World Wildlife Day

First of all, to raise awareness, different organisations worldwide show what affects disappearing wildlife by linking it to their branding. Now, why are they doing this?

In today's article, I discuss what the day brings awareness for. The reason why we need to keep wildlife at the centre of our policies. What we can do to help as general citizens.

Now the impact which humans have on the natural world is plain and clear for everyone to see. The importance of days such as today to highlight our place in the world and are impacts is crucial. Now what these days do is highlight what we can do better rather than encourage a sense of regret because we need to recognise what we can do better.

In terms of highlighting impacts on various animals, countries such as India highlight their rich wildlife and make it clear that their natural heritage is essential. In particular, the steps taken toward the reintroduction of other predators like Cheetahs show that they recognise that as well as maintaining the existing animals in the region, they need to reintroduce historic species to help the region recover. Countries such as India recognise the need to promote greater cohesion with wildlife organisations, such as how UK football clubs highlight the impact of World Wildlife day by removing animals from their logos. This is more for publicity, making more people aware of the effects we are having and raising awareness. This links us to the theme this year, where we look at how Forests and Livelihoods: Sustain People and the Planet.

My interest in this field is the impact that our industries have on pollinators. Comprehending how they utilise their habitats effectively is key to understanding how to preserve the species and biodiversity. The crux of this process is applied broadly to other animal conservation. Noting the importance of conservation projects and planting endeavours to help the animals recover in their environment. Comparing this with infrastructure projects that restore the vibrance of our woodlands. In Suffolk, the focus needs to be on developing works in the conservation and regenerative agriculture fields. For the Agricultural sector to grow in a sustainable direction, research needs to identify areas that producers can continue developing to maximise sustainable growth for both the industries and wildlife.

My interest in pollinators, significantly the benefits they bring to the natural world for flora and their important place in food webs. Now forests have a significant advantage in terms of how they safeguard the planet. They are quoted as being the lungs of our world. We need to recognise how we sustainably grow to limit our damage to these valuable green spaces. Many flora species have contributed to our medicines and food production. Each year, new resources, such as; plants, pharmaceutical, food resources, and natural beauty, are discovered alongside animal species. We also need to remember that the natural biodiversity all reduces how many species densely congregate in a given space. This is key for epidemiological reasons are it provides a barrier against disease spread. While animals would naturally interact in forests or different biomes, their interaction frequency is limited outside of the human environment. The increased interaction in intensive settings like wet markets has arguably lead to an increase in disease spread.

So in terms of how you can protect animals in terms of policy areas, the Dutch indeed lead the way in giving animals a front and place centre in their infrastructure projects. Often building animals into their design, they include Wildlife corridors, giving animals access to other habitats, enabling more extraordinary biodiversity and not limiting them to a closed environment and isolated population. This is a more expensive form of infrastructure design, but it is crucial we need to reflect on this when we look at designing our environments at home. Connecting farms via hedgerows and allowing green spaces to be connected, not isolated. Countries like Rwanda, India, Scotland, and Costa Rica are increasing the number of trees they are planting to increase forest cover and biodiversity. In Suffolk, we are doing the same thing by establishing our memorial woodlands and engaging in our own planting initiatives. Countries like Zambia have set up organisations to monitor and regulate our impact on animals ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive in the environment. Countries like Canada, the Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Bhutan, Tanzania, and Botswana have invested heavily in National parks and the different safeguards that can establish vestiges of protection for vulnerable habitats. Norway and Namibia have particular safeguards in their policy that recognise protected species and safeguard animals in law and society.

