Some Conservation Choices For 2023

Each year, since 2009, scientists and conservationists have been brought together in Cambridge (England) to identify priorities. The scientists can learn about natural products and issues that need their expertise. The conservationists can be introduced to advances in scientific technologies, perhaps applicable to specific problems (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/28/top-conservation-issues-watch-out-for-2023-wetland-fertiliser-amphibians). The latest crop of potential areas for collaborations include:- 1. Replacing some plastics with chitin Chitin is a carbohydrate found in shellfish, insects and fungi. It's thought it could be harvested, in a 'green' manner, from insect cultures fed on organic trash. Its use would reduce the requirement for using oil to make plastics. 2. Conserving the lithium, increasingly needed for batteries This could be achieved by improving extraction technologies, getting more lithium out of conventional mines or even trash, ocean water and degraded lands. 3. Generating nitrogen fertiliser from human urine or by planting more crops with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots Urine contains urea. The urea could be converted into nitrogenous fertiliser. Besides having agricultural benefits, this might also reduce the environmental impact of sewage release. Artficial fertiliser may also be replaced by growing crops of Soya beans and Cowpeas. Genetic engineering might well increase potential candidate nitrogen-fixing crops. 4. Determining the effects of using lights in the deep ocean to catch species for human consumption Lights are increasingly being used in deep sea trawling. Their effects, however, on biology/ecology in such regions needs urgent investigation. 5. Managing the loss of coastal wetlands, exacerbated by climate change Rising sea levels are destroying coastal wetlands. These habitats are essential for a range of plants, fish, birds and other animals. 6. Evaluating microcommunities Biodiversity estimates should include microbes, as well as protists, plants, fungi and animals. Advanced teachnologies now enable species of microbes to be rapidly identified, along with population sizes (often impacted by human actions). 7. Dealing with a new threat to Amphibia Frogs, toads and other species have been decimated, worldwide, by fungal infections. Amphibians are now also threated by the protist Perknasea, which infects and kills their tadpoles. 8. Using machine learning to assess the dangers of agricultural chemicals, before they are approved for release Machine learning has proved helpful in assessing the safety of pharmaceuticals. It seems likely it could also be used to reduce the threats of herbicides and insecticides on species and ecosystems. 9. Developing thermovoltaic systems Thermovoltaic systems use heat to generate electricity. It's argued that this could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce 'greenhouse gas' emissions. It seems a very good idea to get conservationists and scientists together to explore potentially fruitful colaborations.

Let's Hope For a Much Better 2023 (When Peace and Sanity Prevail)

'Freak Weather': A Thing of the Past or A Thing of the Future?

John Vidal opines that recent events confirms that 'there is no such thing as freak weather' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/29/no-such-thing-freak-weather-2023-storm-elliott). What he seems to mean by this, is that the global temperature has already changed so much, that 'freak weather' events have now become the norm. It has long been known that the human-mediated release of 'greenhouse gases' will elevate mean global temperature, as more of the sun's energy is trapped. In spite of this and repeated warnings, our species has continued pumping out carbon dioxide and methane. This adds power in the planet's distorted weather systems. These changes will lead to more storms, heatwaves, cold snaps (as air rushes into more equatorial regions from polar locations), droughts and flooding (as more water evaporates into the atmosphere before falling as rain/snow). The intensity of these events will also increase. This, seems to Vidal, to be highly predictable. Weather events were formerly labelled as 'freak', when they only occurred very occasionally. That was certainly not the case in 2022. Vidal predicts that 2023 will be worse. It's never been more urgent to stop adding to our climate problems and to develop ways of dealing with the established norm of intense weather events.

Going, Going........

The National Trust have responsibility for large areas of UK wild habitats. They report that 'a litany of weather extremes in 2022' have had devastating consequences for much of the UK's wildlife (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/28/uk-wildlife-devastated-by-litany-of-weather-extremes-in-2022). 2022 had fierce storms, searing heat and deep cold snaps. The impacts of these extreme weather events have been felt on flora (from great trees to meadowland flowers) and fauna (especially on butterflies, amphibia, bats and birds). It's all very well to boast of plans to boost biodiversity on land and in the seas. It will be next to impossible to do anything meaningful, if many of the plants and animals have already gone. 2023, is likely to have more, rather than fewer, weather extremes. We really need much faster action on climate change.

Super Rich, Private Jets, Super Polluting

The Campaign for Better Transport, think the 'super rich' should have to pay extra tax, each time they fly on a private jet (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/dec/30/tax-super-rich-private-jet-travel-fund-public-transport-uk-charity). Private jets take relatively few passengers, largely on shortish flights. The Campaign for Better Transport estimate that private jets are between 5 and 14 times more polluting than scheduled flights. Private jet flights also emit about 50 times more carbon dioxide per passenger per kilometre, than taking a rail journey of the same distance. In spite of these facts, people using private jets, currently pay the same Air Passenger Duty (APD), as folk booking a seat on a scheduled airline. Private jet flights also have VAT-free status. The Campaign for Better Transport reckons that, if private jet users were charged a much bigger APD and VAT, this could bring in sufficient finance to subsidise less polluting modes of transport for all. It would certainly follow the principle that 'the polluter should pay'. It might even encourage the 'super rich' to be a less climate-destroying bunch!

Bringing Home the Bacon

Nitrates are used to give processed meats, like bacon and ham, colour and taste. For many years, however, it has been suspected that these additives increase human cancer risk (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11578893/Government-urged-ban-additives-used-processed-meat-research-highlights-cancer-risk.html). A new study, fed mice with nitrates. It confirmed that these animals also had an increased risk of developing cancer. The scientist concerned is adding his voice to a call for the UK government to ban nitrates from processed meats. These nitrates are not essential additions as processed meats can be made tasty without them. Calls for just such a ban have now been going on for several years. It's rare to find known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) being legal in the human diet. What happened to the precautionary principle?

Some of My Favourite Pictures of Students Doing Practical Work

Students in the field and labs. Mostly the UK and Sikkim.