Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths yesterday launched the Welsh Government’s Strategic Framework for Bovine TB Eradication, which outlined a programme of badger vaccination to be introduced in the Intensive Action Area.

The Minister said the decision to pursue vaccination as opposed to culling of badgers was made based on ‘the evidence provided…including scientific and legal advice’ and that, at present, he is ‘not satisfied that a cull of badgers would be necessary to bring about a substantial reduction in cases of TB in cattle’.

A five year programme of vaccination is to be designed by the Chief Veterinary Officer and the Strategic Framework outlines a comprehensive longterm plan including measures for improved management of persistent cases of TB, piloting of an audit technique to assess TB testing, a voluntary scheme to facilitate the sharing of bovine TB data between neighbouring farms, and an advisory service for farmers whose herds are affected by the disease.

In his launch speech, Minister Griffiths emphasised that TB eradication will require longterm commitment and the use of new technological and scientific advances as they become available. A working group of experts, led by the Chief Veterinary Officer, will be created to develop the vaccination strategy.

The full Strategic Framework can be found on the Welsh Government website.

The Welsh government is seeking opinions on two major new proposals for the future of Wales’ environmental policy.

Following the announcement of Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths in November last year proposing the development of a single body to replace the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency Wales, and the Forestry Commission for Wales, a consultation was launched earlier this month. The intention in creating a single body is to ensure more effective and sustainable management of Wales’ natural resources whilst minimising costs. The consultation will focus on issues including the legal change needed to establish a new body and definition of its overall purpose. Interested parties have the opportunity to submit their reactions to the proposal until May 2nd.

Simultaneously, a consultation is underway into a recently published Green Paper entitled ‘Sustaining a Living Wales’. The paper is a follow up to the government’s strategy ‘A Living Wales’ developed in 2010 and proposes a change in the governance and delivery of environmental management and regulation to an ecosystem-based approach. The consultation, launched at the end of January this year, is designed to assess the degree of support for such a radical change and whether the tools the government proposes are seen to be the right ones.

This week the Welsh Government held a climate change and sustainability exhibition hosted by Professor Noel Lloyd, Chair of Higher Education Wales and John Griffiths AM, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. The exhibition showcased the work of Wales’ leading university research teams in issues relating to climate change, sustainability and associated technology.

Projects from a range of research areas including technology and climate change were exhibited including a particularly interesting collaborative project between Aberystwyth University and the investment company Compton Group. This project aimed to investigate methods for reducing methane production by cattle whilst increasing milk and meat production by adding sandalwood to the animals’ feed. Sandalwood inhibits the growth of methane producing bacteria in the stomachs of ruminants, diverting the energy normally used to produce methane to growth and higher milk production.

The exhibition was also attended by the Environment Minister John Griffiths AM who spoke about the important role of universities in tackling climate change. He said “Climate change is a critically important issue and one the Welsh Government is committed to tackling. Today’s showcase demonstrates that Welsh universities are taking forward some truly ground breaking work on this issue – work that will be key to helping us, the Welsh Government, to deliver on the targets we have set out in our Climate Change Strategy. It provides a real and tangible example of how, through the academic community, Wales is leading the way on climate change research and innovation as well as demonstrating how we in Wales are working together to solve business questions and environmental issues.”

The Welsh Government announced earlier this week that plans for a controversial cull of badgers in north Pembrokeshire would be put on hold whilst Ministers await the outcome of a science review. Professor John Harries, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Welsh Government, will appoint scientists to an independent panel to consider the scientific evidence for a badger cull. The report of the panel is expected in the autumn.

More on this story from the BBC website ‘No cull of badgers in Wales during scientific review‘ (21st June).

Welsh Labour’s First Minister, Carwyn Jones, is set to ask the UK government to devolve powers to Welsh government when it comes to decisions over clean energy projects in Wales.

After a series of public campaigns against the National Grid plans to build a new 19 acre substation and expanse of pylons to support new wind farm developments, Welsh Labour are expected to call for devolved power because at present, the final decision for planning approval will be made in Westminster not Cardiff.

The First Minister stated that it was “unacceptable” for planning decisions regarding wind farms in Wales to be made in London and is expected to raise the matter at the British-Irish Council held in the English capital today.

