Madagascar Pochard © Peter Cranswick/WWT

The pochard, a medium-sized diving duck, was feared extinct by the late 1990s but it
was rediscovered in 2006 when biologists from The Peregrine Fund, who were scouting
for a threatened bird of prey, the Madagascar Harrier, observed 20 adult pochards
living on a single lake in northern Madagascar.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), The
Peregrine Fund and the Government of Madagascar joined efforts to establish a
conservation-breeding programme for the ducks, with the hope of reintroducing them
back into their wetland habitats.

However, an emergency rescue plan was mounted after a reconnaissance visit in July
revealed the situation was worse than feared - with the sighting of just six females
and evidence that the young had died just a few weeks old.

As a result, members of the team monitored the tiny population during their breeding
season, reporting that three female birds were preparing to lay eggs. A team of duck
specialists from WWT and Durrell immediately flew to Madagascar in an attempt to
bring the eggs into captivity.

Patience was becoming a required skill, as Glyn Young from Durrell describes; "It
was a race against time to get the team and the equipment to the lake before eggs
started hatching. The situation was not made any easier as massive electrical storms
had delayed our arrival in the country. Once all the equipment had cleared Customs,
we had to wait for three days as a bridge was repaired on the only access road to
the lake. To add to our woes, having finally made it to the lake, we all fell ill!"

Having commandeered part of a local hotel in order to create a temporary breeding
facility, a batch of eggs was removed from a lake-side nest as near to hatching as
possible. With extreme care, the day-old ducklings were transported to their
make-shift rearing facility, 12 hours away.

Peter Cranswick from WWT describes the significance of this achievement, "This is
conservation at the cutting edge. The urgency of the situation has meant a great
deal of invention and improvisation - but next year simply may have been too late.
Safely bringing birds into captivity marks the start of a 20- or 30-year
conservation project that will also help restore wetlands across the region."

Eight ducklings are now reported to be doing very well, but work continues as the
team attempts to secure two more clutches from the wild over the next few weeks.
However, this collaborative rescue mission has provided hope for the future for the
Madagascar pochard.

"This is the first important step toward saving this rare species from extinction,"
said Russell Thorstrom, a biologist in charge of The Peregrine Fund's Madagascar
program. "It shows how organizations working cooperatively can overcome challenges
and continue onward in their conservation effort for this critically endangered
duck."

Read Saving the Madagascar Pochard, the rarest duck in the World by Dr Glyn Young"

Yellow Warbler © Sean Cronin, from the surfbirds galleries.

Forest protection is one of the most effective ways to combat climate change, improve the livelihood of local communities and protect threatened wildlife. Healthy forests provide food, shelter and income to millions of people around the world. The projects supported by Disney will also benefit species ranging from gorillas in Africa to North American songbirds.

Support for these projects, using a variety of conservation strategies including avoided deforestation, reforestation, and improved forest management, supplement Disney’s company-wide efforts to combat climate change by reducing fossil fuel use and switching to cleaner forms of energy.

“Disney has always been a conservation leader,” said Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger. “Now, more than ever, it’s essential to take swift action to preserve our most vulnerable natural environments for future generations and to be innovative in achieving that goal.”

Forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Each year, 50,000 square miles of forest disappear around the world, equal to the size of Pennsylvania. The burning and clearing of tropical forests is responsible for nearly 20 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas pollution – or more than all the world’s cars, trucks, planes, trains and ships combined.

In partnership with Conservation International, Disney is providing $4 million to the Tayna and Kisimba-Ikobo Community Reserves in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Alto Mayo conservation project in Peru. The project areas are located respectively in the Congo Basin and the Amazon, two of the world’s most important tropical forest regions.

The protection of these forests will not only reduce carbon emissions, but secure vital watersheds and habitat for a wide-variety of plants and animals, many of them threatened or endangered. These include the gorilla and okapi in the Congo and the Andean spectacled bear and yellow-tailed woolly monkey in Peru.

The majority of Disney’s funds will go towards financing community management of the forests within the project areas and expanding sustainable livelihood practices among local villages. They will also be used to complete project design, conduct forest carbon analysis and finance verification of emissions avoided through successful implementation of the projects.

These projects will decrease carbon emissions by improving forest protection through reducing logging and the impact of slash and burn agriculture. Area communities, which are working with Conservation International and its local partners to design and implement the projects, will benefit economically by preserving the environment.

