12 minute read
CONSERVATION NEWS
CONSERVATION
NEWS The latest national and international news from the conservation world, compiled by Tim Clabon. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Lobbyists for
Inaction
Research carried out by InfluenceMap (a UK based ‘think tank’ that provides data and analysis on how business and finance are affecting the climate crisis using evidence-based assessments) demonstrated in a pilot study carried out in the EU and US that industry associations representing key sectors and some of the largest companies in the world are lobbying to delay, dilute and rollback critically needed policy aimed at preventing and reversing biodiversity loss.
Biodiversity loss is occurring globally at unprecedented rates and faster than at any other time in human history. Despite increasing awareness of the biodiversity crisis, the world failed to meet any of the UN biodiversity targets for the last decade. At the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) to be held in Montreal in December 2022, governments from around the world will negotiate the post-2020 global biodiversity framework; a set of targets and goals for the next 10 years aimed at reversing biodiversity loss.
National policies are emerging to address the biodiversity crisis, including the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy in the EU. In the US, the Biden administration is repealing Trump administration-era rollbacks to environmental regulations, as well as introducing some new policies, including a target to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. As InfluenceMap has observed with climate policies, the effort by governments on biodiversity is being met with resistance from sectors that feel they may be negatively impacted - including agriculture, fisheries, forestry & paper, mining and oil & gas.
The pilot study focused on EU and US industry associations representing five key sectors with the greatest impact on biodiversity loss, as well as the major cross sector industry associations in each region. These are the: International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), American Petroleum Institute (API), Euracoal, National Mining Association (NMA), Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi), American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Copa Cogeca (farming industry), National Fisheries Institute, Europeche (fishing industry), BusinessEurope, and the US Chamber of Commerce.
The research showed that these industry associations are opposed to almost all major biodiversity-relevant policies and regulations, with 89% of the policy engagement analyzed found to be aimed at blocking progress on addressing biodiversity loss. Although industry associations, especially in the US, appear reluctant to discuss the biodiversity crisis, they are clearly engaged on a wide range of policies with significant impacts on biodiversity loss. The members of these associations include some of the world’s largest and most powerful companies, including Saudi Aramco, JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, Apple, Bank of America, Toyota, Alphabet, Microsoft, Samsung and ExxonMobil. This research focused on the industry associations’ positions only, with future research needed to ascertain whether these are aligned or misaligned with the positions of individual companies. Many of the companies represented have already made commitments to protecting biodiversity, so the positions of the industry associations may not reflect individual companies' positions on what is an important subject.
The industry associations were scored and graded using new methodologies adapted from InfluenceMap’s methods for assessing corporate engagement on climate policy, looking at around 750 articles ranging from advertising, social media, speeches and direct lobbying of politicans.
More information and the report can be found at: https:// influencemap.org/report/Industry-Associations-BiodiversityPolicy-19612
The Big Compost
Experiment
The popularity of packaging made from compostable and biodegradable plastics is increasing but their impact on the environment needs to be fully assessed. Research published in Frontiers in Sustainability and carried out by researchers from University College London using data from 9,701 participants spread across the UK studied the capacity, opportunity and motivation to use compostable packaging. 1,648 people performed home compost experiments to test the performance of compostable plastics over a 24month period.
The research reported on the types of plastic tested and their disintegration under real home composting conditions. 14% of sampled packaging items were certified ‘industrial compostable’, while 46% had no compostable certification. The results showed that the public are confused about the meaning of labels on compostable and biodegradable plastic (in the EU there is currently no standard for home compostable packaging labeling). Of the compostable and biodegradable plastics tested the majority did not fully break down, including 60% of those certified as home compostable.
Of those who undertook the experiment, 902 participants finished the home compost test, with a total of 1,307 item results submitted. Of these, 55% reported that the item remained still clearly visible, 11% of results contain small pieces (<2 mm but still visible to participant) and 34% no longer visible / not found within participant home composting timeframes.
The researchers (and likely those who read the findings) found that home composting is not an effective way of processing packaging waste, nor has any beneficial environmental findings. In actual fact if the wrong material is composted this could lead to more microplastics in the environment.
More work is clearly needed and material scientists need to do more to develop packaging more suitable for home composting. In addition, the carbon footprint of transport and manufacturing compostable packaging can have, should not be overlooked.
The research also highlighted the inadequacy of the current labeling system which at best is well meaning but confusing, at worst another example of businesses greenwashing their activities in an effort to remain popular. Simply put reduce or reuse is the best option.
More information can be found at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ frsus.2022.942724/full
IRISH NEWS By Tim Clabon
Avian Flu
Although the disease has been circulating since 2020, and for a while seemed to be under control, Ireland once more sees the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) with a code name HPAIV A (H5N1) on the rise. It has already taken an enormous toll on wildfowl including geese, raptors and seabirds, as well as internationally important gannet populations.
Intensive surveillance by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) during September found large numbers of dead gannets at breeding colonies and washed ashore at coastal sites. Of 80 birds submitted to State laboratories for testing, 60 tested positive. This is alarming as it shows the virus is widely spread throughout the wild bird population, affecting all coastlines.
This disease is highly contagious and has a near 100% mortality rate among flocks of birds. Its spread among colonies is all but certain when an infected individual is present. While the risk of disease spreading is constant throughout the year, from October onwards the risk increases due to the arrival of migrating species mixing with year-round native species.
Unfortunately, the loss of habitats, nesting grounds and feeding areas squeezes more birds into smaller areas so making the risk of spreading diseases all the more likely, adding further burdens to our wildlife resources.
