Expressions of interest are invited to attend a 3 day sandpit as part of the NERC/Defra Marine Renewable Energy Research Programme.

The aim of the sandpit is to fund research project(s) which will develop an understanding of the environmental benefits and risks of up-scaling marine renewable energy schemes on the quality of marine bioresources (including biodiversity) and biophysical dynamics of open coasts.

The sandpit will be taking place from the 8-10 December 2010.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 16:00 on Thursday 14 October 2010

For further information and contacts please visit the programme webpage.

Applications are invited for a new, six month, part time (25-30%), policy placement secondment opportunity, to work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on its Atmosphere and Local Environment Programme (ALE) in London.

This secondment is offered as part of NERC’s policy placement fellowship scheme which allows researchers and other staff involved in environmental science research to work closely with policy-makers within government and other public and third sector organisations in the UK.

The purpose of this policy placement is to lead a strategic review of the Atmosphere and Local Environment Programme’s portfolio of recent and current research on the impacts of air pollution on ecosystems. This will ensure that future evidence needs for national and international policy development are met as well as strengthening science to policy processes between Defra and NERC.

Further details.

Please see “fellowship placement current opportunities” PDF.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31st August 2010.

EVIDENCE SESSION

Wednesday 15 September 2010

House of Commons

Witness:
At 3.00 pm
* Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hold this oral evidence session in relation to Defra’s priorities and annual accounts.
The meeting will take place in a committee room in the House of Commons. Visitors should check the exact location nearer the time on http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/.

The UK Government this morning launched the first White Paper concerned with the management of the natural environment for 20 years, at a reception at the Jodrell Laboratory, Kew Gardens. The BES was present to hear Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Richard Benyon, Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, give speeches to launch a consultation seeking the views of the public and private sectors on what the White Paper should contain.

The Secretary of State said that the new Government wished to ’seize the day’, with a fresh impetus to protect the natural environment, highlighting the importance of the environment to the health and wellbeing of the UK’s population. She said that society needs to make faster progress in halting environmental degradation and that making the case for the interdependence between the economy and the natural environment was a fundamental tool to allow this. Ms Spelman said that protection of the natural environment lent itself well to the coalition Government’s ‘Big Society’ agenda, with many community and voluntary groups active in environmental conservation already. She emphasised that her ‘mission personally’ was to link climate change and biodiversity in the policy sphere, later, in questionning, commenting that public understanding of biodiversity lagged 10 – 20 years behind that of society’s appreciation of climate change.

Richard Benyon emphasised that the Defra team wished to use the skills, know-how and expertise of the environmental and conservation communities to inform the development of the White Paper, and encouraged engagement from those in the audience. A small expert panel has been convened to drive the development of the Paper, including Sir Graham Wynne, former CEO of the RSPB, and an Inter-Departmental group of civil servants will work to involve all Government Departments in the formulation of the policy. Discussion groups, some which Richard Benyon hopes to chair himself, will be held around the country to seek the views of interested stakeholders.

During the question and answer session which followed the White Paper was welcomed by the RSPB, NFU and Pondlife, amongst other organisations. In answering a question from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Richard Benyon stated that the White Paper represented the ideal opportunity to carry forward a scheme of ‘Conservation Credits’, first proposed in the Conservative Manifesto (pre-coalition). Defra officials are currently generating ideas for how such a scheme could be implemented in the UK, drawing on experiences internationally.

It was clear that both Defra Ministers are committed to the principle of better valuing the environment as a means to better conserve it. One key challenge will be bringing other Departments, particularly the Treasury, on board with this and making sure that Caroline Spelman’s ambition to ‘put the value of nature at the heart of policy-making’ across the UK is fulfilled.

The BES will be responding to the consultation to inform development of the Natural Environment White Paper (deadline: 30 October). To contribute your views please contact the BES Policy Team.

The Natural Capital Initiative is organising a workshop series on ‘Biodiversity Offsetting’, to inform policy development on an offsetting, or ‘conservation credits’ scheme for the UK. Find out more at the NCI website.

From the Defra website:

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman today announced reforms to more than 30 of Defra’s arm’s length bodies.

Defra has around 90 arm’s length bodies, many of which were set up in a time when our understanding of and engagement with environmental issues was less mainstream. Most of the things that these bodies do are now part of what the Government does as a matter of course, others are now no longer necessary.

Caroline Spelman said:

“This Government is committed to being the greenest Government ever and the Structural Reform Plan published last week sets out how Defra will play its part in achieving this. Reducing the deficit is the priority for the Government and all departments are playing their part in making efficiency savings.

“Together with Chris Huhne I am determined to play the lead role in driving the sustainability agenda across the whole of government and I am not willing to delegate this responsibility to an external body.