Now to summarise how you can help as well as engaging in conservation projects locally, you can also make sure your home is wildlife-friendly. Whether that be providing food and resources for animals that are unable to find resources at particular times of the year, such as Hedgehogs. Putting wildlife shelters in place or bird boxes to offer them an alternative home to replace the lack of suitable nesting sites. Planting trees and hedges which are ideal for nesting and foraging, which animals can use as valuable resources. In terms of what these plants are, heritage plants are good places to start but think Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Dogwood. Think about what you can offer to animals. Can you provide food for animals or even small plants for pollinators in the window? Could you plant a heritage hedge? Can you get involved with other projects rewilding, tree planting or conservation projects?

https://rr-africa.oie.int/en/projects/world-wildlife-day-2021-forests-and-livelihoods-sustaining-people-and-planet/

https://www.republicworld.com/lifestyle/festivals/world-wildlife-day-here-is-the-theme-history-and-significance-of-this-day.html

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/world-wildlife-day-when-is-it-this-years-theme-and-how-to-take-part/

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-countries-are-the-best-in-wildlife-conservation.html

https://nationaltoday.com/world-wildlife-day/

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/three-top-tips-to-help-give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/

Biodiversity is the World Now Waking Up

With the recent Biodiversity summit addressing the needs of wildlife are we finally waking up to Natures needs? Alternatively, is this another global initiative where we sign up to different arbitrary targets which the countries of the world will not meet?

We are aware of our fundamental need to understand nature from an academic point of view preparing the next generation of scholars to conserve our natural world, helping us address how to live with it. When linking this to other academic disciplines such as agriculture and food production, we have to understand how we both produce the resources we need sustainably. However, what do we need from nature other than what we produce, such as; the living and non-living environment.

A leading issue, however, is although many of us are becoming increasingly aware of our impact on nature, we need to do more seventy-five percent of the Earth's surface has been directly affected by human needs and endeavours leaving nature only small pockets of unaffected areas left. Many scientists argue to this degree that we are in the next mass extinction of our planet. Once an exceedingly large number of the world's animals and plants have gone extinct in short succession, this has led to the classification of a Mass Extinction. The planet has already gone through five, and we are arguably in the sixth due to human impacts. The question then that the UN biodiversity report aims to prevent is the rapid extinction of many of these species within the next decade.

Now, why is this fundamentally we do not live sustainably within the environment you only have to look at recent events such as starting to move toward a low plastic world but then once face-masks became the norm an equally damaging incarnation replaced the old litter. Often the lack of care taken for our planet will vary well have far-reaching impacts if we do not have the care to act soon, and this varies from the individual citizen to the large corporations. Now alongside a duty of stewardship for our planet, we have to reflect on both trends which are impacting the Earth the loss of forests as well as valuable topsoil due to desertification and deforestation. This accompanied with 2020s most talked about crisis the coronavirus has highlighted how interconnected we are to the fragile ecosystems of the world, and we ignore the signs at our peril. By often trading in exotic animals and low standards of biosecurity and welfare, we increase the risk of zoonoses and disease emergence.

Now in the case of some animals, if they can adapt, they may well survive the impacts we have had on their populations such as the African Elephant which has displayed changes in the tusk length due to natural selection now favouring short tusked individuals due to increases in poaching of the long tusked individuals. Now whilst plants and animals that we use are abundant in terms of their number, we use relatively small varieties focusing on select families of plants and animals for given functions. This is because they fit our demands for them. However, we also do not know what other discoveries await us, and we must ensure that we leave ourselves the opportunity to do this as a move toward a more sustainable direction. To delve into more detail of how we can do this, we must address both sustainable measures, locally, nationally and internationally.

Water Management Lessons Learnt from Day Zero

Water Management is critical for effective management both in our locality, nationally as well as on a global water. 

Firstly for those who have done their research you will have probably come across Day Zero which relates to a point in a cities management where it runs out of water which it can provide to its population. 

Now water is this fantastic resource that everything relies on a depends on but to much or to little can cause problematic situations to arise. In the UK last week we had some of the heaviest downpours of the recent year in quick succession leading to flooding in areas which have faced drought conditions for a prolonged period. Now the water courses and drainage basins receiving a much needed resupply was crucial for the flora and fauna of these areas. The question is how do we best manage these water courses in our local areas. 

