Click Here to read the article.
Archive for the ‘Biodiversity’ Category
STC entomologist leads National Insect Week and meets HRH The Prince of Wales
Dr Luke Tilley, entomologist at STC, has coordinated a successful National Insect Week. The week’s initiative included over 200 events nationwide, including a bioblitz in the gardens of Clarence House. Dr Tilley accompanied HRH The Prince of Wales around the gardens to demonstrate the work of the entomologists and their primary school helpers. Click here for details.
STC is an official partner of National Insect Week and conducted eight bug hunts with schoolchildren over the week. The aim of these was to teach children about biodiversity and the role insects play in food production.
For more information about National Insect Week, go to www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk
STC at Harrogate Flower Show
Harrogate Flower Show showcases the best of the horticultural sector. STC will be exhibiting insects that are important to the sector such as pests, biocontrols and pollinators.
In collaboration with the NFO, STC will be informing the public about the importance of insects to farmers and growers.
Harrogate Flower Show runs from Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th April. For more information please Click Here to visit their website.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions /energy and biodiversity
Tuomisto H L, Hodge I D, Riordan P and Macdonald D W (2012). Comparing energy balances, greenhouse gas balances and biodiversity impacts of contrasting farming systems with alternative land uses, Agricultural Systems 108 (2012) 42–49
Conclusions Even though the conventional systems had the highest energy inputs and GHG emissions per food product output, the whole farm energy and GHG balances were far more favourable for the conventional systems compared to the organic systems once the availability of extra land was taken into account. The results also suggest that integrated farming systems that use the best practices for producing high yields while using environmentally beneficial farming practices can lead to more favourable whole farm energy and GHG balances and the lowest negative impacts on biodiversity compared to organic and conventional systems.
I think its called sustainable intensification !!
Hedgerows provide corridors for foraging bumblebees
Researchers at the University of Northampton have published research on how bees use hedgerows to search for nectar-rich flowers.
Read an article in the Guardian about the research here. The original article in the scientific journal Oikos can also be found here.
STC currently have a pilot project looking at adding value to hedgrows and other farming landscape features by sowing wildflowers and shrubs along the hedge base. Stc are also looking at choosing tree and hedgrow species to provide nectar and pollen for bees during their entire active season. For further details, please contact Dr Luke Tilley (luketilley@stc-nyorks.co.uk)