“This commitment by Disney represents the largest single corporate contribution ever made to reduce emissions from deforestation and will help build confidence in these activities that generate such compelling climate, local community and biodiversity benefits,” said Peter Seligmann, CEO and Chairman of Conservation International. “In addition, as climate talks gain momentum in the US and abroad, Disney’s leadership points the way to the key role tropical forest conservation must play in emerging climate change policies.”

In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Disney is providing more than $2 million to support the development of an innovative reforestation project in the Lower Mississippi Valley. The Nature Conservancy will work with private landowners in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas to plant trees and restore up to 2,000 acres of former forest land. Restoring these native hardwood forests not only provide carbon benefits but will expand the local habitat of migrating songbirds and the black bear. In addition to planting trees, conservation easements will be purchased on the lands to ensure the forests are permanently protected.
This forest restoration program is considered a pilot project that could be significantly expanded in scale in future years.

“Protecting forests is one of our most powerful tools in the fight against climate change,” said Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “This innovative project will give private landowners the support they need to join the global fight against climate change and restore local habitats for the betterment of both people and nature. We are proud to partner with Disney to protect critical habitat and ensure these incredible forests will be around for generations to come.”

Disney also will invest $1 million in The Conservation Fund’s sustainable forestry work along California’s North Coast. The Conservation Fund owns and sustainably manages two redwood forests in Mendocino County in an effort to demonstrate that improved forest management, supported by selective harvests and verified carbon offset sales, can benefit both the economy and the environment. Over the past five years, the Fund’s work has bolstered the local economy and begun to revive watersheds that are home to Coho salmon, steelhead trout, spotted owl and other wildlife.

“Across America, forests are shrinking; 35 acres here, 500 there,” said Lawrence Selzer, president and CEO of The Conservation Fund. “The decline is so incremental, it masks a crisis. In partnership with leading companies such as Disney, we are pioneering new approaches to forest conservation and climate change. We’re proud to collaborate with Disney on this critical effort.”

Disney’s forest preservation investment is part of the company’s plan, announced last March, to meet aggressive 3 to 5 year goals to reduce emissions, waste, electricity and water use, and to limit its impact on ecosystems.

Building on 20 years of work by Disney’s environmental affairs department, the targets were formulated by an Environmental Council of senior executives from across the company. Charged with developing and implementing sustainable strategies for Disney’s impact on the environment, as well as ways to use the company’s media reach to encourage positive action, the Council has taken a measured, scientific approach in analyzing the company’s operations and crafting strategic objectives.

In addition to the investment announced today, Disney has over the last year committed to planting close to 3 million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest and in the fire-ravaged areas in the mountains surrounding greater Los Angeles through contributions from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and local donations.

While there is no evidence of illegal killing or nest destruction associated with this year’s breeding failures, it is illegal persecution that has led to today’s critically low breeding numbers and patchy distribution.

As a result, hen harriers are even more vulnerable to chance natural events.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Director of Conservation, said: “We always feared that with hen harrier numbers kept so low, the English population was extremely vulnerable to a bad year like this.

"There can be no place in England's future for the illegal killing of birds of prey. Land owners and other shooting groups need to show real commitment and start working with Natural England, RSPB and BASC to implement legal solutions such as diversionary feeding.”

In contrast to the dismal breeding success in the uplands of northern England, one ray of hope for the hen harrier came with the news that for the first time ever a pair was found nesting in a cereal field in southern England.

The hen harrier was once found throughout the English lowlands and is not, as its current range might suggest, a bird solely of mountains and remote moorland.

Although there have been two other nesting attempts in southern England in recent years, this was the first time a crop-nesting pair has been recorded. With help from the farmer, a committed group of volunteers from local bird clubs ensured the birds’ behaviour was carefully monitored and they were able to successfully rear a chick.

Dr Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England, said: “This isolated nesting site in southern England is a massive leap from the hen harrier’s recent restricted distribution. Single birds occasionally loiter around suitable habitat in the early spring but rarely attract a mate, as hen harriers have a strong natural tendency to return to the upland areas where they were reared.

“Although this was just one pair, which may or may not return next year, their success hints at the potential for the hen harrier to be re-established in southern England, however this would not mean giving up on hen harriers in the uplands."

John Swift, Chief Executive of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said: “A bad winter has left the hen harrier population even more vulnerable than before – this means that everybody must concentrate on doing what they can to ensure that the moorland habitat continues to be well managed and that persecution is confined to history.