Sarni, (2020) writes that Day Zero as a principle is flawed this concept is something that will be discussed further in the article. Initially the concept comes out of a situation in 2018 in Cape Town where after continual droughts for 3 years. The aim was to ration the water available to the community. Yet the warning of being wasteful with water was enough to change the consumers habits. Now whilst they did not have to restrict water, there was a lack of strategy with this action and more a lucky perfect storm of circumstances. Statistically as our climate changes and historic data is less reliable than it has been. This also highlights a problem that we need to address, is complacency until the challenge is staring us in the face we often do not adjust our habits until we have to a proactive approach is necessary to conserve the resource. Continued population growth is likely to increase demand not only abroad but in the UK as well as we see an increased demand for water both in agriculture and residential purposes. Other industries also need to reflect on water usage the fashion and textile sector is also seeing step changed to a more conservation focused to water management particularly some denim producers. Sarni (2020) particularly highlights that as demand for water increases the impact on those in our society will be more profound. 

Edmond, (2020) points out that part of the problem is rapid urbanisation. Urban areas can both displace water and if not correctly planned prevent water being conserved. Planning urban areas with water conservation tools such as water less sanitation where possible. Better habits for conserving water and recycling of grey water. Vancouver increases the cost of water at different times of the year to reduce excessive consumption this is a measurable increase not overtly affecting core needs for water. Levying this against excessive uses such as key businesses or even residential. Australia uses water efficiency management strategies on high use buildings similar to other forms of gradings to improve efficiency and effective use. Both Dubai and Ireland have looked at education to embed water conservation at the heart of education. 

By designing our urban and rural planning systems to collect and store water more effectively to both enable better drought reduction as well as safer by avoiding water build up on roads. By having roofs which collect excess water and slows the rate the water enters the water course as well as where feasible using water storage systems like boreholes or miniature reservoirs which store the excess water. This coupled with earlier points made about trees in earlier articles can better protect our urban areas and provide better access to the community to flood protection and water availability. 

https://www.eco-business.com/opinion/the-myth-of-day-zero-what-we-got-wrong-with-water/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/cape-town-was-90-days-away-from-running-out-of-water-heres-how-it-averted-the-crisis/

https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/innovation/rethinking-urban-planning-create-water-sensitive-cities

Summer Scorchers and where are all the Trees?

With the UK currently in the midst of a heatwave the normally water logged country is getting a true British Summer. However, the heat is not for everyone our four legged friends can suffer and some die in the heat the weather does not always suit the elderly or certain industries (agriculture, horticulture). Many of us are suffering from hot offices due to air conditioning units being turned off because of Covid.

What’s the solution? Trees!

They offer shade for us and shelter for wildlife and a forest can be a number of degrees cooler then a field as it collectively absorbs the heat and light. So first of all looking at shade.

Trees can block nearly ninety percent of light and heat from our environment by offering shade and acting like a parasol. On top of this it cools the ground by shielding it from the sunlight. By allowing the ground to be cooler it encourages heat loss from us and our surroundings. This can have a relative affect of us feeling around eight degrees cooler celsius. Which is why both us and animals shelter in urban oasis’s or flock to the cooler countryside. For those in largely glass offices the benefit of planting across the suns path and incorporating this into the design process of the building shields you and the workforce by stopping or reducing light penetrating the windows. Some studies have looked at the benefit of trees vs air conditioning costs but this is only in the early stages of research. This is an important fact for countries like the UK as many of our homes do not have air conditioning and for those looking for a zero carbon solution to cooling their houses natural shade could be an option. 

Now heat in the urban environment vs the country can be more noticeable as the largely glass and concrete buildings can increase the suns intensity. Solutions such as the living walls could offer solutions for both nature in a urban environment and heat absorption. In the countryside we have the luxury of a cooler environment but as planning increases house building we need a green plan to establish flora as an essential part of our environment. Evapotranspiration occurs on all trees but in urban trees as water evaporates off of their leaves it cools them and us as a secondly affect as the process uses the light and heat energy to evaporate the moisture. 

Not all trees are created equal when planning your projects you need to think about the climates of your area. What type of soils do they thrive in? What type of buildings are they near to as you do not want the trees to damage infrastructure and subsequently get removed. Are the trees you are planting tolerant of your climates extremes some will tolerate droughts but not floods and plants like any species should be native in the first instance. If they are of a different variety make sure they are sourced from a registered company and seller.

Now trees and other natural tools can offer us a valuable resource other suggestions to use them to enrich local areas by producing fruit which are for all in the community is another possible avenue to explore.