INDEX
CONSULTATIONS
UK NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PROJECTS
PUBLICATIONS
EVENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
CONSULTATIONS
Future of the public forest estate
Defra Consultation
(Posted 18 February 2011)
The Government’s controversial plans to sell England’s forests have created a huge amount of interest, discussion and petitions. On 27 January 2011 Defra published proposals contained in a consultation document on the ownership and management of the 18% of England’s woodland currently run by the Forestry Commission. The document lays out different approaches for different types of woodlands. The consultation proposes a mixed model approach to reforming the ownership and management of the public forest estate to create a greater role for civil society, businesses and individuals. Defra also invites the views on the implications for the future role of the Forestry Commission in England of these proposals.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks to 21 April 2011.
The consultation documents can be accessed both from the Defra or the Forestry Commission websites:
(http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/forests/index.htm)
(http://www.forestry.gov.uk/england-pfeconsultation)
On 17 February 2011 Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman confirmed that the consultation on the future management of the Public Forest Estate were halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill would be removed. Mrs Spelman also announced that an independent panel of experts will examine forestry policy in England and report back to her in the autumn.
Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework for future EU Research and Innovation Funding
(Posted 18 February 2011)
On 9th February 2011, the European Commission presented a Green Paper, which proposes major changes to EU research and innovation funding to make participation easier, increase scientific and economic impact and provide better value for money. The changes, to be introduced in the next EU budget after 2013, would bring together the current Framework Programme for research, the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The Commission is seeking the views of all interested individuals and organisations on these proposed changes and on the specific questions set out in the Green Paper. In parallel, a competition for the name of the Common Strategic Framework is being organised.
The deadline for contributions is Friday 20 May 2011.
For further information and to participate in the debate visit the Europa website:
(http://ec.europa.eu/research/csfri/index_en.cfm)
UK NEWS
Species ALerts – NNS, The GB non-native species secretariat
(Posted 18 February 2011)
Killer Shrimp - Dikerogammarus villosus
Dikerogammarus villosus, sometimes known as the 'killer shrimp', is an invasive non-native species that has spread from the Ponto-Caspian Region of Eastern Europe. As a voracious predator it kills a range of native species, including young fish, and can significantly alter ecosystems. It has recently been found in Great Britain. On 22 December 2010 the NNSS issued Briefing Note 2 aimed at providing an update on the emerging situation.
Water Primrose - Ludwigia grandiflora
An invasive non-native plant from South America which has become a serious pest in other countries, including France, where it smothers water bodies reducing the numbers of native species and potentially increasing the risk of flooding. It has started to be found in some parts of England and Wales.
Carpet Sea-squirt - Didemnum vexillum
Carpet Sea-squirt (Didemnum vexillum) is a highly invasive non-native marine animal that could threaten conservation, fishing and the shellfish industry.
Thought to be originally from Japan, it has become a pest in other countries by smothering native species and interfering with fishing, aquaculture and other activities. It has recently been found in some marinas in England and Wales and there are strong concerns that it will spread more widely.
These species alerts were issued as part of the GB rapid response protocol. For further information visit the NNSS website:
(https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/home/index.cfm)
(Posted 18 February 2011)
As part of a government programme to bring information for business together online, NetRegs guidance will be moving to centralised business support websites in the coming months. The government is changing the way it provides information online. It aims to close 75% of government websites by March 2011, so that businesses and the public have to visit fewer websites to get the information they need. This means that guidance on complying with environmental regulations that are currently found on NetRegs website will move for England to Business Link, for Wales to Flexible Support for Business (FS4B), to NI Business Info for Northern Ireland, and to Business Gateway for Scotland, gradually over several months. In the process, NetRegs guidance will be integrated with information from the UK environment agencies, Defra, Envirowise and others to create one, comprehensive source of environmental guidance for business.
For more details visit the NetRegs website:
(http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/default.aspx)
The Environment Agency has Simplified the Application Process to Install Hydropower Schemes
(Posted 18 February 2011)
There has been a six-fold increase in the number of hydropower schemes planned in England and Wales since 2008. Hydropower schemes can have complicated impacts, including changing river flows, which in turn can affect fish migration and downstream habitats as well as introducing flood risk. To ensure the environment and river life are protected, a range of permissions covering abstraction, fish movement and flood defence, are required from the Environment Agency.