The biggest path of infection is contact with other birds, however contact with bird droppings, fluid and sometimes surfaces contaminated with the virus can also cause infection.
ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC: Do not take home any sick or dead bird. It is unwise to take these birds to rescue centres as this could spread the disease but if you feel you need to you must contact them first as they may not accept them.
If on public land also report dead birds to the local authority who will take care of cleaning the area, and landowner, if on private land. Keep dogs on leads in areas where sick or dead birds are present.
Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Department of Agriculture, food and the marine by phone: • avian influenza hotline: 01 607 2512 (during office hours) • outside of office hours: 01 492 8026
The current advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) is that members of the public should not touch or pick up dead birds. If this is unavoidable: • You must wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling dead wild birds • Place the dead wild bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof.
Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag • Swan-neck and tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag • Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of it in the normal household refuse bin • You must wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling dead wild birds • Place the dead wild bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof.
Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag
As with handling any wildlife make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after coming into contact with any animal and do not touch any sick or dead birds. You should wash hands, nails and forearms thoroughly with soap and water after handling the dead bird. (Even after wearing gloves!).
More information is available at the links below: https://www.npws.ie/news/ notice-public-re-avian-flu-0 https://www.gov.ie/en/ publication/50ce4-avian-influenzabird-flu/
MARINE NEWS By Regina Classen
Marine conservation:
A year in review
Surfers enter the sea from Inch Beach near Dingle
It has been an exciting year for marine conservation in Ireland. While the cogs towards meaningful action move slowly, much has happened that is worth being optimistic about.
FAIR SEAS LAUNCH In February 2022, Irish marine environmental NGOs joined forces to launch a new campaign called Fair Seas. For the first time, a dedicated team of staff along with support from the partner NGOs, are working towards achieving greater marine environmental protection in Ireland. Since February, the campaign has made considerable noise by being featured in the media and podcasts, being invited to give talks and having met the Taoiseach as well as most of the relevant ministers on several occasions.
REVITALISING OUR SEAS REPORT On World Ocean Day 2021, Fair Seas launched the report titled ‘Revitalising Our Seas. Identifying Areas of Interest for Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Designation.’ The report shows how it would be possible to protect 36% of Ireland’s ocean territory enabling the country to meet its 2030 European targets. This would help to protect, conserve and restore vulnerable and important species and habitats, as well as ensuring that these habitats can act as huge natural carbon stores.
(L-R) Seth Horstmeyer, of Oceans 5, Aoife
O’Mahony, of Fair Seas,
Darragh O’Brien, TD,
Minister for Housing,
Local Government and Heritage,
Oonagh Duggan, of
BirdWatch Ireland,
Malcolm Noonan, TD,
Minister of State at the
Department Housing,
Local Government and
Heritage and Kieran
Flood, of the Irish
Wildlife Trust
PIC: Conor Ó Mearáin
The report identifies 16 ‘Areas of Interest’ for MPA designation in Irish waters including eight coastal areas stretching along the coast of the Republic of Ireland from Donegal to Louth. These places are home to critically endangered sharks, globally important seabird colonies and animals threatened with extinction which rely on these areas for breeding and feeding such as Atlantic puffins and blue whales.
UN OCEAN CONFERENCE From the 27th of June to July 1st, Fair Seas attended the second UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. With over 300 side events taking place throughout the week, major announcements from government representatives at the conference, and a huge uptick in civil society representation compared to the 2017 event, it was a busy week from start to finish for the Fair Seas team. The team attended many side events taking place at the conference including those relating to MPAs, fisheries, ocean rewilding and national action plans relating to ocean conservation.
LEGAL PROTECTION FOR THE BASKING SHARK As of October 3rd 2022, basking sharks in Irish waters are legally protected under
Looking ahead…
MPA LEGISLATION e Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently dra ing Ireland’s rst national MPA legislation. By the time this article is published, the Heads of Bill for the new legislation should already be published. Fair Seas and the IWT will engage with this process to ensure the legislation is robust and delivers the kinds of MPAs marine wildlife needs to thrive in Irish waters.
NATURE RESTORATION LAW On the 22nd of June, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal for binding nature restoration targets, called the Nature Restoration Law. e Commission’s proposal is a huge milestone as it is the rst major piece of EU biodiversity legislation since the Habitats Directive in 1992. e IWT will be heavily engaged with the legislative process of the Nature Restoration Law over the course of 2023. Engagement at this early stage is vital to ensure the law’s urgent adoption and implementation.
Basking shark by Mike Brown
Section 23 of Ireland’s Wildlife Act. Basking sharks are the second biggest sh in the sea, with females only reaching sexual maturity once they have grown to between 8 and 10 metres in length. It is now illegal to wilfully harm or disturb these ocean giants in Ireland.
BOTTOM FISHING CLOSURES IN IRELAND’S OFFSHORE WATERS A new Implementing Act of the Commission Deep-sea Access Regulation, which came into force on October 10th, will see deep sea shing using gear such as trawls, gillnets and bottom longlines, banned in 87 sensitive zones in the North Atlantic. e closed area amounts to 16,000 km2 of EU waters, of which nearly 9,000 km2 are within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). e Deep-sea Access Regulation aims to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and sea-pen elds between 400 and 800 metres depth. Waters below 800 metres depth are already fully protected from bottom shing.
CONFERENCE SAVE THE DATE Fair Seas will host its inaugural conference in Cork next June on World Ocean Day. We will bring ocean advocates, government, industry and key stakeholders together to map out the next steps for MPAs in Irish waters. Sessions will focus on the designation and management of MPAs and learning from best practices across the world.
