Latest news with #habitatrestoration
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Thousands of acres of new native woods planned for Highlands community estate
Thousands of acres of new native woodland are to be created on a vast Highlands estate under a scheme to boost nature and support the community. The Assynt Foundation has partnered with Woodland Trust Scotland to deliver nature regeneration across its Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates in the north-west Highlands of Scotland, protecting, restoring and expanding woodlands including rare Atlantic rainforest, along with other habitats. The foundation, a registered charity which bought the estates in a £2.9 million community buyout in 2005, hopes to improve the condition of the landscape for nature and generate funding to benefit the local community. The 30-year South Assynt collaboration project aims to create 2,000 to 2,500 acres of new native woodland in the first five to 10 years of the scheme, among a wider mosaic of trees, open moorland and mountains. Other habitats such as peatlands and river areas will also be improved over the 30 years, and 500 to 1,000 acres of existing ancient woodlands, including remnants of Scotland's once widespread temperate rainforest, will be restored and expanded. Woodland creation will focus on natural regeneration where possible, with potential for deer fencing to prevent grazing of young saplings, or naturalistic planting. The programme is being funded by insurance giant Aviva, as part of a £10 million donation to the Woodland Trust for nature restoration work across the UK. Woodland Trust Scotland will register carbon credits from the woodland creation to generate income which it will share with the foundation, which is expected to receive £2 million to £2.5 million subject to tree growth. Assynt Foundation trustee Dorothy Griffin said: 'The collaboration with the Woodland Trust will help us make the land more resilient, store more carbon, support biodiversity and strengthen the connection between people and land for generations to come.' Simon Jeffreys, Assynt Foundation trustee, company secretary and treasurer, said the scheme had two aims for the community organisation: 'Firstly, to improve the condition of the estates in terms of nature, and secondly that we have a 'war chest', which we've never had before, and we can use that for improvements for social benefits to local members and residents.' He said the remote estates cover a vast 44,000 acres, or 18,000 hectares, of 'bog, mountain, moorland and water', including mountains such as Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag. But he said: 'We had a great deal of land, but no money to do anything to it and a complete lack of expertise in terms of nature conservation and improvement.' So the foundation has teamed up with Woodland Trust Scotland, which it had already collaborated with for some native woodland planting, for the new venture, to deliver a boost to nature and generate income for the community of around 2,000 residents living around the uninhabited estates. As a first step, surveying of the estates will assess what habitats are there, what state they are in and what can be done to improve them, and then the Woodland Trust and the Assynt Foundation will work together to agree plans for the landscape. The result aims to be a resilient landscape that boosts wildlife and reconnects people to the land, the project's backers said. Woodland Trust Scotland director Alastair Seaman said: 'We're excited to be pioneering a new approach that combines community landownership, a company that's taking its de-carbonising responsibilities seriously and the expertise of the Woodland Trust. 'Our vision is a landscape restored and a community empowered. 'This is a new approach – so we'll be learning as we go and sharing what we learn with others who may want to explore similar approaches.' Aviva's chief sustainability officer Claudine Blamey said: 'Aviva and the Woodland Trust are working together to mitigate climate change and protect and restore nature. 'The state of our climate and of nature are crucial to the long-term sustainability of our economies and societies. 'We are delighted to be able to support the South Assynt Collaboration Project to restore the landscape in the north-west Highlands of Scotland, and thereby helping the UK become more climate-ready.'
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of acres of new native woods planned for Highlands community estate
Thousands of acres of new native woodland are to be created on a vast Highlands estate under a scheme to boost nature and support the community. The Assynt Foundation has partnered with Woodland Trust Scotland to deliver nature regeneration across its Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates in the north-west Highlands of Scotland, protecting, restoring and expanding woodlands including rare Atlantic rainforest, along with other habitats. The foundation, a registered charity which bought the estates in a £2.9 million community buyout in 2005, hopes to improve the condition of the landscape for nature and generate funding to benefit the local community. The 30-year South Assynt collaboration project aims to create 2,000 to 2,500 acres of new native woodland in the first five to 10 years of the scheme, among a wider mosaic of trees, open moorland and mountains. Other habitats such as peatlands and river areas will also be improved over the 30 years, and 500 to 1,000 acres of existing ancient woodlands, including remnants of Scotland's once widespread temperate rainforest, will be restored and expanded. Woodland creation will focus on natural regeneration where possible, with potential for deer fencing to prevent grazing of young saplings, or naturalistic planting. The programme is being funded by insurance giant Aviva, as part of a £10 million donation to the Woodland Trust for nature restoration work across the UK. Woodland Trust Scotland will register carbon credits from the woodland creation to generate income which it will share with the foundation, which is expected to receive £2 million to £2.5 million subject to tree growth. Assynt Foundation