It will now be more straightforward to make an application. Simpler application forms will be published on the Environment Agency’s website during February 2011. Environment Agency teams throughout England and Wales will provide early advice to developers of hydropower schemes to help them produce well-designed sustainable schemes.
Full text of the press release and further information are available on the Environment Agency:
(http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/126634.aspx)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EU research and innovation funding
Immediate Changes to Cut Red Tape for Researchers and SMES
Europa Press Release IP/11/57, Brussels, 24 January 2011
(Posted 18 February 2011)
The European Commission has adopted measures to make participation in the EU's current Seventh Framework Programme for Research more attractive and more accessible. The Commission adopted three concrete measures with immediate effect on the management of EU research grants in the current EU research programme (FP7). Each of these steps responds to concerns repeatedly expressed by participants and would-be participants in FP7:
Full text of the press release is available on the Europa website:
(http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/57)
A resource-efficient Europe – Flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 Strategy
(Posted 18 February 2011)
On 26 January 2011 the Commission launched this strategy, which is the seventh and last of the Europe 2020 flagship initiatives that aim at building smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for Europe. This initiative provides a long-term framework for actions in many policy areas, supporting policy agendas for climate change, energy, transport, industry, raw materials, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity and regional development. This is to increase certainty for investment and innovation and to ensure that all relevant policies factor in resource efficiency in a balanced manner.
For further information, to view the press release and to download the key documents visit the Europa website:
(http://ec.europa.eu/resource-efficient-europe/index_en.htm)
UNWAIS, the UN-Water Activity Information system is now online
(Posted 18 February 2011)
The UN-Water Activity Information System (UNWAIS) developed by the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC) is an online tool for managing, representing, analyzing and querying as well as disseminating information on existing water-related programmes, projects and activities carried out by UN-Water members, partners and associated programmes. Currently, the UNWAIS contains information on UN-Water members' and partners' activities regarding transboundary waters, which were collected during the Mapping Exercise of the UN-Water Thematic Priority Area on Transboundary Waters in 2009-2010. The UN-Water AIS provides a "common point of entry" to UN agencies' activities on transboundary waters for countries, donors, academia and any other interested member of the public. It is expected that activities in other fields related to water would be added at a later stage as a result of mapping exercises carried out by other UN-Water Task Forces and Thematic Priority Areas.
For further details visit the UNWAIS website:
(http://www.ais.unwater.org/ais?db=TBTF)
Submissions for 2011 riverfoundation Riverprizes now open
(Posted 18 February 2011)
Riverprize is a prestigious environmental award, giving recognition, reward and support to those who have developed and implemented outstanding, visionary and sustainable programs in river management. In 2011, RiverFoundation will award the Thiess International Riverprize and Australian Riverprize (supported by the Australian Government) at the Riverprize Gala Dinner as part of the 14th International Riversymposium in Brisbane (26 - 29 September 2011). The Thiess International Riverprize was initially funded by Thiess Pty Ltd, and is now funded by the RiverFoundation.
In 2010 the Thiess International Riverprize, valued at A$350,000 and consisted of an A$250,000 cash prize and an A$100,000 grant to establish a twinning project, was awarded to River Thames and the Environment Agency.
For further details visit the Riverfoundation website:
(http://www.riverfoundation.org.au/)
PROJECTS
Year 2 Report ‘Bringing back clean water to the countryside’
(Posted 18 February 2011)
The Million Ponds Project is a national partnership initiative to protect our freshwater wildlife by creating a new network of clean waterbodies across the UK. The project is co-ordinated by Pond Conservation, in association with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Phase 1 of the Million Ponds Project, which runs from 2008 to 2012, is creating the first 5,000 clean water ponds in England and Wales
To download the report and for more information visit the Pond Conservation website:
(http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/)
Information sessions on the LIFE+ Programme 2011 Call for Proposals
(Updated 18 February 2011)
The European Commission will publish the fifth Call for Proposals under the LIFE+ Programme in February 2011, with up to €265.360 million available across the EU for co-financing projects under three headings:
DG Environment of the European Commission, in conjunction with STELLA Consulting and MWH, will organise a series of LIFE+ Information Sessions in the context of the 2011 LIFE+ Call for Proposals. There will be one Information Session in each of the EU Member States. The aim of these Information Sessions is to inform potential applicants about the LIFE+ Programme in the context of the 2011 Call for Proposals. In particular, they aim to help potential applicants decide whether or not to submit a LIFE+ proposal, and to highlight some key issues to help avoid common problems if they do submit a proposal.
