Latest news with #KerryStewart
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Campaigner and mother hopes to raise awareness following Pride of Cumbria award win
The worthy winner of the Against All Odds award is Kerry Stewart, joint organiser of The Big Cancer Bash. Kerry was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2021, aged 30. She is a mother of one (Mabel) and a wife to Jonathon. Fit, healthy, and full of life, one day she found a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed and put onto a treatment plan and started raising money, alongside the Stronger Together cancer support group, for the Henderson and Loweswater Suites at West Cumberland Hospital. In November 2021, Kerry had surgery to remove her tumour with a full mastectomy. She has had endless chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions, and has a surgically implanted device for long-term intravenous access. Kerry has secondary stage four breast cancer, so will be receiving treatment ongoing. She is a part of Coppafeel, the breast cancer charity. Her nominator Rachael Blaney said: 'We came up with the idea of The Big Cancer Bash to raise money for both suites at WCH but with many reasons attached; my own dad, Ged Blaney, died in March 2015 of bowel cancer, another committee member Laura Reid lost her mum to bowel cancer just a month earlier. As friends of Kerry, it was a no-brainer to commemorate 10 years of their deaths with an event which allowed us to raise money and awareness, and highlight Kerry's journey and the impact the funds actually make on patients at WCH.' The event took place on March 22 at Whitehaven Golf Club, raising £11,000. Rachael described it as 'testament to Kerry's strength and determination', adding: 'She is amazing, loved and we are with her every step of the way.' Speaking after she had won the award, Kerry was overwhelmed, she said: 'I'm just so shocked, absolutely shocked right to bits. 'I just want to spread awareness really, just encouraging people to check their boobs and go to the doctors.' Kerry said she hoped the award would help spread further awareness, she said: 'Obviously I am so young, I was 30 when I was diagnosed. 'I just want people to be aware that breast cancer, and any kind of cancer isn't just for old people.'
India Today
01-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
More than 500 bird species could go extinct due to climate change
Climate change and habitat loss are poised to drive over 500 bird species to extinction within the next century, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the study points to the severity of the threat, revealing that this number is three times greater than all recorded bird extinctions since 1500 species such as the bare-necked umbrellabird and the helmeted hornbill are among those at risk, with their loss expected to significantly impact ecosystems reliant on these birds for essential functions. Stopping the destruction of habitats would save the most birds overall. (Photo: Getty) The study found that even eliminating human-induced threats like habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change would not fully prevent bird extinctions."Many birds are already so threatened that reducing human impacts alone won't save them. These species need special recovery programmes, like breeding projects and habitat restoration, to survive," said Kerry Stewart, the study's lead research, which examined nearly 10,000 bird species using IUCN Red List data, identified that larger birds are particularly vulnerable to hunting and climate change, while those with wider wings are more affected by habitat Stewart further elaborated on the urgency of the situation, stating, "We face a bird extinction crisis unprecedented in modern times. We need immediate action to reduce human threats across habitats and targeted rescue programmes for the most unique and endangered species."Professor Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez, senior author of the study, emphasised the need for additional conservation efforts: "Stopping threats is not enough, as many as 250-350 species will require complementary conservation measures, such as breeding programmes and habitat restoration, if they are to survive the next century." She added that prioritising conservation for the most unusual birds could preserve a significant diversity of bird shapes and sizes, which is crucial for maintaining ecosystem health. The findings indicate that stopping habitat destruction would save the greatest number of birds overall. However, reducing hunting and preventing accidental deaths would be pivotal in preserving birds with more unique features, which play significant roles in ecosystem study concludes that a combination of protective and proactive conservation strategies is essential to mitigate the looming extinction crisis and to maintain the ecological balance these bird species support.- EndsMust Watch
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Extinction crisis' could see 500 bird species vanish within a century
More than 500 bird species could vanish within the next century, researchers have found, calling for urgent 'special recovery programmes' such as captive breeding and habitat restoration to rescue unique species. Birds such as the puffin, European turtle dove and great bustard will be among those to disappear from our skies if trends continue, according to the paper. Their loss threatens to unravel ecosystems across the globe. 'We face a bird extinction crisis unprecedented in modern times,' said Kerry Stewart, lead author of the research from the University of Reading, who described the headline finding of the paper as a 'shocking statistic'. It is triple the number of birds that went extinct in the previous 500 years. The paper, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, examined data from nearly 10,000 birds (almost all of those known to exist) and used IUCN data to predict extinction risk. Habitat loss – driven mainly by the expansion and intensification of agriculture – emerged as the most significant driver of species extinction. But even if habitat loss, hunting and climate breakdown stopped today, about 250 species could still die out, as they are already teetering on the brink of extinction. Local conservation efforts may feel small but they are essential to save a species from going extinct, the researchers found. 'Many birds are already so threatened that reducing human impacts alone won't save them. These species need special recovery programmes, like breeding projects and habitat restoration, to survive,' said Stewart. Conservation success stories show it is possible to bring species back from the brink of extinction. By 1987, the California condor – North America's largest bird – had gone extinct in the wild. There were about 22 birds in captivity, which were then bred and released; now there is a population of 350 in the wild. In the UK, the bittern – a shy-reed-dwelling bird – went extinct as a breeding bird in the 1870s because its wetland habitat had been drained for farming. Now, thanks to habitat restoration, their population is at its highest in more than 200 years, with more than 280 booming male bitterns recorded last year. Prof Manuela González-Suárez, senior author of the study at the University of Reading, said: 'Stopping threats is not enough. As many as 250-350 species will require complementary conservation measures … to survive the next century.' Related: Bringing back the birds: the 'ghost woodlands' transforming England's barren sheep fells The latest State of the World's Birds report found nearly half of the planet's bird species are in decline. Habitat loss, logging, invasive species, exploitation of natural resources and climate breakdown were highlighted as the main threats. 