The most recent JNCC Biodiversity Indicators report provides an update on long and short term trends across key biodiversity indicators and is based on an easy to interpret ‘traffic light’ system. 

Beavers often get bad press for being the cause of flooding, and this is one of the key factors affecting the decision of whether to reintroduce beavers to Britain’s waterways. Heavy rain has caused flooding in Alyth Burn in Scotland, and many theories have linked this flooding to the presence of beavers in the area. However, evidence demonstrates that this was not the case. 

Ecosulis attended the 2015 Oxford University Biosymposium which focused on the functions and values of biodiversity. The symposium presented several viewpoints on this topic, from biologists to chemists and economists, to deliver a holistic viewpoint of the role of biodiversity. In addition, lively debates followed on how to use information and viewpoints to conserve and improve biodiversity. The key message that I have taken from the symposium is that we have a lot of viewpoints and data from a range of projects and that still too many disciplines are operating in silos. However, there is now an urgency to establish a way to implement these ideals to make a difference to our biodiversity, because we cannot live without nature and therefore it is right to value it. 

Cain Blythe at Ecosulis recently visited the Tarcu Mountains, Romania, to find out about rewilding habitats, in search of the Wisent (European Bison).