Reintroducing the Eurasian Lynx: Following EU Law and benefiting ecosystems

Ideas on reintroducing the Eurasian Lynx to the Scottish Highlands, in the UK, have become fairly prevalent in recent years. There have been various news articles exploring the idea and  George Monbiot has discussed it. (If you are interested in the environment, or just enjoy nature, and are not aware of George Monbiot, that needs to be rectified now!)

As interesting and varied as British wildlife is today, it is nothing to what it once was. Wild areas of the UK used to be home to several key big predators, the bear, the wolf and our subject for today, the Eurasian Lynx. The lynx, along with these other predators, died out a thousand years ago. It would be wonderful to support a struggling species and to see a big predator, a beautiful and shy creature, prowl on our lands once again.

I have very recently heard (on the grapevine, so on no account can I confirm the truth of this) that a reintroduction of Eurasian Lynx into Scotland may now actually be on the cards. I have previously explored this subject with fellow coursemates for a group project for one of my MSc modules and, therefore, will be very excited if this reintroduction project becomes a reality! Below I wish to highlight two of the most important reasons behind why the lynx should be reintroduced. It would follow conservation actions suggested by EU law, which governs all of the UK's treatment of wildlife and plants, and it could hugely benefit the struggling woodland of the Scottish Highlands.

Legislation

          Under the EU Habitats Directive (1992), countries that are members of the EU must take actions to ensure the protection and promotion of biodiversity in their country, through conservation methods. 'Biodiversity' refers to the variety of animal and plant species on Earth and the range of places (habitats) they live in. Scotland, as a member of the EU, must implement this legislation. One of the methods for encouraging conservation, suggested in the Directive, is the reintroduction of previously native species. Therefore, member states are obliged to consider bringing in species that previously lived in their country. The Eurasian Lynx is one of several large carnivorous mammals to have become extinct in the UK and this means it would be an ideal species to reintroduce. It would also be easier to reintroduce than other predators as it can easily live along side people, unlike bears or wolves. Also, the Eurasian lynx (latin name: lynx lynx) is listed in the Habitats Directive as one of the many species that need to be protected.  

      In Scotland, in accordance with the Habitats Directive, actions to encourage conservation are covered in the Nature Conservation Act 2004. This act was designed to carry out the aims suggested in the Habitats Directive. This states that the Scottish government has a ‘duty to further the conservation of biodiversity’. As a result, the reintroduction of the lynx could be key to fulfilling this duty.

     Ecology

The reintroduction of a large carnivore would help to rebalance damaged ecosystems in the Highlands. Scotland has suffered from large scale deforestation. There have also been major increases and a spread in woodland deer populations. In some areas, there are especially large numbers of roe deer, which is the lynx’s main source of prey. 

      These Scottish deer populations are a serious problem. Their grazing habits are very damaging, inflicting harm on forest, agriculture and areas of natural heritage. Due to excessive numbers, the deer no longer suit and work with their environment as they previously did in the past. High densities of roe deer are attracted to areas with young conifer plantations and naturally regenerating woodland. These are the areas most vulnerable to grazing damage. Thicket stage plantations are attractive for sika deer which can lead to negative impacts on the economy of the forestry industry. Young trees are irreversibly damaged by these habits.

      The return of a large predator would be effective in lowering these numbers to encourage a return to a balanced ecosystem. It has been shown, that even where the lynx is unable to significantly lower the deer population, the presence of lynx is still beneficial as it ensures changes in the behaviour of the deer. It is likely that the lynx would target the vulnerable areas of forest where the deer focus their grazing. With a large predator nearby, the deer become redistributed more evenly throughout the landscape and the lynx territories then grow to match this behaviour. Overall, continued predation would lead to eventual successful reduction in deer populations. 

      The remains of the lynx’s prey would also provide food for other species which would ensure other increases in biodiversity. 

Reintroducing lynx into Scotland would help the UK act in accordance with law, which it could be argued it is struggling to achieve currently, and it could bring back natural balance to the Highlands. I would love to see British biodiversity restored to its previous glory with all forms of megafauna existing here again, especially gray wolves and lynx. Other European countries are beginning to reintroduce these beautiful animals and I feel it is time the UK should be following that trend, and hopefully it finally will be. 

What do you think? It would be great to hear your views!

Flooding and Climate Change

My cousin everybody! It could not be better said. Check out the video.

She is a political activist, feminist and comedian who does not usually focus on climate change issues but good to see that she is touching on the subject here within a political debate on Question Time. She inspires me to be a better feminist, as we all should be. You should check out her blog and Twitter.

Hope you have a good day!

Brilliant Environmental Issue Ads ...very thought-provoking

A friend posted a link on Facebook to a page of 40 powerful social issue adverts. I have picked out the environmental ones and posted them here, I find them shocking and thought provoking, even for someone who already has vested interests in helping our environment and its biodiversity. I think they are really brilliant as they truly capture the inherent wrong of some of our actions and help to open our eyes to issues we tend not to think about in our everyday lives.

'Exploiting the ecosystem also threatens human lives.'

Deforestation

Save Paper. Save the Planet

Air Pollution is the silent killer, causing many deaths in the UK, especially London, from cancer, asthma and heart attacks.

I have posted a video about this in one of my previous posts (Feb 2013, 'We are killing nature... It is time we stopped'), please check it out. This happens on a small island where tons of plastic from the sea ends up settling here. The seagulls eat the plastic until it kills them, this photo shows just how much they consume. 

