Page 19 - Wildlife News April 2015

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✘vomtae kceoyuonutr Allowing
nature’s return
So it should be a priority for all parties and prospective MPs
It is wonderful when
julie hatcher something big and
positive happens. Tony
2. Yes to more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Juniper’s new book What
Nature Does for Britain (see
What is an MPA? What public support is there? p14) tells uplifting stories
A recognised area of sea where damaging 350,000 people have signed a petition to of real progress in our relationship with
activities, such as scallop dredging, support an ecologically coherent MPA the natural world.
bottom trawling and inappropriate network. In a recent European survey, 98% Alongside the new Natural Capital
development are not allowed. Angling, of respondents asked for more protection Committee report it is a powerful call to
yachting, diving and rockpooling are of our marine environment. invest in our ecosystems. Professor Dieter
usually unaffected. Helm (who led the Committee’s work) is
How you and your MP can also closely connected with his own
Why are MPAs needed? get involved Wildlife Trust, BBOWT. He understands
MPAs are important in allowing the UK’s the pure joy of wildlife and is a great
seas and wildlife to recover from the many n Support the Nature and Wellbeing Act promoter of our vision of Living
ongoing pressures including industrial n Sign up to the Marine Charter at Landscapes and Living Seas. He knows
fishing – which has made many species wtru.st/marinecharter you can’t trade in species but that you
commercially extinct. Other pressures n Become a Friend of Marine can invest in ecosystems. He and we want
include agricultural and industrial Conservation Zones at wtru.st/ those who measure success financially to
pollution, marine debris such as plastic, action4ourseas stop depleting the nation’s natural capital
noise and inappropriate development. n More at wildlifetrusts.org/election because it erodes the ability of future
generations to earn their living, as well as
removing their chance to experience the
joy and health benefits nature brings.
Now you can make a difference,
because elected politicians really do
listen to their mailbags. Please write to
your elected representatives or
candidates to call for a proper UK
network of protected areas at sea. And
ask for a Nature & Wellbeing Act for
England. You may not benefit from this
Act directly if you live outside England
but we need progressive policies for
nature and people across the UK, as
wildlife knows no borders.

Stephanie Hilborne OBE
Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

lancs leics & rut london norfolk If your family or friends share your interest in
wildlife please encourage them to join their
Two Kemp’s Ridley 96 volunteers and Volunteers have A new pond-dipping nearest Wildlife Trust. There are 47 Wildlife
turtles, which supporters walked, helped restore the platform will allow Trusts across the UK with over 800,000
normally live in the cycled and kayaked largest wildlife pond children to explore members. We are the largest UK voluntary
Gulf of Mexico, 2,000 miles in a day to in Croydon. It is underwater wildlife organisation dedicated to conserving all the
washed ashore in raise £4,500. The hoped that great at the Trust’s Cley UK’s habitats and species.
Lancs and Cumbria. money will pay for a crested newts will Marshes, thanks to
One survived and new volunteer return to Bramley funding and For links to all Wildlife Trusts go to the
should eventually be training centre at Bank reserve as a volunteers from wildlifetrusts.org
flown back to the US. Rutland Water. wtru. result. wtru.st/ HSBC. wtru.st/
wtru.st/lostturtles st/wildlivesappeal croydonpond cleyplatform

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