trustee Dorothy Griffin said: 'The collaboration with the Woodland Trust will help us make the land more resilient, store more carbon, support biodiversity and strengthen the connection between people and land for generations to come.' Simon Jeffreys, Assynt Foundation trustee, company secretary and treasurer, said the scheme had two aims for the community organisation: 'Firstly, to improve the condition of the estates in terms of nature, and secondly that we have a 'war chest', which we've never had before, and we can use that for improvements for social benefits to local members and residents.' He said the remote estates cover a vast 44,000 acres, or 18,000 hectares, of 'bog, mountain, moorland and water', including mountains such as Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag. But he said: 'We had a great deal of land, but no money to do anything to it and a complete lack of expertise in terms of nature conservation and improvement.' So the foundation has teamed up with Woodland Trust Scotland, which it had already collaborated with for some native woodland planting, for the new venture, to deliver a boost to nature and generate income for the community of around 2,000 residents living around the uninhabited estates. As a first step, surveying of the estates will assess what habitats are there, what state they are in and what can be done to improve them, and then the Woodland Trust and the Assynt Foundation will work together to agree plans for the landscape. The result aims to be a resilient landscape that boosts wildlife and reconnects people to the land, the project's backers said. Woodland Trust Scotland director Alastair Seaman said: 'We're excited to be pioneering a new approach that combines community landownership, a company that's taking its de-carbonising responsibilities seriously and the expertise of the Woodland Trust. 'Our vision is a landscape restored and a community empowered. 'This is a new approach – so we'll be learning as we go and sharing what we learn with others who may want to explore similar approaches.' Aviva's chief sustainability officer Claudine Blamey said: 'Aviva and the Woodland Trust are working together to mitigate climate change and protect and restore nature. 'The state of our climate and of nature are crucial to the long-term sustainability of our economies and societies. 'We are delighted to be able to support the South Assynt Collaboration Project to restore the landscape in the north-west Highlands of Scotland, and thereby helping the UK become more climate-ready.'
CTV News
06-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Volunteers come together to pull invasive species from Wye Marsh
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is doing their part to remove invasive species with their habitat restoration days. The program is run by the marsh but relies on volunteers and drop ins to help pull invasive species from the land. The event happens every Sunday at Wye Marsh from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Miriam Robitaille, stewardship manager at the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre said they are focused on two main invasive species. 'This summer we are focusing on removing buckthorn and honeysuckle,' said Robitaille. 'There is glossy buckthorn and common buckthorn, both are non-native to Canada and have really taken over the site.' She added the invasive species push other native pants out of their natural habitat and could be harmful to wildlife. 'Their berries are known to not be very good for birds,' said Robitaille. 'They just do not have the same nutritional content like some of our native berries.' Once the species are removed, they will be placed with native species. The wildlife center is also planning on planting more trees at the end of year. 'We are looking at planting 1000-1500 trees,' said Robitaille. 'We need the space.' Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is always looking for volunteers for help with the removal of the invasive species and are thankful for the help they do receive. 'The volunteers at the Wye Marsh are our lifeblood,' said Robitaille. 'Every single time that a volunteer comes up, even if its just one, they are so much help and we could definitely not do it without them.' If you are interested about learning more or becoming a volunteer you can go the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre's website
South China Morning Post
29-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Precious public input needed to protect Hong Kong's biodiversity
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Hong Kong launched a city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) in 2016, which is now due for an update . The two-month public consultation for an updated plan is a critical opportunity for citizens to share their views. A recent report, 'The State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025', reveals that around a quarter of assessed species are at risk of local extinction. Animals which are dependent on lowland habitats, such as wetland birds and freshwater fishes, are particularly at risk. Local extinction is often irreversible, which underscores the need for proactive measures like habitat restoration, stronger anti-poaching laws and integrating biodiversity into development planning. Speaking as a member of the Hong Kong Biodiversity Expert Group (HKBEG), which submitted more than 100 expert recommendations for the BSAP, it is disappointing to see few of them reflected in the 37-page public consultation document. Representatives from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) used the Chinese saying, 'Cast a brick to attract jade,' to justify the omission of details from the document. If this document is a 'brick', 'jade' represents the public's valuable input and support, which the department desperately needs. It's essential to note that the AFCD staff working on the BSAP are experts who understand the importance of implementing the HKBEG recommendations. A careful inspection of the document reveals traces of these recommendations, reflected in the four focus areas, examples of proposed actions and guiding questions.
