Alaotra grebe confirmed extinct

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Alaotra grebe confirmed extinct

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Jo S

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 5174
Location: Somerset

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 4:15 pm Post subject: Alaotra grebe confirmed extinct

Quote:

The Alaotra grebe is extinct, according to the latest assessment of the world's rarest birds.

The last known sighting of the bird was in 1985 and experts have now confirmed its demise, killed off by a combination of poaching and predatory fish.

The Malagasy species, which lived in Lake Alaotra, is the first confirmed bird extinction since 2008.

Linky

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 4:27 pm Post subject:
Stories like this make you realise that every little bit you do to maintain habitats can make a big difference though...

AnneandMike

Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 890
Location: Over the hill and soon to be far away

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 6:23 pm Post subject:
I don't remember seeing anything about biodiversity and species extinction in the election manifestos. Maybe it isn't important (too our leaders!).

OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 7:22 pm Post subject:

This is obviously a tragedy - both for the species concerned, and for us. However, given the way our governments operate, this kind of thing is inevitable and we will have to get used to it. I wonder (and this is just a question) how important this actually is? It feels bad, but is it really such a big deal? To put it in context, 20,000-30,000 years ago we (yes, your ancestors and my ancestors) killed off the last fellow homo sapiens species. Has anything we have done since been worse than that?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 8:01 pm Post subject:
neandertal genes are alive and well in most of us extinctions happen life goes on so far

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 8:24 pm Post subject:

orangepippin wrote:

This is obviously a tragedy - both for the species concerned, and for us. However, given the way our governments operate, this kind of thing is inevitable and we will have to get used to it.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by how our governments operate?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 8:35 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

orangepippin wrote:

This is obviously a tragedy - both for the species concerned, and for us. However, given the way our governments operate, this kind of thing is inevitable and we will have to get used to it.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by how our governments operate?

I read it that the governments of this country pander & cosy up to big multinationals instead of listening to the population.
But then I thought how many of the general public actually give a toss for world biodiversity anyway.
Most of them are more concerned about whether their mortgage will rise in the coming years.
Whether they can drive up the motorway in record time without getting snarled in gridlock & whether BA will be on strike or a volcano will be erupting to stop them getting away to somewhere that was once really beautiful & diverse before tourism killed it.
We get the government we deserve.

OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 8:35 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

orangepippin wrote:

This is obviously a tragedy - both for the species concerned, and for us. However, given the way our governments operate, this kind of thing is inevitable and we will have to get used to it.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by how our governments operate?

Go and read your local development framework for East Yorkshire, and then ask yourself how compatible that scale of house-building programme is with protecting local biodiversity.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 8:39 pm Post subject:

Tavascarow wrote:

Rob R wrote:

orangepippin wrote:

This is obviously a tragedy - both for the species concerned, and for us. However, given the way our governments operate, this kind of thing is inevitable and we will have to get used to it.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by how our governments operate?

I think you're right. Conversely, though, the amount of EU money spent on habitat creation, restoration and enhancement is huge too. I know they give with one hand and take with the other but at least they're giving.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 8:45 pm Post subject:
good diversity can be had in a flowerpot ,lots of small stuff gets big

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 9:07 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Tavascarow wrote:

Rob R wrote:

orangepippin wrote:

This is obviously a tragedy - both for the species concerned, and for us. However, given the way our governments operate, this kind of thing is inevitable and we will have to get used to it.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by how our governments operate?

Part of the proposed 2,000 eco home development near me is being built on land that has had some of that EU money spent on it in the name of heathland regeneration.
Money well spent?
Money to keep more bureaucrats, local government officers & employees of NGOs in work.
& when it comes to it none of them have any teeth & big buisness wins out again.
& like I said earlier to be fair if I canvassed the households in my area about it most would be worried about the increase in traffic & whether being so close to such a large development will affect their house prices. Doubt hardly any of them give two hoots for skylarks or linnets.

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 9:13 pm Post subject:
freind on my course was moaning about the same development, and hes an 18 year old with a sword obsession and no interest in politics later than the 13th century. deeply unpopular thing they are doing.

OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Wed May 26, 10 9:14 pm Post subject:
So why don't we abandon the pretence and admit that biodiversity will be compromised by current government policies, and that extinctions are an inevitable consequence. Perhaps we can then at least start to take steps to protect some of the more important species. We seem to be living in denial at the moment.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu May 27, 10 8:04 am Post subject:

Thanks Jo for starting this thread & thanks Rob for bringing up the EU biodiversity money.
I e-mailed the two consultants involved with the governments biodiversity action reporting system last night & stated my concerns & asked their opinions.
The more people in these places I hassle, the more likely they are to get out from behind their EU funded desk & go & take a look for themselves.
The eco-town site is classed as a brown field site but much of it has regenerated naturally back to its former heathland self over a very long period (at least fifty years probably longer in some parts) & as I've said earlier those are the bits I'm concerned for,or rather the wildlife (especially avian).
It's easy to create new heathland habitat but if in the process you destroy nests of threatened species & thus have fewer birds to nest there, not really eco in my book.
If any of you have five minutes & want to drop a line to Mr Alexander & Mr Champion I & the Larks Linnets & cuckoos (how could I forget them in my earlier post) will be humbly grateful.
The link is below unfortunately the link fairy magic I have learnt doesn't work on this one so you will have to cut & paste into your browser.
Thanks again.

https://www.ukbap-reporting.org.uk/plans/action.asp?X={B2703D4D-8756-4FB2-9105-B93D67F28725}&WES=&P=1&O=2&CTY={AA736F1F-145F-431A-A9B9-213A322C03EF}&CTRY={7C884413-1AC7-48B6-ADCD-23CBA1482CD6}&H={830BBA17-BE3F-4C7B-993F-D8625DD5D516}&S=]

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