And he added that this estimate does not include any assesment of the economic value of lost biodiversity caused by non-native species.
Scientists gathered at the conference are calling for urgent action by the European Union to implement laws similar to those that already exist in countries like New Zealand and Australia.
"We're asking the EU to rapidly develop and approve a policy on invasive species, fulfilling the formal commitment agreed by the council of European ministers in June 2009," Mr Genovesi told BBC News.
"This is urgent, we would like this to be in place by next year."
Some species introductions have been intentional. The Ruddy duck was introduced to Europe as an ornamental species. It is one of the worst culprits because of its aggressive courting behaviour and willingness to interbreed with endangered, native duck species.
Mr Genovesi, who is also a senior scientist with the ISPRA (The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) in Italy hopes new legislation will also help prevent non deliberate introductions of species.
"Legislation on aquaculture, for example, would reduce the risks of accidental escapes from fish farms into the environment, he told BBC News.
Human health
As well as the impact on biodiversity and agriculture some species are also a problem for human health.
The Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) originally native to areas of South East Asia has, in the last couple of decades, invaded many countries throughout the world because of increasing international travel and transport of goods.
A. albopictus is one of the 100 worst offenders in Europe according to DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe) an inventory of invasive species in Europe.
It is the vector for Chikungunya fever which, in humans, causes a severe illness which affects the joints and can last for years.
Avian invaders
New research in the journal Biological Conservation has shown that many bird species have an impact on agriculture and human health as far reaching, if not worse, than many mammals.
Wolfgang Nentwig, from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Switzerland has just published one of the first detailed studies of the impact of alien birds in Europe.
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) was the worst culprit, having the biggest impact on both the environment and economy.
Studies like his and new legislation will, scientists, hope lead to better targeting, eradication and control of non-native, damaging species in Europe.
By Pamela Rutherford
Reporter, BBC News
The researchers want urgent action from the EU to protect Europe's indigenous species from these "alien invaders".
Invasive, non-native animals, plants and microorganisms cause at least 12 billion euros of damage in Europe each year.
The scientists are meeting at the Neobiota conference in Copenhagen.
They are demanding Europe-wide legislation to be in place by next year to ensure the threat doesn't worsen.
Invasive species are defined as those that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a place where they are not normally found.
A European inventory in 2008 found more than 10,000 alien species in Europe, with 1,300 having some kind of impact. This impact was exerted either on the environment, economy or, on human health.
And numbers are on the rise. Research published this year in the journal Science found alien species in Europe have increased by 76% in the last 30 years alone.
Piero Genovesi is chair of the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), a global network of experts on invasive species. He told BBC News that the figure of 12 billion Euros represents a significant underestimate of the impact of alien species.
Huge cost
"For many species we have no idea what damage they cause or their economic impact. This is just a fraction of the actual cost," he told BBC News.
And he added that this estimate does not include any assesment of the economic value of lost biodiversity caused by non-native species.
Scientists gathered at the conference are calling for urgent action by the European Union to implement laws similar to those that already exist in countries like New Zealand and Australia.
"We're asking the EU to rapidly develop and approve a policy on invasive species, fulfilling the formal commitment agreed by the council of European ministers in June 2009," Mr Genovesi told BBC News.
"This is urgent, we would like this to be in place by next year."
Some species introductions have been intentional. The Ruddy duck was introduced to Europe as an ornamental species. It is one of the worst culprits because of its aggressive courting behaviour and willingness to interbreed with endangered, native duck species.
Mr Genovesi, who is also a senior scientist with the ISPRA (The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) in Italy hopes new legislation will also help prevent non deliberate introductions of species.
"Legislation on aquaculture, for example, would reduce the risks of accidental escapes from fish farms into the environment, he told BBC News.
Human health
As well as the impact on biodiversity and agriculture some species are also a problem for human health.
The Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) originally native to areas of South East Asia has, in the last couple of decades, invaded many countries throughout the world because of increasing international travel and transport of goods.
A. albopictus is one of the 100 worst offenders in Europe according to DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe) an inventory of invasive species in Europe.
It is the vector for Chikungunya fever which, in humans, causes a severe illness which affects the joints and can last for years.
Avian invaders
New research in the journal Biological Conservation has shown that many bird species have an impact on agriculture and human health as far reaching, if not worse, than many mammals.
Wolfgang Nentwig, from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Switzerland has just published one of the first detailed studies of the impact of alien birds in Europe.
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) was the worst culprit, having the biggest impact on both the environment and economy.
Studies like his and new legislation will, scientists, hope lead to better targeting, eradication and control of non-native, damaging species in Europe.
By Pamela Rutherford
Reporter, BBC News
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