The facts: Climate change and resilient woodlands
Our climate is changing and we need to act now.. Find out the facts in this infographic
Updated: Thu Nov 04 2021
Coverage of second day of COP26
Today we are looking at media coverage of the second day of climate change summit COP26.
Updated: Tue Nov 02 2021
Voyage of Discovery: RRS Discovery Expedition to Ascension Island and St Helena
In November 2021, Blue Belt Programme scientists and key partners will depart on a 9000 mile expedition to Ascension Island and St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Currently finalising both the scientific objectives and preparing all of the necessary ...
Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021
Achieving Net Zero: Keeping people and nature in mind
This month we'll see world leaders come together in Glasgow for COP26 and I hope they are able to agree bold carbon targets to limit future climate change. The evidence is clear: the climate is already changing, and it is ...
Updated: Thu Oct 21 2021
Incident on the River Mimram
On Monday 18 October, the Environment Agency investigated an incident on the River Mimram when it was reported that a stretch of water had turned purple following heavy rain. They found some small patches of purple colour noticeable in places, ...
Updated: Wed Oct 20 2021
Your questions about the Future Farming Resilience Fund
Last week I wrote a blog post encouraging farmers and land managers to take advantage of the free business support and advice on offer through the Future Farming Resilience Fund. Some people have been in touch to ask various questions about the fund. I wanted everyone to see the responses, so I thought I'd address them in this blog post.
Updated: Wed Oct 20 2021
Cefas and industry science collaborations: scallop stock assessment
This is the first in a series of short blogs focussing on Cefas' fisheries science work in partnership with the fishing industry. Cefas Scientist Andy Lawler, who specialises in commercial shellfish, is the first of our mini blog authors. This ...
Updated: Thu Oct 07 2021
How technology is assisting Tristan da Cunha to monitor compliance in its Areas to Be Avoided
In November 2020, Tristan da Cunha made international news when it designated 687,000 square kilometres of its waters as a fully protected Marine Protection Zone (MPZ) - the largest in the Atlantic. This follows-on from an important earlier announcement - ...
Updated: Tue Oct 05 2021
The Forestry Commission co-organises the fourth annual Forestry Conference
Find out more about the 2021 Forestry Conference, held on 13 October at Newbury Racecourse, and what you can expect from the Forestry Commission on the day.
Updated: Tue Oct 05 2021
MMO work with Marine and Coastguard Agency in pollution exercise
The United Kingdom is surrounded by some of the world's busiest seas. The English Channel alone accounts for up to 20% of global maritime trade and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. This means that there is an ...
Updated: Fri Oct 01 2021
Blue Belt UKOTs benefit from roundtable on MPA management effectiveness
In March this year, members of the Blue Belt team hosted a roundtable discussion on Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME). PAME is a tool to assess how well protected areas - including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - are being managed ...
Updated: Wed Sep 29 2021
Charting progress: the English Atlantic Bluefin Tuna catch, tag and release programme
Last month, the first ever CHART (CatcH And Release Tagging) pilot programme went live in England, with the start of the 13 week-long Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) fishing season. From 16th August, flying their specially designed CHART flags and with ...
Updated: Wed Sep 29 2021
The oak lace bug: A potential threat to oak trees
The oak lace bug is a tree pest that feeds on oak leaves. It's not known to be in the UK, but it's vital that we keep an eye out for it to protect our oak trees. Our Biosecurity Officer, Freddy Toft, explains more.
Updated: Wed Sep 15 2021
Cefas bequeathed priceless biological reference collection
Safe and sustainable seafood is the core focus of research teams in Cefas' Weymouth lab, investigating a range of hazards including bacteria, viruses and naturally occurring toxins that impact either human or animal health. Recently Cefas was bequeathed an entire ...
Updated: Wed Aug 25 2021
Enhancing knowledge and protection: St Helena and the Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network
St Helena is an oceanic island located in the tropical South Atlantic. Home to a fantastic array of marine biodiversity, it is one of the ten UK Overseas Territories that are part of the new Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network. ...
Updated: Wed Jul 28 2021
Monitoring the impact of climate change: The Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network and British Antarctic Territory
In the latest of our blog series on the Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network, we hear from Simon Morley at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) about what this project means for the British Antarctic Territory (BAT). Simon Morley, British Antarctic ...
Updated: Tue Jul 27 2021
Might oaks from little acorns grow...?
A year in the life of Bella Murfin and Naomi Matthiessen, job share Directors for the Nature for Climate Fund Tree Programme in Defra.
Updated: Wed Jun 23 2021
The Blue Belt Programme: looking back on 2020/2021
Kylie Bamford, Head of Marine Conservation for the UK Overseas Territories, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Blue Belt Programme supports delivery of the UK government's commitment to provide long term protection and sustainable management of marine environments across the ...
Updated: Tue Jun 08 2021
Operation Aidant targets modern slavery and human trafficking in shellfish industry
MMO officers join operation targeting modern slavery and human trafficking in the shellfish industry.
Updated: Fri May 28 2021