Even if you are nowhere near Australia you will probably know that the great barrier reef is under incredible pressure to survive, there are many issues negatively affecting coral reefs around the world including pollution (including plastics), unsustainable fishing, climate change, coastal development and invasive species. There are many things that you can do to […]
Tag: pesticides
Total ban on bee-harming pesticides likely after major new EU analysis
The world’s most widely used insecticides pose a serious danger to both honeybees and wild bees, according to a major new assessment from the European Union’s scientific risk assessors. The conclusion, based on analysis of more than 1,500 studies, makes it highly likely that the neonicotinoid pesticides will be banned from all fields across the […]
Insect declines: new alarm over mayfly is ‘tip of iceberg’, warn experts
Modest levels of pollution found in many English rivers are having a devastating impact on mayflies, new research suggests, killing about 80% of all eggs. Clouds of emerging mayflies were once a regular sight on English summer evenings and they are a key part of the food chain that supports fish, birds and mammals. The […]
Neonicotinoids May Harm Migratory Songbirds Too
A first-of-its-kind study shows a link between insecticide exposure and a decline in migratory songbirds. The new study, published in “Scientific Reports,” examines the possible effects of neonicotinoids on birds like sparrows. Neonicotinoids are highly controversial because, while insecticide manufacturers claim they are safe, mounting evidence suggests that neonicotinoids harm many bee species and may […]
Important new breeding sites of mythical ibis discovered
It has had a dramatic history and was almost lost to extinction. Now this Critically Endangered bird is bouncing back with record breeding success in Morocco in 2017. As the day drew to a close, the orange light reflecting from the Atlantic seemed to soften the texture of the sun-baked Moroccan cliffs so much so […]
‘Decimated’: Germany’s birds disappear as insect abundance plummets 76%
A new study in PLOS ONE reveals a 76 percent reduction in Germany’s flying insect biomass over the past 27 years while another reports the country’s bird abundance has declined 15 percent in just over a decade. While the causes behind the insect decline haven’t yet been conclusively studied, the PLOS ONE study suggests agricultural […]
5 Ways Water Pollution Is Killing Animals
Human activities are contaminating the world’s water systems and disrupting wildlife. From toxic chemical runoff to the accumulation of litter miles away from land, here are five ways water pollution is killing animals: 1. More Than a Million Sea Birds and Mammals Are Killed Each Year By Ingestion of Plastic Around 100 million tons of […]
POLL: Should driven grouse shooting be banned?
After 150 years of being treated as a quaint rural pastime, grouse shooting is now under the microscope – unless it reforms it is doomed, and it may drag other country sports down with it. On Saturday, the start of the grouse shooting season, the social media hashtag #inglorious12th was trending, and a social media […]