“It is imperative that we find a solution to the conflict between grouse shooting and birds of prey and those who manage grouse moors must continue to be vigilant against persecution of harriers.

Don't hide your achievements ...... take up the Challenge

A wide variety of companies enter the Challenge. Sites range from working quarries, power stations and oil refineries, to research establishments, company headquarters and restored nature reserves. Categories include Wetland, Quarry, Land Management, but are tailored to allow for the largest diversity of participants, so that each site has a good opportunity to win. The Challenge is not just for big businesses, it is about maximising the potential of business sites for birds and other wildlife whatever the size.

Black Redstart at home at Dungeness Power Station © Andrew Lawson, from the surfbirds galleries.

"Bird Species are a good indicator of the health or state of development of sites and entering a quarry site in to the BTO Challenge not only allows the development of that site to be gauged, but also allows the quarry to be placed in context with other similar sites. the opportunity to out-shine your peers is also rewarding"

David Park - Lafarge, Restoration Manager North

"The Challenge is a great way to demonstrate our role in delivering improvements in biodiversity, but also a tremendous way of involving our employees and reconising the efforts of all the volunteers that help with so much of the conservation work and monitoring."

Andy Brown - Anglian Water, Climate Change & Env. Performance Manager

Take up the challenge. Download a form here.

"In global terms, things continue to get worse – but there are some real conservation success stories this year to give us hope and point the way forward", said Dr Leon Bennun, BirdLife's Director of Science and Policy.

Of the world's 9,998 birds, 137 are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild, with 192 Critically Endangered, 362 Endangered and 669 Vulnerable.

Mauritius Fody, rescued from the brink © Cristian Jensen Marcet, from the surfbirds galleries.

The results of the full Red List update reveal 21% of mammals, 30% of amphibians, 12% of birds, and 28% of reptiles, 37% of freshwater fishes, 70% of plants, 35% of invertebrates assessed so far are under threat.

"The scientific evidence of a serious extinction crisis is mounting", says Jane Smart, Director of IUCN's Biodiversity Conservation Group. "January sees the launch of the International Year of Biodiversity. The latest analysis of the IUCN Red List shows the 2010 target to reduce biodiversity loss will not be met. It's time for governments to start getting serious about saving species and make sure it’s high on their agendas for next year, as we're rapidly running out of time."

Of the world's 5,490 mammals, 79 are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild, with 188 Critically Endangered, 449 Endangered and 505 Vulnerable. Eastern Voalavo Voalavo antsahabensis appears on the IUCN Red List for the first time in the Endangered category. This rodent, endemic to Madagascar, is confined to montane tropical forest and is under threat from slash-and-burn farming.

There are now 1,677 reptiles on the IUCN Red List, with 293 added this year. In total, 469 are threatened with extinction and 22 are already Extinct or Extinct in the Wild. The 165 endemic Philippine species new to the IUCN Red List include Panay Monitor Lizard Varanus mabitang, which is Endangered. This highly-specialized monitor lizard is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture and logging and is hunted by humans for food. Sail-fin Water Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus enters in the Vulnerable category and is also threatened by habitat loss. Hatchlings are heavily collected both for the pet trade and for local consumption.

"The world's reptiles are undoubtedly suffering, but the picture may be much worse than it currently looks", says Simon Stuart, Chair of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. "We need an assessment of all reptiles to understand the severity of the situation but we don’t have the $2-3 million to carry it out."

The IUCN Red List shows that 1,895 of the planet's 6,285 amphibians are in danger of extinction, making them the most threatened group of species known to date. Of these, 39 are already Extinct or Extinct in the Wild, 484 are Critically Endangered, 754 are Endangered and 657 are Vulnerable.

Kihansi Spray Toad Nectophrynoides asperginis has moved from Critically Endangered to Extinct in the Wild. The species was only known from the Kihansi Falls in Tanzania, where it was formerly abundant with a population of at least 17,000. Its decline is due to the construction of a dam upstream of the Kihansi Falls that removed 90 percent of the original water flow to the gorge. The fungal disease chytridiomycosis was probably responsible for the toad’s final population crash.

The fungus also affected Rabb's Fringe-limbed Treefrog Ecnomiohyla rabborum, which enters the Red List as Critically Endangered. It is known only from central Panama. In 2006, the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was reported in its habitat and only a single male has been heard calling since. This species has been collected for captive breeding efforts but all attempts have so far failed.