“The effective delivery of public services is essential and I am committed to increasing the transparency and accountability of Defra’s public bodies and to reducing their numbers and costs. Times have changed since many of these bodies were set up and much of what they do is now everyday Government business.”

The Secretary of State announced that she will be:

Withdrawing Defra funding from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC);
Abolishing the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution;
Abolishing the Agricultural Wages Board, the 15 Agricultural Wages Committees, the 16 Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees and the Committee on Agricultural Valuation;
Abolishing the Inland Waterways Advisory Council; and
Abolishing the Commons Commissioners.
Caroline Spelman continued:

“We will continue to liaise closely with the Sustainable Development Commission’s partners and will work with business, civil society, local communities, universities and internationally, to help deliver sustainable development together.

“The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee will provide powerful democratic scrutiny of Government’s work in this area.”

The arm’s length body review will make Defra a leaner, stronger department – with a renewed and clearer focus on its key priorities and a simplified structure for delivering those priorities; underpinned by a robust, credible and efficient science base.

The Secretary of State will continue to look closely at other Defra arm’s length bodies and will make any further announcements as appropriate.

Yesterday saw the launch of the ‘TEEB for Business’ report at the first annual Global Business of Biodiversity (GBOB) symposium, at the Excel Centre in London. The BES policy team was there, with other members of the Natural Capital Initiative secretariat, to see Pavan Sukhdev, TEEB study leader, unveil the report to an assembled audience of policy-makers, representatives from NGOs and business leaders. Although business still has a long way to go in terms of recognising the importance of biodiversity and sustainability in supply chains, it was encouraging to see that at least some companies have taken this to heart – and are showing leadership to others.

The Chief Executive of Rio Tinto delivered a presentation outlining why he thought that investing in biodiversity made sound business sense. Business is clearly first and foremost about the ‘bottom line’; economics and the profit margin. However, in order to maintain access to land and resources in perpetuity, Rio Tinto seems to have recognised that this depends on creating a reputation as a company which is not simply going to trash the environment to achieve the biggest profit, but on developing a reputation for ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’. CEO Tom Albanese said that Rio Tinto wants to create a ‘net positive impact’ for biodiversity.

Gavin Neath, Vice-President for Global Communications at Unilever delivered a presentation showcasing the company’s work in environmental stewardship. Unilever solely owns, and sustainably manages, its tea plantations. Flagging its sustainable practices up to the consumer has resulted in a consumer perception that tea processed in this way actually tastes better, delivering financial returns for the company.

A common theme to emerge from the day was the need for better communication and a ‘new language’ around the concepts of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This was perhaps most strongly illustrated by Pavan Sukhdev, who said that if he could have the opportunity once more he would re-name the TEEB study, ‘TEN’, the ‘Economics of Nature’. Pavan highlighted one of the next steps in the TEEB project, ‘TEEB for People’, which will see the creation of a website with social networks spinning off from this. It’s hoped that the public will engage with this resource – but there’s no doubt that either developing a new common language to describe the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services, or working out means to better communicate using existing terminology, is vital.

Secretary of State at Defra, Caroline Spelman, delivered an address in the afternoon. The Minister used the opportunity to announce that in August, Defra will start a process of mapping the UK’s supplies of palm oil. The Government will work with companies and NGOs to produce a plan to shift the UK’s use of palm oil onto a sustainable footing. This is very encouraging. Less encouraging was the Minister quoting a figure of £3 million to support the implementation of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), where previously government had committed a much higher sum. The Minister’s answer to a query from the audience referenced the very difficult economic times ahead and the budget cuts which Government departments are being asked to make. By the Comprehensive Spending Review in the autumn it will be clear how other commitments are to be down-scaled: the conservation and ecological science communities have a role to play in advising Government in how to prioritise the cuts, making sure that harsh economic times to come do not compromise advances in environmental protection.

Overall, an interesting meeting. The role that business can play in highlighting the importance of biodiversity conservation, leading the way for consumers, was clear. The next steps must be to move from the conference centre to the board room of those companies not represented: to cease ‘preaching to the converted’ and to engage proactively with those harder to reach.

A written parliamentary question tabled by Bob Russell MP to DCLG today received an answer from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Fisheries in DEFRA, Richard Benyon MP.

Question: “To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 17 of The Coalition: Our Programme for Government, what plans he has to promote green spaces and wildlife corridors in order to halt the loss of habitat and restore biodiversity.” [348]

Answer: (Richard Benyon) “I have been asked to reply. We look forward to receiving Sir John Lawton’s report, “Making Space for Nature”, later in the summer. Sir John’s update in March reported that to achieve a coherent and resilient ecological network we will need to look beyond existing designated sites and take account of landscape designations, local wildlife sites and green spaces.

