News
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Newsletters from individual Overseas Territories and Crown
Dependencies can be found on the webpages of each of the OTs and
CDs. Other organisations who provide cross-territory environmental
news can be found on the
links
page.
January 2012
- Defra have extended an invitation to representatives from the
UK OTs and CDs to join the UK delegation to the Convention of
Biological Diversity meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific,
Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA). This will be held in
Montreal 30th April – 4th May 2012.
If you are interested in attending please contact Eric Blencowe (
). If you require
support with the costs of travel please contact the JNCC as we may
be able to provide some financial assistance (see OT
and CD funded participation for more details of the type of
support available).
- Kew have launched their
UKOTs Online Herbarium. Over 17,000 specimens and 10,000 taxa
have been collated; with comprehensive specimen records, including
historical as well as contemporary collections.
- Following recommendations made by the UK Government’s National
Security Council in 2011, the UK’s Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra) has produced a paper on the advice and
support available to the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) in areas
of its competency.
The paper is published on Defra’s website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2012/01/16/pb13686-overseas-environment/
Defra’s Paper outlines the array of environmental issues in the
UKOTs and the advice and support which is available to the
Territories from Defra, its Agencies and Civil Society on these
issues.
October 2011
August 2011
July 2011
- The sixth meeting of ACAP’s Advisory Committee will be held
from Monday 29th August to Friday 2nd September 2011, in Guayaquil,
Ecuador.
- ACAP (The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and
Petrels) is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve
albatrosses and petrels by coordinating international activity to
mitigate known threats to albatross and petrel populations. The
Agreement is currently ratified by 13 countries, including the UK,
whose ratification includes the South Atlantic Overseas Territories
of Tristan da Cunha, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands, and the British Antarctic Territory.
- More information
about the meeting can be obtained by following the link.
December 2010
- Quarterly
OT and CD Training and Research Programme Steering Group
Meeting held on 20 October 2010.
Caribbean hub now up and running, everyone is encouraged to
join.
The
South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands
ACAP plan is now available.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the University
of Reading. If you have projects that you would like Masters
students to undertake in your OT/CD contact k.norris@reading.ac.uk.
Funding has been provided for Ascension and South Georgia to attend
training courses.
JNCC joined a team of experts from the UK who visited Anguilla
between 16-25th September 2010, to undertake a critical
review of CITES (Convention in International Trade in Endangered
Species) implementation. The visit was funded by the Overseas
Territories Environment Programme (OTEP)
October 2010
- This year’s Blue Turtle award has been
launched deadline for nominations 25 October 2010
- Financial support available for
nature conservation training
can be made via the OT and CD members of the
research and training group on a first come first served
basis.
- Action plans for Tristan
and the
Falklands on the Agreement on the Convention of Albatrosses and
Petrels (ACAP) available.
- One hundred and twenty seven colleagues in seven OTs: St.
Helena, Anguilla, Montserrat, Bermuda, Falklands, South Georgia,
Turks and Caicos have now been on a course on writing
funding applications for environmental projects.
- In this International Year of Biodiversity, a suite of JNCC
coordinated projects are helping tackle invasives in 12 UKOTs. This work has been
funded by Defra and some projects are delivered through regional
hubs.
- UKOT students currently studying environmental courses in the
UK were invited to an introductory OT biodiversity workshop
hosted by JNCC.
- The OT and CD Research and Training Steering Group
met in July. Latest
information...
- Stephen Mendes, Rhon Connor, Matt Cottam and Olivia Renshaw
have received JNCC funding to participate in
international events.
8th
September 2010
Henderson Island News
The September issue features an article on how invasive
rats are
threatening the island's World Heritage status, as they kill an
estimated 25,000 Henderson petrel (Pterodroma atrata)
chicks per year.
7th
September 2010
The Islander
The latest issue of the Ascension Island
Newspaper features an article by Dr Mark Lambert of Fera (Food
and Environment Research Agency), on his recent trip to the island
and the invasive rat problem.
25th June
2010
Ascension Anogramma
Please see below for details of when the Ascension Anogramma
(Anogramma ascensionis - a species of extinct fern) story will be
released by the BBC, on their World Service 'Science in Action'
radio programme.
The first scheduled broadcast will be at 10:32 (BST) on Friday
25 June.
It should also be repeated at the following times:
- Friday 25 June at 15:32; then 20:32
- Saturday 26 June at 01:32
- Sunday 27 June at 04:32
A summary of Friday's show is not online yet - but keep checking
the following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002vsnb
You will also be able to listen to the piece online from Friday -
it should be archived on the Science in Action web page for quite a
while after broadcast.