Of the 12,151 plants on the IUCN Red List, 8,500 are threatened with extinction, with 114 already Extinct or Extinct in the Wild. The Queen of the Andes Puya raimondii has been reassessed and remains in the Endangered category. Found in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, it only produces seeds once in 80 years before dying. Climate change may already be impairing its ability to flower and cattle roam freely among many colonies, trampling or eating young plants.

But it's not all doom and gloom, conservation does work and there are some great examples in this year's Red List. In Brazil, Lear's Macaw Anodorhynchus leari has been downlisted from Critically Endangered. Named after the English poet, this spectacular blue parrot has increased four-fold in numbers as a result of a joint effort of many national and international non-governmental organisations, the Brazilian government and local landowners.

In New Zealand, Chatham Petrel Pterodroma axillaris has benefited from work by the New Zealand Department of Conservation and has consequently been downlisted from Critically Endangered. And in Mauritius the stunning, Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra has been rescued from the brink after the translocation and establishment of a new population on to a predator-free offshore island. It has now been downlisted to Endangered.

"Both the petrel and fody have suffered from introduced invasive species, and tackling these is one of the 10 key actions needed to prevent further bird extinctions that BirdLife has indentified. What this year's Red List changes tell us is that we can still turn things around for species. There just has to be the will to act and the resources to back this up", said Dr Stuart Butchart, BirdLife's Global Research and Indicators Coordinator.

This is what the RSPB says.

"....the RSPB favours a broad mix of renewables, including solar, wind, and marine power, wherever they are used in ways that minimise unnecessary damage to wildlife and the natural environment......

The available evidence suggests that wind farms can harm birds in three possible ways – disturbance, habitat loss or damage (both direct or indirect), and collision. Poorly sited wind farms have caused some major bird casualties, particularly in Tarifa and Navarra in Spain, and the Altamont Pass in California. At these sites, planners failed to consider adequately the likely impact of putting hundreds, or even thousands, of turbines in areas that are important for birds of prey. Tragically, killing many hundreds of birds as a result."

For the full article visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/windfarms/index.asp

Eleonora's Falcon, Mallorca © Mark Reeder, from the surfbirds galleries.

Until recently, it was believed the species migrated east through the Mediterranean, then south via the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa to Madagascar, where 70% of the global population is estimated to converge in the winter. However, the new studies used satellite transmitters to show that these birds reach their destination by flying right across the centre of the African continent. Other secrets uncovered include the finding that they migrate by both day and night, crossing huge barriers such as the Sahara Desert. Some of the birds took two months to complete their mammoth journeys, including a stopover in West Africa.

Their return route to European breeding grounds in spring also crossed the heart of the African continent, but involved a longer crossing (1,500 km) of the Indian Ocean than in the autumn. Adult birds returned directly to the Mediterranean, whereas immature falcons spent their first summer in the tropical Africa.

These studies provide valuable new insights into the migration routes of this raptor, and also underline its vulnerability to threats it may face en route, such as hunting, collisions, habitat loss and desertification.

BirdLife International is working to try and save migratory birds on their amazing journeys. Earlier this year, we launched the Born to Travel Campaign to protect migratory birds along the African-Eurasian flyway.

“Every time a migratory bird manages to cross a continent, it tells us an extraordinary story of courage and successfully overcoming the many obstacles along the way”, said Ania Sharwood Smith, European coordinator of the Born to Travel Campaign. “To follow migratory birds satellite tracking is a fantastic technology that greatly improves our understanding of where the main dangers may lie”.

Queen of Spain Fritillary © Nick Ransdale, from the surfbirds galleries.

However, Queen of Spain Fritillary butterflies have been seen along the Sussex coast in the past month and Neil Hulme of the Sussex Branch of the charity Butterfly Conservation has photographed them mating. These appear to be the progeny of an immigrant female butterfly spotted nearby in July. He and other Sussex butterfly enthusiasts are now waiting to see if this results in a permanent Queen of Spain colony. In particular they are searching for the butterfly's eggs, which are usually laid on field pansies growing on the edges of arable fields.

Experts think that the warm, sunny autumn will have helped them reproduce again. Dr Tom Brereton, Head of Monitoring at Butterfly Conservation's national HQ, said that the Queen of Spain Fritillary had been edging northwards over recent years, especially in warm summers.