'Every 60 seconds a species dies out. Each minute counts. Each donation helps: BUND.net'

'Plastic bags KILL. Keep our oceans clean.'

'What goes around comes around. Keep the sea clean.'

When You See a Tuna, Think Panda. ...This is similar to a poster WWF did, with a tuna fish wearing a panda mask. Tuna are seriously under threat from unsustainable overfishing. As a terrestrial species we struggle to identify with them, and therefore tend to have little interest in their plight. Tuna are just as important as any other species on our planet. 

Trees are the lungs of the world 

Earth Hour Tonight 8.30

Tonight is WWF's annual Earth Hour event from 8.30 until 9.30. Please join in, turn off your lights and electrics, and show your support for protecting our planet!

Millions of people in over 150 countries, 7000 cities, across 7 continents are getting involved from turning off their lights to many other exciting events and campaigns. According to WWF, it's the largest grassroots environmental movement in the world, which is extraordinary and a very exciting thing to be a part of. Some of the projects occurring today include: a voyage to Antarctica by UAE 17 year-old environmental ambassador, Spiderman is showing that everyone can be a superhero in helping the planet in Japan, Taiwan is holding a 4 km night run and many many more. I am very sad to be missing out on WWF's current panda invasion of Southbank in London! If you're around you should go check it out.

As part of the grand finale for ‪#‎passthepanda‬, WWF have unleashed 60 pandas along Southbank to help raise awareness for Earth Hour. They’ve been taking selfies with the public and even broke out into a bit of dance! Let them know if you spotted any!

The UK is doing its bit by donating all of the money raised through Earth Hour UK to support work in the Mau Mara Serengeti, one of the most spectacular places on Earth. The Mau Mara Serengeti’s vast and open grasslands are home to one of the richest collections of wildlife in the world. This incredible landscape also supports the livelihoods of more than one million people - from the many communities who depend on the natural resources around them to the semi-nomadic Maasai, who have long lived in harmony with nature.
Earth Hour is a brilliant reminder that together we can make change happen!

Sign up to be a part of Earth Hour here, and follow today's events here. Do whatever you can to join in, no matter how small! My plans are being in my room with all lights and electronics off, reading an environmentally supportive novel (Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong) by wind-up torchlight. Let me know what you are up to if you are participating later, would be great to hear from you. Good luck!

Going Green Update #2

I have long been absent from this blog, I am ashamed to admit. So this Going Green Update is to update you readers on what I have been up to, my further attempts at being and acting environmentally conscious and why the prolonged absence!

Due to my growing interests in environmental issues and aspirations to help save the world, (the reasons why I started this blog) I decided I wanted and needed to learn far more and gain the skills to enable me to follow these interests in a future career. Therefore, I decided to undertake an MSc in Environment, Science and Society at University College London. I was sad (still am) to leave my beloved Cornwall behind, yet it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I looked at many environmental courses, many sounded great. Yet when I stumbled across UCL's course I found it was exactly the course I would have designed for myself if possible! So here I am, living in central London, surrounded by shiny dominating skyscrapers and the trundling sound of constant traffic (my introvertism and claustrophobia a little more active too), studying what is technically a scientific geography masters. Possibly, the last place I thought I'd end up.

Yet I am loving it, though London living is tough at times for me, the country girl. I feel I have learnt more in a term than a year of study at undergrad level. It is so refreshing to be finally studying something I am so passionate about, appreciating every ounce of knowledge and insight my lecturers and peers provide me with. This course is very multidisciplinary, an approach I have always valued, everything should be explored and understood from multiple perspectives. How else can things be effectively understood, analysed or problems solved? Most of my presuppositions about nature, environment and conservation have vastly changed. I have also realised dealing with environmental issues is even more complex than previously imagined.

So there's a little insight into my current life. My MSc demands most of my time and attention, resulting in the neglecting of this blog (not to mention social life and my many hobbies!) Yet now, the apparently more intense term and all its coursework are over, my New Year's Resolution is to be more of an active blogger. So watch this space!

As for my attempts at being green in the city? I would suggest they are going surprisingly well. At an urban planning session I attended yesterday, a Friends of the Earth local group member suggested that dense city dwellers have much lower carbon footprints than the more suburban and rural. I certainly feel that's true of my current lifestyle. I walk almost everywhere, and when I can't (which is rare) I take public transport. London prices also serve as the perfect deterrent to excessive and wasteful consumption! And when you live so close, you realise Oxford Street is really not that exciting. Exploring London on foot, without spending a penny, has become one of my new favourite pastimes. Although where I live has not made recycling very accessible (no door to door collections, we have to carry it to recycling dumpsters down the street), London public streets are covered in recycling bins. I also now try to eat as little fish, chocolate and hoofed animals as possible. I also never drink bottled water. Overfishing is of huge detriment to delicate marine ecosystems, which lowers biodiversity and resilience to the impacts of climate change. The meat industry has a very large carbon footprint due to imports, deforestation for pasture and methane production. I also wish to do it for animal welfare reasons. The majority of chocolate is made with palm oil, which is farmed unsustainably and results in the destruction of rainforest. The bottled water industry is one of the most unsustainable and completely senseless. Tap water is subject to far more health and safety regulations, is free and taste can be improved with filtering. In many cases bottled water is just tap water put in a bottle! However, despite my best efforts, it is difficult eating sustainably when you are a poor student in London!

So there we go, I hope to keep you posted with many more blog posts soon, and share my new insights into environmental issues.