UK's farmland
birds decline
by more than half.
A recent report published
by the nation's
Department for
Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra)
has revealed record low
populations of farmland
birds such as skylarks,
with some species
dropping by over 70%
compared to 1970 levels,
including the corn bunting,
grey partridge,
tree sparrow and turtle dove.
Dramatic declines
have also been seen
in woodland bird species
such as
the wood warbler, lesser
spotted woodpecker,
blackbird, song thrush,
tawny owl and others.
Experts believe that
changing winter climate
and decreased vegetation
cover are primary
contributing factors
to their losses.
Meanwhile, researchers
from the British Trust
for Ornithology suggest
that current intensive
agricultural farming methods,
including
the use of pesticides,
are damaging both
the farmland birds'
habitats and food sources.
Dr. Mark Avery,
conservation director of
the UK Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds,
believes these bird
species can be saved
by encouraging farmers
through subsidies
to manage lands in more
eco-friendly manners.
He said, “The good news
is that we know how to
turn around these declines...
A countryside
richer in birds
is within our grasp.”
Our appreciation,
Dr. Avery and
Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds
as well as Department
for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs,
British Trust
for Ornithology,
and all others working
to ensure the welfare
of our precious avian
co-inhabitants.
Let us tread more gently
on the Earth to preserve
these and all treasured
animal species
that enrich our lives.
Supreme Master Ching Hai
has frequently
emphasized the urgency
of protecting fellow
beings on the planet,
as in an August 2008
videoconference in
Canada, during which
she also mentioned the
most sustainable solution.
BMD 876, L1042-1064
If we just
protect our environment
and we turn our hearts
to a compassionate way
of life,
then like attracts like.
If we treasure life, then
life will be coming back
in abundance.
I'm also sorry, like you,
because
some beautiful animals,
some beautiful species
are just gone.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
If we don't do anything
to protect the animals
and the planet,
maybe in the future,
we will be only looking
at them from photos,
like history, like
dinosaurs or something.
We just have to
remind everybody
to be veg
and to be kind
to the animals.
That's the only way
we can protect them.
And then later on,
maybe they will
recover themselves again.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1348943/Dramatic-decline-farmland-birds-numbers-drop-70.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/20/uk-wild-bird-numbers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8272350/Farmland-birds-at-lowest-ever-level.htmlExtra News
Conservation organization
World Wildlife Fund
(WWF)
cautions that drilling
for natural gas
in the undersea region of
the eastern Mediterranean
could irreversibly
damage rare marine
species living in the area
such as deep-sea
sponges, mollusks
and cold water corals.
http://www.france24.com/en/20110209-drilling-may-kill-mediterranean-ecosystem-wwf,
More than 200
European industry and
academic organizations,
trade unions and
environmental groups,
along with 30 members
of the European
Parliament call for
a European energy policy
of 100% sustainability
by 2050.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/via-expo/news/article/2011/02/european-businesses-and-organisations-call-for-100-renewables-by-2050
The Basque Institute for
Agricultural Research
and Development
in Spain creates
an air-conditioned
greenhouse that achieves
optimal temperatures
for crops through use
of an alternative energy
biomass boiler and
sustainable thermodynamic
solar panels.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110202132619.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29