He said: "It is most likely that the Queen of Spain Fritillaries which arrived in July were migrants dispersing from strongholds in eastern Normandy, northern France. From the Normandy coast near Le Havre to Sussex, the sea crossing is a distance of about 90 miles - i.e. a six hour flight in favourable southerly winds."

Neil Hulme, chair of Butterfly Conservation's Sussex Branch, said: "I was amazed to see this incredibly rare butterfly in Sussex but even more amazed to see a mating pair late in October. It does look like they are trying to establish a breeding colony for the first time in Sussex".

If the Queen of Spain does establish itself in Britain it will be the third butterfly to do so in the last 20 years, following the Red Admiral which now overwinters regularly across southern Britain and the Clouded Yellow which breeds regularly at one location on the south coast.

The Queen of Spain name was given to the butterfly in 1775 by Moses Harris in The Aurelian's Pocket Companion, but there is no explanation for why he did so.

Buff-tailed Coronet, Colombia © Pete Morris/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries.

The area – which straddles the banks of the Caquetá River and its tributary, the Apaporis River – is home to the Tanimuka, Letuama, Makuna, Yuhup, Barasano, Itana, Eduria and Tatuyo ethnic groups, and was previously classified as an indigenous reserve. However, this status – under existing Colombian legislation – did not provide the communities with the power to protect their land when a Canadian gold-mining company began prospecting in the area two years ago.

So the communities looked to a solution that would increase their rights to oversee the future of the land – the creation of a national park. They worked with Conservation International and the Gaia Amazonas Foundation to appeal to the country’s National Parks Unit to better protect the region’s resources.

Fabio Arjona, Executive Director of Conservation International in Colombia said: “The announcement is a hugely significant step forward for conservation, both globally and in Colombia. It has helped to break-down barriers that have existed between conservation and indigenous groups – who initially resisted efforts to increase protection in their forests because of concerns that it would reduce their ability to manage the lands as they wish to. But in creating this new park we have worked together to create an area that protects both the rights of indigenous people and this hugely important area of forest.”

The area’s lowland forests have great biodiversity and shelter unique and threatened species such as the black curassow (Crax alector), the brown wooly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) and the endemic Apaporis river caiman (Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis).

As managers of the new park, the indigenous communities can restrict gold mining and other activities. They will continue to be free to use the park’s resources for their daily needs and cultural traditions, as long as certain conservation standards are met. The National Parks Unit and Association of Traditional Authorities of the Yaigojé Apaporis (ACIYA) will work together to determine and enforce these standards.

The official Government FBI indicator for England – which is calculated by taking current and previous years’ survey results into account – declined for the sixth year running in 2008. This means the current FBI indicator is at its lowest ever and farmland birds populations last year were 52% lower than when records began in 1970.

Skylark © Sean Gray, from the surfbirds galleries.

“These precious birds have been an important part of the English countryside for generations but in recent decades they have suffered huge declines," said Mark Avery, RSPB director of conservation.

“The RSPB is backing a major new initiative from the farming industry, the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, which is being launched next month in a concerted effort to bring wildlife back to our rural landscape.

“These new figures show how vitally important it is that this campaign succeeds – if these birds disappear then we will have lost a unique and defining feature of the English countryside.”

The FBI figure dropped by 2.26 per cent between 2007 and 2008, almost as steep as the drop between 2006 and 2007 of 2.37 per cent. Twelve of the 19 species on the FBI list declined between 2007 and 2008 and of those 10 have been in continual decline for the past four years.

As is often the case with statistical analysis of large amounts of data the story behind the figures is complex. Although the official FBI indicator figure signals a continued decline in farmland birds, the raw year on year data does show a small increase in bird numbers.

Dr Avery explains: “Statistics on bird populations rarely create graphs with perfectly straight lines as all kinds of unpredictable influences can cause fluctuations. So while this small one year increase is unlikely to indicate anything more than a blip in the figures, it does give us a glimmer of hope for the future of our farmland birds and should provide encouragement for farmers’ future efforts to help wildlife.”

Today also sees the release of similar survey figures for woodland and wetland birds, both of which are faring better than farmland birds. The English woodland bird index of 35 species has declined by 20% since 1970, while the wetland bird index of 26 species has increased by 12 % since 1975.