In the UK the Information Session will take place on 11 March 2011 in London. The deadline for registration is 25 February 2011.
Fore further information and to register visit the LIFE website:
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/news/events/events2011/info_workshops11.htm)
URSULA – urban river corridors and sustainable living agendas
A Seminar Series is announced to take place from Autumn 2010 to Autumn 2011
(Updated 18 February 2011)
The research addresses the hypothesis that there are significant social, economic and environmental gains to be made by integrated and innovative interventions in urban river corridors. The project URSULA tackles river corridor issues holistically by treating the river and its urban setting as a system. Over 4 years the project will produce innovations, tools and knowledge to help guide the regeneration of urban river corridors worldwide.
The seminars take place monthly, on Wednesday at the University of Sheffield. Each talk is open to members of the public as well as University students and staff.
The last presentation by Pete Worrall from Penny Anderson Associates on ‘The Mersey Life Project, which aims to aims to realise the ecological and socio-economic potential of the rivers of the Mersey Basin through a phased programme of river restoration projects.
For further details visit the project’s website:
(http://www.ursula.ac.uk/news/index.php?id=72)
PUBLICATIONS
Making the Most of the Water We Have
The Soft Path Approach to Water Management
Edited By David B. Brooks, Oliver M. Brandes and Stephen Gurman
Earhscan Publishing, publication date March 2011, 296 pages, ISBN 9781849713085
(Posted 18 February 2011)
'This book looks ahead to provide the context within which to consider our use and management of water as we enter an increasingly uncertain future.'
Dr. David Suzuki, Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia, author, broadcaster
For further information visit the publishers website:
(http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?TabId=102732&v=513502#dnn_ctr288030_ViewProductInfo_fragment3)
Linking Receiving Water Impacts to Sources and to Water Quality Management Decisions: Using Nutrients As An Initial Case Study
WERF Report 3C10
Damann L Anderson
IWA Publishing, publication date 15 Mar 2011, 214 pages, ISBN: 9781843395386
(Posted 18 February 2011)
To better understand the linkages between sources of a constituent, its effect on water quality, and the costs and benefits of controls, the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) has undertaken the above research project. This report describes one of the efforts undertaken as part of this research challenge. Effectively controlling nutrient pollutant loadings to receiving waters has become a major challenge for resource managers. The linkage of Florida receiving water impacts to nitrogen sources will be used as a case study for an initial demonstration of the approach developed in this project. Specifically, the scope of this project is to:
Available online only.
For further information visit the publishers website:
(http://www.iwapublishing.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781843395386&type=forthcoming)
EVENTS
GWSP - GLOBAL WATER SYSTEM PROJECT
GCI (Global Catchment Initiative) Conference 2010 on the Global Dimensions of Change in River Basins - Threats, Linkages and Adaptation
6 – 8 December 2010, Bonn, Germany
(Posted 18 February 2011)
An important new insight in river basin research and management is that water in its various forms "operates" in complex social, ecological and economic sectors forming an interlinked system of a much larger scale than an individual river basin or large aquifer. This new awareness of connectivities has spawned the concept of the "global water system", which in return bears important implications for upcoming research. The focus of research should move beyond river basins to seek sustainable solutions within the context of the global water system. In particular, this conference focused on understanding the connection between changes in a river basin and driving forces originating outside of the basin, e.g. the impact of climate change on river basin water availability, or the influence of international food trade on land use and resulting hydrologic changes within a basin, or the impact of international financial institutions on the development of water infrastructure within particular river basins.
Presentations from the conference and other relevant documents are available on the GWSP website: