Latest news with #protectedspecies
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Serious concerns raised over how Welsh Government bought £4.25m farm
Serious concerns have been raised about how the Welsh Government bought a piece of land which has dropped in value by half a million pounds. The government bought Gilestone Farm in Powys in 2022 as part of a deal with Green Man Festival for it to be a base for its operations. However, in 2023 protected species - a pair of ospreys - were seen on the land. A 750-metre restriction zone around their nest was set up to protect the birds, who have since returned and laid an egg, with an admission made that 'the presence of the ospreys on the site inevitably brings some uncertainty." The land was purchased in 2022 for £4.25m, and earlier this year the Welsh Government confirmed that its valuation had dropped to £3.75m. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. READ MORE: I abandoned my life in London for Wales. I thought I was living the dream but was totally burnt-out READ MORE: Welsh pub can't find a new landlord so it's being turned into flats A 2023 Audit Wales review looking at the farm purchase found ministers acted with "avoidable haste" as an underspend fuelled a rush to make a decision on the £4.25m purchase before the financial year's end. Now, the Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee has published a report which claims the purchase of Gilestone Farm was 'rushed due to end-of-year budget pressures'. The report, published on Monday, July 28, says lessons must be learned from the purchase and that there is a need for 'urgent improvements and better governance for acquisition practices'. Significant failings have been identified with regards to the handling of the acquisition, raising broader concerns about governance, due diligence, and community engagement. 'The committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government's handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm,' said Mark Isherwood MS, the committee's chair. 'While we recognise the importance of acting swiftly to support the creative sector, this decision was taken with avoidable haste and without the thorough due diligence that the public rightly expects. It raises serious questions about internal processes and the robustness of governance structures. 'Furthermore, the Welsh Government must do more to ensure that communities are not only consulted but genuinely listened to. Engagement must be meaningful, inclusive, and consistent. 'The significant loss in the value of the property is particularly notable in the current financial climate, and we expect the Welsh Government to clarify its future intentions for the site and to set out how it will mitigate the financial loss to the public purse. 'To ensure lessons are learned, the committee will want to carry out further work looking at the Welsh Government's approach to property investments, to assess whether current processes are sufficiently rigorous and fit for purpose.' The Welsh Government was asked to comment by WalesOnline on the issues raised above. It said it will respond fully after reading the committee's report. A spokeswoman said: 'Gilestone Farm was acquired in 2022, following proper processes and in keeping with market values at the time, in order to support the growth of the creative sector in Wales and a stronger mid Wales economy. 'We were delighted to learn in August 2023 of the arrival of the pair of mating ospreys, which returned in 2024, and again this year. Their first egg hatched in early June 2025. This is believed to be a first for the Usk Valley in at least 250 years and marks an important milestone in the protection of this important species. 'The arrival of the ospreys necessarily impacted on the planned use of the farm, and the original project had to be stopped. Gilestone remains one of the Welsh Government's property assets, and is being managed on our behalf as a working farm. We continue to explore potential opportunities for its future use, in keeping with our commitment to seek a sustainable outcome that helps local communities thrive. 'We will read the Committee's report with interest, and respond in due course.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
St Asaph bird nest halts clearance for fire training site
A nest of birds has temporarily held up initial site clearance for a proposed £37m fire and rescue training centre in north presence of little ringed plovers, a protected species, has been confirmed in the area of the proposed site at St Asaph Business Park in Denbighshire. It is thought this could delay work by several weeks with the situation monitored daily, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The scheme, still in its early stages, was previously hampered by the presence of great crested newts at the site. It was while looking into the newts issue that the nesting birds, known for their distinctive black and white head pattern, were found. It is illegal to intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird while nesting or building its nest. On Monday, members of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority heard how quiet, manual work would be permitted in the northern part of the site, but access and any machinery-based activity was prohibited until the birds October 2024 members gave their "in-principle approval" business case for a new, purpose-built training centre at St Asaph Business chief fire officer Justin Evans presented the proposal, emphasising that the current facilities were "outdated" and did not meet the standards required for modern firefighter proposed centre would feature classrooms, an incident command suite, breathing apparatus, decontamination facilities, realistic fire and road traffic collision training zones, and dedicated space for multi-agency Evans told Monday's meeting the training centre project "continued at pace", and was "on track" to start construction in 2027.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officials bust smugglers driving truck jam-packed with illegal cargo — here's what they found inside
A state truck in Santiago de Cuba was stopped and seized by officials, who found it jam-packed with precious and protected tree species. According to CiberCuba, the truck had 4,777 cubic meters of wood on board, which included 89 blocks of cedar and 24 blocks of mahogany. Agents of the Revolutionary National Police (PNR), working with other entities of the Ministry of the Interior, stopped the truck as part of an ongoing effort to end illegal trafficking. In Cuba, cedar and mahogany are protected species. They have been overlogged historically, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists mahogany as endangered and cedar as vulnerable. For mahogany, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) reported, "Populations of big-leaf mahogany have declined by over 70% in Central America since 1950. The species is already reported to be commercially extinct in El Salvador, Costa Rica and parts of South America." The commercialization and illegal trafficking of precious or protected species is illegal in Cuba, and actions like this one show a lack of awareness, or a lack of care, for the trees and the planet. Luckily, the officials caught this instance, though locals are concerned that repercussions for those responsible will not be effective in stopping the destruction and sale of these protected species. It was also unclear whether there were other ongoing investigations into further corruption related to this incident, CiberCuba wrote. Protected species like these trees have the protections they do to prevent extinction. By protecting native species and keeping them from extinction, we can keep our environment more biodiverse and healthy. Huge trees like these are especially important, as they help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offsetting the effects of pollution and slowing global warming. By supporting environmental organizations focused on helping protected or endangered species, you can do your part in keeping these vital parts of our world safe. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Three men held over suitcases stuffed with hermit crabs
Three men have been arrested in Japan for attempting to smuggle hermit crabs out of the country. The suspects, aged 24, 26 and 27, and widely identified in Japanese media as being Chinese nationals, were detained on Amami, a southerly island where the spiral-shelled crustaceans are a protected species. Authorities were alerted to the men's live cargo when hotel staff, who had been asked to look after their luggage, noticed the suitcases making a "rustling noise", police told local media. Officers subsequently discovered "thousands" of hermit crabs, weighing around 95kg. The third man was found to have a further 65kg in another set of three suitcases. "Our investigation is ongoing to identify whether they had [the crabs] to sell them, or to keep them as pets, or to eat them," a police spokesman told the news agency AFP following the arrests on Wednesday. "We are reviewing all possibilities." Police said the hermit crabs were "a national treasure", being a part of Amami Island's plant and animal diversity. Hermit crabs - so named because they scavenge shells to live in - can regularly be seen on the beaches of the popular tourist destination. The crabs can be worth up to ¥20,000 (£103), according to the Japan Times.