The RSPB’s own Hope Farm in Cambridgeshire, meanwhile, has seen a record year for birds. The latest survey results show that the FBI species at Hope Farm - which features the latest wildlife friendly farming measures - have risen 177% since the charity bought the land in 2000.

The figures show there were 234 breeding pairs of FBI list birds on the farm this year compared with 165 last year – an increase of 41%. And once again the farm’s wheat and oilseed rape yields are above the national average.

Tiger © Dave Pullan, from the surfbirds galleries.

The recommendations from the workshop include support for implementing a resolution related to tigers in the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), and to avoid financing development projects that adversely affect critical tiger habitats.

“These are a good start but the momentum from Kathmandu needs to be carried forward all the way to the Tiger Summit during the Year of the Tiger 2010 and beyond,” said Mike Baltzer, head of WWF’s Tiger Initiative. “The tiger range countries are clearly committed to saving their wild tigers and the world needs to extend unstinting support to this mission because once tigers are gone, they’re gone forever.”

There are only about 3,200 tigers left in the wild and WWF’s goal is to double that number by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. Tiger populations are declining in face of massive poaching for illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and fragmentation, and conflict with humans.

“I am convinced we are on the right road to saving tigers,” said Dr. Eric Dinerstein, WWF’s Chief Scientist, in his closing remarks to delegates from 20 countries at the conclusion of the meeting. “We will look back on this meeting as the dramatic turning point for conserving this magnificent species, its habitats, Asian biodiversity, and the billions of people who depend upon healthy natural landscapes for which tigers are the talisman.”

The Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop is the first in a series of political negotiation meetings occurring throughout the year and leading up to a final Heads of State Tiger Summit in September 2010, which is the Year of the Tiger.

Crab Plover, Madagascar © Pete Morris/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries.

The report, co-funded by WWF was prepared by an interdisciplinary team of eight scientists which went to Faux Cap shortly after the accident.

While one to three whales normally beach in the area each year, nine whales beached in September alone, and some beach stretches seem to be real death zones, the report found. Villagers suffer from diseases such as respiratory problems, skin diseases and diarrhoea.

“WWF is very concerned about the possible negative impacts on biodiversity especially marine and coastal species, the threats to the ecosystems and the loss of people’s livelihood options. That’s why we decided to fund this mission,” said Harifidy Olivier Ralison, WWF Western Indian Ocean Marine Programme Coordinator.

Oil clumps cover the beach 30 km to the east and even further to the west of the shipwreck. Almost half the 40,000 people in the area have been affected by consequences of the shipwreck, the study found with a key impact being the banning of fishing for three months. Some 25 to 40 percent of the inhabitants depend on fishery as their source of income.

The impacts on marine species are also tragic.

Like human beings, whales suffer from respiratory problems due to diesel odour. They come to the surface from time to time to breathe, so if they happen to surface through an oil film, this might result in the animal’s death,” Yvette Razafindrakoto, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) marine mammal specialist said.

Although raw phosphate is not poisonous, a huge amount of it being suddenly released into the ocean can be problematic. The expert team found signs of eutrophication in front of the shipwreck. "Phosphate acts like fertilizer, which leads to an extensive algal bloom. This depletes the oxygen in the surrounding marine environment and could cause the disappearance of species such as fish and molluscs" said Ralison.

Some common species of sand crabs were also only found sporadically and other species, such as various gastropods contained a very high amount of heavy metal, which is connected to higher mortality.

There are signs that the food chain in the area around Faux Cap is severely harmed. What this means for the coastal ecosystem and the villagers on the contaminated beaches can only be definitively estimated after the passage of some years, the report said.

Ibisbills, China © Mark Andrews, from the surfbirds galleries.

“’Made in China’ products used by consumers worldwide are being manufactured at a high cost to the Pearl River,” said Edward Chan, Campaign Manager, Greenpeace China. “If the results of our sampling are any indication of what factories in general are doing in China, then China’s waters are in deep trouble.”

Southern China’s Pearl River Delta, known as the ‘world’s factory floor’, accounted for nearly 30% of China’s exports in 2007. Samples from one of the sites, Kingboard Fogang, contained beryllium at 25 times the levels allowed by local regulation. Samples from Wing Fung Printed Circuit Board Ltd. contained copper at 12 times the allowable limit. Both companies export to the global markets.