18th June
2010
Pod of Killer Whales sighted off of North Caicos
A pod of Killer whales were sighted off of North Caicos 24th May
by a group of fishermen. When they spotted several whales breaching
and frolicking in the water completely unfazed by being watched.
Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of
the world's most powerful predators. Killer whales as a species
have a diverse diet, although populations often specialize in
particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while
other populations hunt marine mammals such as sea lions, seals,
walruses and even large whales. Killer whales are regarded as apex
predators as they have no natural predators.
8th June
2010
Second Lion Fish Caught
The Conservation and Fisheries Department of BVI
announced the capture of a second lionfish in BVI waters
north of Tortola on Wednesday, 2 June, by a local fisherman, Mr.
Alvin “Kumba” Martin of Jost Van Dyke.
South Georgia Habitat Restoration Project
GSGSSI have announced that, following stakeholder
consultation, conditional approval has been given to the South
Georgia Heritage Trust for the first phase of the Habitat
Restoration project to proceed in February-April 2011.
19th May
2010
Ascension Scientist recognised by IUCN
Olivia Renshaw informs
us that the Ascension Conservation and Sea Fisheries Officer,
Stedson Stroud was recently contacted by a professional associate
of the IUCN Species Programme, based in Switzerland. As 2010 is the
International Year of Biodiversity, they were interested in
featuring a range of stories on their website throughout the year,
relating to conservation and biodiversity. Stedson was asked to
provide information about conservation efforts on Ascension Island,
focusing on the importance of what is being done. The information
Stedson provided has recently become available on the
IUCN
website.
7th May 2010
Cross Territory Skill Share
Earlier this year, St. Helena and Ascension shared skills
between both islands. Len Coleman, the GIS specialist from St
Helena visited Ascension for three weeks. Len trained staff
on the use of GIS and AEIOU (Ascension Environmental Information
Operations Utility). Various AIG departments, Cable and Wireless,
the School and the Police have benefited from Len’s visit. Funding
for his trip came from the OTEP endemic plant project (ASC 503).
Find out
more...
28th April 2010
OT and CD Training and Research Programme Steering Group
The Steering Group for the OT and CD training and research programme held its
4th meeting. Key discussion items included a report from the
Food and Environment Research
Agency on work they are doing in the OTs on invasive species; a
review of the Steering Group work programme 2010-2012; and an update
from each of the territories on new areas of research. Find out more...
Two OT research projects awarded support
In April, JNCC awarded two research projects support
under the research contribition funds. One is a
cross territory project with the Falkland Islands and South Georgia
on algal biodiversity, the second is a terrestrial project in Turks
and Caicos on endemic and endangered plant species. The next
call for research contribution funds will be in September 2010.
29th March 2010
Tackling Alien Invaders
Addressing the negative impact of invasive alien species in the
UKOTs is a key issue. Recently, Defra has given JNCC £250,000 to
focus on tackling this threat. This is a contribution to
International Year of Biodiversity, and the Overseas Territories
themselves have identified their key prioritie for this funding. A
vast range of activities will be supported from survey work to
public awareness campaigns, from eradication and control projects
to prevention plans. Find out more...
12th March 2010
Dr Vin Fleming visits St. Helena Island
In November, Dr Vin Fleming went on an advisory visit to
St.
Helena. The visit was a response to requests for advice
from St. Helena, and focused on providing training in preparing
bids for funding to support nature conservation and related
activities, especially to funds such as OTEP and the Darwin
initiative; raising awareness of the use of economic valuation of
ecosystem services as a means of better informing the St Helena
government on decisions affecting the environment (and the services
it provides to the people of St Helena); providing training in the
implementation of CITES to SHG staff and to advise on how St Helena
could better implement the Convention.
UK Overseas Territories Training and Research Programme.
The UK Overseas Territories Training and Research programme held its
most recent Steering group meeting in January 2010. Key
areas of discussion included progress on the implementation of the
programme of work. The next Steering Group meeting will be held on
the 28th April 2010.
Rhon Connor - Attends New Zealand Conference.
Rhon Connor, the Deputy Director of the Department of
Environment in Anguilla, recently attended a Conference on Island
Invasives: Eradication and Management in New Zealand. He
presented a paper entitled: Of Rats and Birds: Creating a seabirds
paradise on Dog Island Anguilla. Rhon's participation was supported
by JNCC.