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Recycling Shells For Baby Oysters Reaps Financial, Environmental Gains
Oysters on a table. Recycling oyster shells from restaurants not only provides reef habitat for new oysters and other fish, but it also benefits the marine economy and enables the mollusks to improve the environment by filtering water. People in government and nonprofit organizations are rallying to create oyster habitats especially by collecting discarded oyster shells to return back to the water for new oysters. 'Oysters are remarkable. They provide many benefits to the ecosystem they live in. They are filter feeders—they clean the water as they eat. And they grow in reefs, which provide great habitat for many other species. But in many places, their population has plummeted,' says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Today oyster habitats are threatened by water pollution, dredging, lost wetlands, diseases, overfishing and damaged reefs. NOAA and other organizations are working to restore oyster habitat around the country. For example, the NOAA restoration center has provided grants to some 70 oyster rehabilitation projects in 15 states. According to NOAA, because oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay 'are only at about 1-2% of historical levels due to disease, pollution, habitat loss, and overharvesting,' its Chesapeake Bay office is helping groups in Maryland and Virginia restore oysters in 10 bay tributaries by the end of this year. An oyster reef in North Carolina built to dissipate wave energy and slow erosion from sea-level ... More rise. Living in salty or coastal waters, oysters can in shells, along piers and on top of rocks. Because they cluster together, oysters can create reefs and provide habitats for other marine life, including other fish. The reefs can also benefit the environment by preventing erosion along shorelines and creating protective water barriers to deter storms surges during hurricanes. Oysters are also known for their ability to clean water. 1 oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day. 'The clearer, cleaner water can support plentiful underwater grasses, which—like the oyster reef—create a stable bottom and a safe, nurturing habitat for juvenile crabs, scallops, and fish,' NOAA says. To create habitat Oyster fishing in Massachusetts. Oyster sales in the United States during 2023 amounted to $326.9 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2023 Census of Aquaculture. In fact, oysters accounted for the largest (56.8%) share of the $575 million in national mollusk industry sales that year—followed by clams (38.6%), mussels (3.9%), and abalone and other mollusks (both less than 1%). In addition there were 900 oyster farms in the United States in 2023 compared to 701 in 2018. The states with the largest oyster farms were Massachusetts (191), Washington (116), Florida (92), Virginia (87), Maine (79), Maryland (45), Rhode Island (40) and New York (37). The USDA defines an aquaculture farm as a site where at least $1,000 worth of aquaculture products were produced, sold or distributed during the census year. Oyster reefs also create communities for other types of fish that can be caught and sold as food. Oyster shells being moved to stockpile. The nonprofit North Carolina Coastal Federation, founded in 1982, works to restore the state's coastline, which includes oyster restoration. Receiving state federal and other funding the federation has invested nearly $36.2 million during the last 12 years in its oyster sanctuary program to create several hundreds of acres of habitat for oysters. The habitat created is a network of no-harvest oyster reefs to provide larvae to reseed the wild population and support harvested oyster reefs. Commercial and recreational hook-and-line fishing is allows there. 'Oyster populations, worldwide, are at record lows. Despite some recovery in recent years, in North Carolina, it is estimated that oysters are at about 15-20% of historic harvest levels. Oyster harvest is currently the best measure of the oyster population in our state,' says the Coastal Federation. 'In the state of North Carolina, it is illegal to dispose of oyster shells in landfills or use them as mulch for landscaping since they are needed for reef building in our sounds.' North Carolina Coastal Federation sign for oyster shell recycling. Currently, the federation has drop-off sites for recycled Oyster shells at 3 regional offices and locations in 10 counties. 'Every dollar invested in the program—regardless of its source—created a return on investment of $1.71 in economic and environmental benefits,' noted a federation independent study released in 2024 called the 'Economic Impacts of Oyster Sanctuaries: Key Insights (2013–2023).' The study looked at $20 million invested by the state of North Carolina from 2013 for a 10 year period ending in 2023. Findings revealed that investment supported 143 jobs generated $34 million in local business revenue. The state investment also yielded $8.7 million in employee wages/benefits plus $1 million in state and local tax revenue. Furthermore, the study noted that the state investments in oyster habitats brought in $14.5 million in recreational fishing, $11 million in commercial fishing and $12.5 million in environmental services. Commenting in February about the study was Stephanie Krug, a NOAA marine habitat resource specialist: 'Investing in oyster reef restoration means investing in all of the benefits these reefs provide and the benefits of the restoration work itself. This report is vital in telling that story.' In 2023, the federation received a $14.9 million federal grant from NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation to increase by next year the oyster reef sanctuary to 500 acres. At the end of 2023, oyster sanctuaries had been created on 389 developed acres in North Carolina waters. Workers on the Mullica River blast 680 bushels of clam and oyster shells from Atlantic City ... More restaurants to make an oyster reef. In May, members of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Marine Habitat and Shell Fisheries won the Governor's Team of Excellence Award for the department's shell recycling program. Started six years ago, the program has planted 240 tons of shells enabling 24 million baby oysters to live in Mullica River oyster reefs. The program involves recycling oyster and clam shells from partner restaurants in Atlantic and Cape May counties. The shells are collected and cured for at least six months before being planted on oyster reefs. This effort removes discarded shells from landfills and provides materials for oyster habitats. 'With the recent acquisition of grant funding through NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Program, the program continues to expand by partnering with new restaurants and installing public shell drop-off locations, thereby increasing the number of shells collected and recycled,' noted a media release about the award. Shells are collected once a week and taken back for storage and curing. Every June and July, the shells are loaded onto a barge and taken to Mullica River oyster reefs. Then the staff uses high pressure water cannons to put the shells back onto reefs. Reef building in North Carolina with recycled oyster shells. This type of little known recycling project involving shells has multiple benefits for not only people and nature. At the same time, this type of effort is one that can be replicated in U.S. waters to improve both marine life and the blue economy.
