X-ray vans and equipment are normally used in anti-terrorist operations or to tackle smuggling of drugs, weapons and explosives. A few years ago the equipment was large and cumbersome, now it can fit in the back of a small van. … Continue reading
We often think of illegal logging taking place in South America, Asia or Africa. Trees are chopped down for timber or firewood threatening habitats of the local wildlife. Illegal timber thefts and more worryingly chopping down of trees is now happening in the … Continue reading
The Independent Panel on Forestry -set up by the government after it’s disastrous original decision to sell them off to the highest bidder caused uproar — published it’s progress report last week. The full report is due out in the spring of 2012 when it will … Continue reading
A field sports company that damaged Farndale Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the North Yorkshire National Park have been hit with a total of £165,000 in fines and costs at York Crown Court. The company also has it’s … Continue reading
Ragwort is a precious British wild flower that is essential for the survival of the cinnabar moth. Ragwort is an essential food plant for the caterpillar and without it this bright red day-flying moth could be under threat. Sadly, for the moth, ragwort is … Continue reading
The latest land use cover map has just been published. The map is the third in the series and follows on from maps produced in 1990 and 2000. The new map provides a visual representation of habitat types across the … Continue reading
One of the big questions that keep getting raised in relation to tropical forests is will species return when deforested areas are replanted. This so called secondary forest may not be as diverse as the original primary forest. With REDD … Continue reading
Earlier this year a team of scientists from the California Academy of Sciences explored the biodiversity of the Philippines. It was one of the most extensive wildlife surveys ever conducted in the country and ranged from mountain tops to under sea … Continue reading
The UK signed up to show it’s support for the The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing yesterday (25 June 2011). Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, added her signature to that of 11 other European countries who signed yesterday. In total 36 … Continue reading
The fire at Upton Heath in Dorset has devastated a large proportion of this 205 hectare nature reserve overlooking the picturesque Poole Harbour and Corfe Castle. As dampening down continues by the fire service it’s believed that between a third … Continue reading
New research just published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials by a team from Queens University has shown – probably for the first time – that nano particles could prove to be a threat to the environment. Nano particles are … Continue reading
A new interactive map that plots the land use of DR Congo’s forested lands is now online. Anyone can take a look at the map and find out where the logging concessions are, which parts are protected, the nationality of … Continue reading
Better surveying tools and methods has meant that the latest woodland cover for Wales has been increased by an extra 20,000 hectares. Forestry Commission Wales has recently published the findings of one of it’s periodical National Forest Inventories. Woodlands now … Continue reading
The coalition government has demonstrated that it’s new style of open government is working by listening to people. It’s just been announced that there is no need for the full 12 weeks consultation. The public have spoken clearly so plans … Continue reading
The proposed sell off of England’s Forestry Commission woodlands will be of no benefit to the majority of Britons. Turning over the woodlands to private hands will put profitability over the needs of it’s current users. Privatisation in Britain does not … Continue reading
The UK coalition government has recently announced plans for the Big Tree Plant campaign which will see a million trees planted in urban communities across the country in the next 4 years. It’s the first national government tree planting campaign … Continue reading
A recent study undertaken by U.S. Forest Service‘s Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Southern Research Stations took a look at the relationship between crime and trees and found that what type of tree you have in an area could determine the … Continue reading
Researchers in North Dakota have released news about the discovery of more established population of GM plants in the wild. A study was undertaken of wild canola plants alongside roads and highways in the state. Of 406 plants collected 86% … Continue reading
There’s good news for Madagascar’s rosewoods and other vulnerable hardwood species as the government submits a proposal to list all their rare hardwood species under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species appendix III. The benefits of this means that … Continue reading
Latest research from Duke University has shown that some species of Rosewood from the tropical forests of Madagascar are in danger of becoming extinct. Continued illegal logging combined with social and political unrest in the area means that there is … Continue reading