The Government are also looking forward to the completion of work currently being carried out by Natural England on the implementation of landscape-scale enhancements to benefit wildlife. This will build on and use the lessons learned from existing work such as the Great Fen, a collaboration between Natural England, Environment Agency, the local Wildlife Trust and district council, which is joining up two national nature reserves through creating 3,700 ha of wetland habitat in Cambridgeshire, which will deliver benefits not only for biodiversity but also for water quality, recreation and local communities.

In addition, this Government will deliver a White Paper, the first since 1990, that will, finally, take an integrated approach to the natural environment in all its aspects. By reflecting nature’s real value in our social and economic decisions we will be able to review and improve the ways in which we both harness and protect it. We are currently considering options and time scales for taking this commitment forward.”

This reaffirms DEFRA’s commitment to publishing a White Paper on the natural environment, as suggested by the Prime Minister before reaching government.

The UK Landscape Award seeks to find the best landscape project in the UK, whether it’s a new town square, restored coastal path or a regeneration scheme with public space at its heart.

The Award helps to implement the European Landscape Convention in the UK, the first international convention to specifically focus on landscape, being dedicated exclusively to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes in Europe.

The convention highlights the need to recognise landscape in law, to develop landscape policies dedicated to the protection, management and creation of landscapes, and to establish procedures for the participation of the general public and other stakeholders in the creation and implementation of landscape policies. It also encourages the integration of landscape into all relevant areas of policy, including cultural, economic and social policies.

Entries for the Award opened on 6 April and close on 27 August 2010, and the winner will be announced on 8 November 2010 at the European Landscape Convention Conference in Liverpool. The UK winner will then be submitted to the Council of Europe’s European Landscape Award which will be announced in March 2011.

The BES is pleased to become an affiliate of the of the UKLA, and we would like to use this opportunity to encourage you to submit entrants for the Award. Further details can be found here.

An oral evidence session was held yesterday afternoon by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee to examine Defra’s new Evidence Investment Strategy 2010-2013 and beyond, discussing whether this strategy provides a robust basis for competing demands in tough economic times.

Professor Robert Watson from Defra began by summarising key messages from the strategy, in particular the fact that the main evidence challenges identified (Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Sustainable Food Supply and Protecting Ecosystem Services) are interrelated and should be addressed by a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing on different areas of skills within Defra and through external partnerships.

Members of the panel each made short presentations giving their comments on the strategy. Key issues raised included concerns from Steve Visscher from BBSRC that national capability for scientific research might not be maintained under the current strategy, and Dr David Gibbons from the RSPB commented that although investing in an ecosystem services approach is highly valuable, this should not be favoured over funding applied research into more specific biodiversity conservation issues. There was some disappointment that details of the implementation of the strategy have not yet been made clear, but Professor Watson said that the implementation plan is due to be published in October/November this year.

Many of the questions from the audience related to whether investment would be made in funding specific research areas, such as geoengineering, horticulture, and alternative agriculture. Professor Watson responded that the prioritisation process outlined in the strategy would ensure that funding is focussed on the most important evidence issues.

The Chairman, Rt Hon Michael Jack MP, closed the session with the comment that Defra’s future work in this area should continue to be examined, as the process of challenge from stakeholders is essential for developing good policy.

A new report, commsissioned by Defra and produced by Imperial College and the Zoological Society of London, casts doubt on the effectiveness of badger culling in reducing the incidence of bovine TB in the UK. The report examines the aftermath of the Krebbs random badger culling trials which took place between 1998 – 2005.

Speaking to the BBC, Professor Christl Donnelly, lead author of the report from Imperial College London, said that “although badger culling reduced cattle bovine TB during the trial and immediately thereafter, our new study shows that the beneficial effects are not sustained, disappearing four-years post-cull.” The report also suggests that savings to the Government and to farmers, through reduced bovine TB incidence in cattle, are two to three times lower than the cost of culling badgers.

Wales is preparing to instigate a badger cull later this year. Dr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Advisor in Wales, commenting on the findings of the report, said that the Welsh approach would not be the same as that used in the Krebbs trials and would instead see a limited cull couple with strict cattle control measures, over a limited area and for a sustained period. Dr Glossop said that she anticipated that the badger cull in Wales would be successful.

Professor Rosie Woodroffee, Senior Research Fellow at the ZSL, appeared on the BBC’s Today Programme this morning at 7am, commenting on the report. The programme is available to listen to again online.

More information on badgers and bovine TB is available from the BES website.