July: Environmental news roundup
It’s hard not to feel bombarded recently by headlines about record-breaking temperatures, wildfires and climate change. It’s a challenging time to try and remain optimistic in the face of environmental issues already on our doorstep. But there’s a whole lot of good taking place thanks to committed people working together to make a difference. Chloe Hurst, SWPP Project Assistant takes a look at some of the headlines in environmental and climate issues in July.
The stars are, officially, for everyone again
The long-awaited verdict has finally arrived – “section 10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 confers on members of the public the right to rest or sleep on the Dartmoor Commons whether by day or night and whether in a tent or otherwise, provided that other provisions of the 1985 Act and schedule 2 of the national Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the byelaws are adhered to”.
A landmark case that confirms what our National Parks stand for; the right to roam, access to nature and respectful relationships with landowners, farmers and local communities. A lot of work has gone into this ruling, including from SWPP partners Dartmoor Preservation Association, Dartmoor National Park Authority, and fellow nominees in the Campaign for National Parks Awards The Stars are for Everyone.
We must not lose sight of this debate for it is our responsibility to ensure the ongoing protection of Dartmoor and people who call it home so that future generations can share the same enjoyment. Dartmoor National Park Authority has reiterated its guidance on how to backpack camp following the ‘leave no trace’ principles.
Please follow the link to Dartmoor National Park Authority’s website: Camping Map | Dartmoor
Local chough success story
If you’ve walked the cliffs of West Penwith, you might be lucky enough to have spotted the iconic red legs and beak of Cornwall’s bird, the chough. Despite being designated extinct in the area in the 1970s, conservation efforts have seen numbers bounce back in recent years. This year has seen at least 112 baby choughs born from 39 breeding pairs, a rise of 60% from last year.
Since a breeding pair returned to Cornwall in 2002, the species has grown in number thanks to partnership working, land management changes, landowner engagement, volunteer monitoring and helping to protect nest sites.
Learn more about choughs at SWPP Partner Organisation Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s website here.
Record-breaking temperatures hit Earth
As I write this, recent articles state July is on track to be the world’s warmest month on record. This follows an already record-breaking June, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for the first time. It is likely that these won’t be the last records to be broken this year. Researchers and scientists are attributing these back-to-back records to human activity – specifically the burning of fossil fuels. Increased concentrations of gases, primarily carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere act like a blanket, trapping heat from the sun. The process continues and repeats, enhancing the effects of warming, hence the term greenhouse effect.
Carbon capture - what’s the catch?
The concept of carbon capture has been around for a decade or so and is now considered by some a key solution to mitigating climate change. The process involves the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by separating the gas from other gases where it is then collected to either be used elsewhere (for example, as a fuel to then be used, release and recaptured; carbon neutral) or stored somewhere safe underground (removed carbon completely; carbon negative).
As you can imagine, the process is tricky. The capturing step requires a large amount of power and expense.
It is much easier to keep a unit of carbon out of the atmosphere than it is to try and retrieve once it’s already there. Thus, the best way to mitigate climate change is to stop putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in the first place. I’d argue that therefore, carbon capture is not a sole solution. It must be used in conjunction with, primarily, a reduction of fossil fuels, natural carbon capture methods (tree planting, peatland restoration, sustainable farming practices) and large-scale habitat restoration.
By rewetting and restoring our peatlands, more water will be held and stored within these upland landscapes. This in turn, will help sphagnum moss, the key peat forming plant, to colonise and turn a peat-eroding, carbon-emitting habitat into a healthy peat-forming, carbon-capturing landscape once again.
Another important benefit to rewetting these areas is for water security. In the UK, up to 70% of our drinking water is sourced from catchments dominated by peatland habitat. We are already feeling the strain of this resource with increasing extreme weather events like drought, so anything we can do to ensure the future of this essential commodity should be top priority.
Catch Chloe monthly on BBC Radio Cornwall, chatting all things climate news, peatland restoration, and environmental optimism, or listen back on BBC Sounds here.