As part of the UK government’s energy strategy to decrease emissions and increase the amount of energy derived from renewable sources to a total of 10% by 2010, the Welsh government proposed seven new areas in Wales, known as Tan 8, for wind farm development in the year of 2005. The decision has since proved controversial culminating with over 1,500 protesters campaigning outside the Senedd in May.

Following the protests, Welsh Government announced plans to limit the number of wind farm developments in the Tan 8 areas. Welsh Labour however, maintains that they are committed to UK energy targets (which they are currently achieving) but want more control over final decisions affecting Welsh landscapes.

The British Ecological Society’s Policy Team attended a meeting at the building of the National Assembly for Wales on Tuesday, for a day of presentations from academics working in applied research across the country. The event, ‘Science at the Assembly, was organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry, in partnership with others including the Society of Biology and Campaign for Science and Engineering. Presentations were followed by a networking reception attended by Assembly Members.

One of the most interesting presentations during the day was from Prof. John Harries, appointed Chief Science Advisor to the Welsh Government in 2010. Prof. Harries, alongside a Science Advisory Committee, is drafting a science strategy for Wales, which will launch in the autumn of this year. In response to questioning from Dr Hilary Leevers of CaSE, Prof. Harries confirmed that this will set out a 10-year framework for science, engineering and technology in Wales – a step beyond the Westminster Government which has resisted calls for a long-term science and innovation investment framework.

Prof. Harries outlined the ‘grand challenges’ upon which the science strategy will focus: health and life sciences; energy, environment and low carbon; advanced engineering and materials. Alongside these three themes there will be an emphasis on education and STEM outreach activity, on digital infrastructure and the economy, on intellectual property and on blue-skies reasearch.

Prof. Harries was clearly enthusiastic about the prospects for research in Wales, seeing research and development as one of the few ways to build Wales into a more prosperous economy. He stressed that researchers needed to look beyond other institutions within Wales when considering the formation of collaborative partnerships, needing to look across Europe. Realistically, he said, this would mean partnerships with centres of excellence in England, highlighting Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial as important centres for collaboration.

Although a large protest outside the Assembly building may have kept Members away from the scientific content of the day, a number were in evidence in the evening. Opening the evening through brief speeches it was clear that those AMs present were looking to the scientists and scientific organisations present to provide them with advice and information. This was a welcome call to the learned societies and others represented, including this BES, which will be sure to capitalise upon this invitation.

Following last week’s elections in the devolved administrations, the Welsh and Scottish Governments have today announced details of their respective cabinets.

Wales

John Griffiths AM becomes the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, taking over from Jane Davidson AM, who stepped down as the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing prior the election on 5th May. John’s website indicates that:
“John worked as a lecturer in further and higher education before becoming a solicitor. A former Gwent County Councillor and Newport Borough Councillor, John is also a member of UNITE and Community trades unions, and the Co-Operative Party.

John’s political interests include economic development, social inclusion, education, Europe, sport and sub Saharan Africa. John is currently the Counsel General and Leader of the Legislative Programme in the Welsh Assembly Government and has previously served as Deputy Minister for Education, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services and Deputy Economic Development Minister.”

Alun Davies AM has been appointed as Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes.

Edwina Hart AM becomes Minister for Business, Enterprise and Technology, whilst Leighton Andrews AM becomes Minister for Education and Skills. The post of Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills seems to have disappeared however.

Scotland

In Scotland, Richard Lochead MSP has been re-appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, whilst Roseanna Cunningham MSP joins him once again as Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.

Michael Russell MSP has been reappointed as Cabinet Secretary for Skills and Lifelong Learning, including the science brief.

Northern Ireland

There is as yet no information regarding appointments to the cabinet of the Northern Ireland Executive but information will appear here when it is available.

On the 5th of May last week voters from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland took to the polls to vote in the devolved elections. The results have been announced over the past few days and are as follows:

Scotland
The Scottish National Party (SNP) led by Alex Salmond were elected with a landslide vote in Scotland, gaining their first ever majority. The SNP unseated several Labour Members of Scottish Parliament (MSP’s), picking up five constituency seats in Glasgow, and a further two on the regional list winning an overall total of 23 seats.