'There is no magic bullet for solving the extinction crisis,' said Stuart Butchart, chief scientist at BirdLife International, who was not involved in the research. 'Protected areas can play a key role, while abating threats from agriculture, logging, fisheries, hunting and other sources is essential. However, some species require targeted recovery efforts, involving interventions like captive breeding and release, translocation, or supplementary feeding, to overcome barriers to recovery. 'This paper adds to a growing body of evidence showing that actions across the whole framework will be necessary to stop human actions from driving species extinct.' Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield in the Guardian app for more nature coverage
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Over 500 bird species face extinction risk in the next 100 years: Study
New Delhi: More than 500 bird species are likely to be wiped out from the face of the Earth in the next 100 years, due to climate change and habitat loss, according to a study on Tuesday. Researchers from the University of Reading in the UK noted that the number is three times higher than all bird extinctions recorded since 1500 CE. The study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, reveals that the bare-necked umbrellabird, the helmeted hornbill, and the yellow-bellied sunbird-asity are the most vulnerable. The extinction of these birds would greatly reduce the variety of bird shapes and sizes worldwide, harming ecosystems that depend on unique birds like these for vital functions. Importantly, the scientists found that even with complete protection from human-caused threats like habitat loss, hunting, and climate change, about 250 bird species could still die out. 'Many birds are already so threatened that reducing human impacts alone won't save them. These species need special recovery programmes, like breeding projects and habitat restoration, to survive,' said lead author Kerry Stewart, from the University of Reading. "We face a bird extinction crisis unprecedented in modern times. We need immediate action to reduce human threats across habitats and target rescue programmes for the most unique and endangered species," Stewart added. The researchers examined nearly 10,000 bird species using data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. They predicted extinction risk based on the threats each species faces. The study found that large-bodied birds are more vulnerable to hunting and climate change, while birds with broad wings suffer more from habitat loss. Further, the team also detailed the conservation actions to preserve both the number of bird species and their ecological functions. Beyond stopping the threats, the team called for complementary conservation measures, such as breeding programmes and habitat restoration to help as many as 250-350 species survive the next century. "Prioritising conservation programmes for just 100 of the most unusual, threatened birds could save 68 per cent of the variety in bird shapes and sizes. This approach could help to keep ecosystems healthy,' said Professor Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez, senior author of the study at the University of Reading. Stopping the destruction of habitats would save most birds overall. However, reducing hunting and preventing accidental deaths would save birds with more unusual features, which are especially important for ecosystem health, the team said.
Irish Examiner
24-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Examiner
‘Extinction crisis' could see 500 bird species vanish within a century
More than 500 bird species could vanish within the next century, researchers have found, calling for urgent 'special recovery programmes' such as captive breeding and habitat restoration to rescue unique species. Birds such as the puffin, European turtle dove, and great bustard will be among those to disappear from our skies if trends continue, according to the paper. Their loss threatens to unravel ecosystems across the globe. 'We face a bird extinction crisis unprecedented in modern times,' said Kerry Stewart, lead author of the research from England's University of Reading, who described the headline finding of the paper as a 'shocking statistic'. It is triple the number of birds that went extinct in the previous 500 years. The paper, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, examined data from nearly 10,000 birds (almost all of those known to exist) and used International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) data to predict extinction risk. Habitat loss – driven mainly by the expansion and intensification of agriculture – emerged as the most significant driver of species extinction. But even if habitat loss, hunting and climate breakdown stopped today, about 250 species could still die out, as they are already teetering on the brink of extinction. Local conservation efforts may feel small but they are essential to save a species from going extinct, the researchers found. Ms Stewart said: Many birds are already so threatened that reducing human impacts alone won't save them. "These species need special recovery programmes, like breeding projects and habitat restoration, to survive.' Conservation success stories show it is possible to bring species back from the brink of extinction. By 1987, the California condor – North America's largest bird – had gone extinct in the wild. There were about 22 birds in captivity, which were then bred and released; now there is a population of 350 in the wild. Professor Manuela González-Suárez, senior author of the study at the University of Reading, said: 'Stopping threats is not enough. As many as 250-350 species will require complementary conservation measures … to survive the next century.' The latest State of the World's Birds report found nearly half of the planet's bird species are in decline. Habitat loss, logging, invasive species, exploitation of natural resources and climate breakdown were highlighted as the main threats. 'There is no magic bullet for solving the extinction crisis,' said Stuart Butchart, chief scientist at BirdLife International, who was not involved in the research. 'Protected areas can play a key role, while abating threats from agriculture, logging, fisheries, hunting and other sources is essential. However, some species require targeted recovery efforts, involving interventions like captive breeding and release, translocation, or supplementary feeding, to overcome barriers to recovery." - The Guardian