“What is very disturbing is that once released, it is almost impossible to remove these hazardous substances from the environment,” stated Kevin Brigden, scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories. “These substances, which are associated with a long list of health problems such as cancer, endocrine disruption, kidney failure and impact to the nervous system, pollute the environment and put people’s health at risk.”

Greenpeace is calling on industries to reduce and eliminate their use of hazardous chemicals by replacing them with safe alternatives. It calls upon government authorities to develop and implement stringent regulation to restrict and eliminate the release of hazardous chemicals, as top priority.

"China is paying a heavy price for its rapid industrialisation. It is time that China’s environmental regulations caught up with the pace of development,” concluded Chan. “As climate change leads to a rapid depletion of the world’s water resources it is even more important than ever that we stop poisoning our precious rivers.”

Common Scoter © Josh Jones, from the surfbirds galleries.
The UK’s most endangered duck – still needs significant conservation action if we’re going to pull them back from the brink

Rare birds, with fewer than 1000 pairs, with increasing populations include the osprey, corncrake, avocet, cirl bunting and stone-curlew – all birds subject to conservation action. The declining common birds include the linnet, nightingale, swift, guillemot, starling, house sparrow and red grouse – all widespread species that are suffering declines for a variety of reasons.

The overview of 210 native breeding birds has been produced by a coalition of conservation organisations, to celebrate the publication of the State of the UK’s Birds report which this year enjoys its tenth anniversary.

The report is published by the RSPB for a coalition of conservation organisations, including: RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology; The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust; The Countryside Council for Wales; Natural England; Northern Ireland Environment Agency; Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director, said: “Over the last decade we’ve enjoyed some cracking conservation successes, including removing some threatened species from the red list and increasing the populations of red kite, bittern, avocet, osprey, stone-curlew and cirl bunting. However, these triumphs are countered by continued declines of some widespread species, like the skylark, kestrel, willow warbler and grey partridge.”

Dr David Noble of the British Trust for Ornithology, added: “ That some of our rarer birds have responded to targeted conservation action is great news. It shows just what can be achieved. What we need to do now is to continue the good work and use some of the lessons we have learned to help our more common birds.”

Dr Baz Hughes of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: “It is really encouraging to look back at how concerted effort has improved the status of many wetland birds, not least avocet, bittern and black-tailed godwit. But sadly exceptions like the common scoter – the UK’s most endangered duck – still need significant conservation action if we’re going to pull them back from the brink.”

Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England, said: “It is clear that targeted conservation work has made a real difference in reversing the decline of many rare species and that positive land management, often delivered through green farming schemes such as Environmental Stewardship, has had an important part to play. By working closely with farmers and other land managers we need to ensure that these benefits are spread into the wider countryside where more common birds continue to suffer from declines.”

JNCC’s David Stroud said: “These results remind us that the causes of the declines for many migratory species can often be in other countries. For example, Greenland white-fronted geese are declining owing to factors that are restricting its breeding in the Arctic. This strongly emphasises the need for UK conservation organisations to collaborate internationally with those in other countries to tackle such issues.”

Some of the key bird conservation stories coming from 10 years of the report include:

· A continued decline of farmland birds

· The dramatic rise of bitterns from 19 to 82 males

· An increase in the numbers of Dartford warblers, nightjars and woodlarks in line with the
positive management of heathland

· An increase in the number of corncrake, stone-curlew and cirl bunting, thanks to positive
habitat management

· A dramatic recovery in the fortunes of the white-tailed eagle and red kite, thanks to reintroduction programmes

· An increase in the number of little egrets which only bred for the first time in the UK in 1996

· A decrease in the numbers of kittiwake and guillemot, two species of seabird having their most important EU populations in the UK

- the establishment of the Fowl Cays Land and Sea Park in Abaco located between Scotland and Man O’ War Cay in the barrier islands of Great Abaco

- the expansion of the West Side National Park of Andros, including Williams Island and Billy Island

- the expansion of the Conception Island National Park

Cuban Pewee, Bahamas © Alan Lewis, from the surfbirds galleries.

In his announcement, Prime Minister Ingraham also noted, “We are mindful of the pressures of development in certain parts of The Bahamas, and equally mindful of our duty to protect the interest of our people and integrity of our resources.”

The Bahamas continues to increase conservation momentum within the Caribbean. In addition to these new parks, the government recently extended legal protection to all species of sea turtles found within its waters. They may not be hunted, trapped or otherwise harmed or harassed.