Wales
Carwyn Jones led Welsh Labour to power following the votes with the gain of a further 4 seats. The vote however left Labour hanging 1 seat away from the majority, leading to speculation of the formation of a future coalition within the Welsh Assembly between Labour and either the Liberal Democrats or Plaid Cymru.

Northern Ireland
With results still coming in until Tuesday elections have not yet passed in Northern Ireland. However, the Democratic Unionists Party (DUP), led by Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin led by Gerry Adams are well ahead of their rival parties. The DUP and Sinn Féin had of yesterday, won the most seats in Northern Ireland, with 38 and 29 respectively. This result if unchallenged will allow both groups to retain their positions as the two major parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

What these results mean for the environment is indicated in each party’s 2011 manifesto:

• The SNP manifesto features chapters on low carbon ambitions, climate change targets and the rural agenda.
• The Welsh Labour manifesto includes a chapter on the environment and sustainability and another on rural communities.
• The manifesto of the DUP features a section on the environment and another regarding agrifood.

Eight months ago plans to implement a badger cull in west Wales were put on hold following a winning appeal from the Badger Trust. The case has since been revived, and will tomorrow call upon Welsh Assembly Members (AMs) to vote on a legislative order. If votes are found to be in favor, the new legislation will allow authorities to proceed with a badger cull in north Pembrokeshire, and parts of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, Wales.

The controversial plans to cull badgers are part of a government attempt to help eradicate bovine TB, which is spread to cattle from badgers who are known carriers of the disease. There has been extensive research and much debate into the matter, with arguments over whether or not a cull offers an effective solution to controlling the disease making national headlines.

Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said “we must continue to pursue a comprehensive approach towards the eradication of bovine TB from Wales” and that she had decided to go ahead with the order subject to “substantial scientific evidence”. Opposition groups such as the Badger Trust and Pembrokeshire Against the Cull (PAC) argue that cases of infected cattle are falling, and that vaccination offers a more effective and humane method of control. The practical problems and costs associated with doing so however often limit vaccination success. Additionally, they argue that implementing a badger cull may actually increase the incidence of bovine TB, as culling badgers encourages their dispersal, and as a result spreads the disease further.

If AMs do not object at tomorrows vote, the legislative will come into force as of 31st March 2011, however if the voting indicates opposition to the cull, it could lead to further debate and a vote in the Senedd.

Organisations around the UK are preparing to celebrate International Biodiversity Day, taking place tomorrow, 22 May. Celebrations began in Wales yesterday, with the start of a three day festival to highlight biodiversity to the public and to encourage individuals to ‘do one thing’ for nature. The BES and Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) joined a range of organisations at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, for the launch of the event, exhibiting materials to museum visitors.

Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing at the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), delivered a speech to exhibitors and invited guests, in which she highlighted the Government’s track record in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in Wales. However, the Minister made it clear that the ecological community couldn’t underestimate the challenge of keeping in place some of the structures set up for species monitoring and conservation, given the difficult economic climate. However, the Minister assured the audience that she would do all she could to ensure that the importance of biodiversity is recognised across the WAG.

Both the Minister, and Rhys Jones, a BBC wildlife television presenter who gave a brief address after Jane Davidson’s speech, emphasised the importance of communicating the importance of biodiversity to the public at large. Rhys Jones said that ‘people look at biodiversity through giant binoculars’, understanding biodiversity as something that is ‘elsewhere’; on African plains or tropical rainforests. People do not appreciate the diversity of life around them; in their own back gardens for example. Jane Davidson emphasised the need to ‘keep the vision positive’, highlighting the challenges faced by biodiversity but in such a way as to engage, not alienate people, with the scale of the problem.

The BES and IEEM took the opportunity to launch a copy of our position statement on ‘halting UK biodiversity loss’, in Welsh. You can download a copy from our website.

International Biodiversity Day

Tomorrow, a range of activities will take place around the UK and around the globe, highlighting and raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity to our lives. The Natural History Museum, London, is organising a full day of events, including theatre and art performances and the production of a biodiversity day themed elephant for the ‘Elephant Parade’. The Guardian has today published its top ten picks of events from around the world. To find out more about events near you in the UK, access the International Year of Biodiversity UK network website.