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Harvest mice found thriving 15 years after reintroduction efforts In late 2019, 15 years after the release of captive-bred harvest mice Micromys minu- tus in Northumberland, UK, a team of vo- lunteers found two distinctive, orb-shaped nests in dense reed beds close to where the animals had originally been released. This was the first time evidence had been found to suggest that the reintroduction had been successful. The nests were woven into grasses 1 m above ground and con- tained green leaves, showing they were freshly made. Initial follow-up surveys after the mice had been released in 2004 failed to find any trace of harvest mice, although the traps used for the surveys had successfully caught them in trials. The news of the recently discovered nests was welcomed by researchers and conservation- ists. A priority species for conservation and protected by law, the harvest mouse is the UK’s smallest rodent and the country’s only mammal with a prehensile tail, which it uses for grip and balance as it climbs the stalks of tall plants. Source: The Guardian (2019) theguardian. com/environment/2019/dec/13/harvest- mice-found-thriving-15-years-after- reintroduction-efforts


Gay Birders’ Club marks 25th anniversary The Gay Birders’ Club celebrated its 25th anniversary in February 2020. Founded in 1995 by a group of gay men in Tolpuddle, UK, the club is now well established as the country’s foremost meeting place for those in the LGBT+ community who are inter- ested in wildlife and birding. It has over 300 members from across the UK and abroad, runs c. 70 birding trips per year, or- ganizes holidays and publishes a quarterly magazine, Out Birding. For its silver anni- versary, the club is seeking to make a con- tribution to conservation and help tackle the climate emergency by joining theWorld Land Trust in its goal of protecting 3,953 acres of prime wildlife habitat in northern Mexico. The group aims to raise funds to help local partner Naturalia secure 25 acres of this special habitat, which is home to a rich diversity of threatened wildlife. Contributions can be made on the club’s fundraising page at justgiving.com/fund raising/gaybirdersclub. Source: Bird Guides (2020) birdguides. com/news/gay-birders-club-marks-25th- anniversary


Agricultural reforms in UK after break from EU farm subsidies The UK’s withdrawal from the EU means the country is no longer tied to EU farm subsidy policies, which to many research- ers is a positive development. In January 2020 the UK government proposed radi- cal changes to GBP 3 billion per year in agricultural spending that will focus the money on benefits to climate, ecosystems and the public. Under the new bill, farmers will be given subsidies not simply for cul- tivating land—the current EU system—but for delivering public services. These in- clude sequestering carbon in trees or soil, enhancing habitat with pollinator-friendly flowers and improving public access to the countryside. To ease the transition, direct subsidies will be phased out over 7 years beginning in 2021, and the new pay- ments for environmental services will be tested in pilot projects. Farmers could re- ceive payments for sequestering carbon with tree plantations or restored peatlands, restoring heritage buildings or enhancing landscape beauty to boost tourism. Other payments will help farmers adapt to cli- mate change or reduce their environ- mental impact. Source: Science (2020) sciencemag.org/news/ 2020/01/united-kingdom-embark-agricultur al-revolution-break-eu-farm-subsidies


France proclaims its first forest national park In November 2019 France created its 11th national park. Located primarily in the Burgundy region, the core area of the Park covers 56,614 ha and the buffer zone 184,475 ha. The Parc National des Forêts protects a lowland deciduous forest, an ecosystem poorly represented in the French protected area network. The forests are dominated by beeches and oaks, and most of them are .200 years old. The biodiversity is typical of old growth deciduous European forest. The Park harbours viable populations of boars and several species of deer, and it protects the largest French population of the black stork, a species categorized as Endangered in the country. To strengthen forest protection and to monitor ecological changes over time, an integral 3,100 ha nature reserve is being created within the Park’s core area. The Park is expected to attract many scientists, foresters and others aiming to understand the response of the forest to ongoing climate change. Source: Parcs Nationaux (2019) parcs nationaux.fr/fr/actualites/parc-national-de- forets-le-11eme-parc-national-francais-voit- le-jour


Stories of coexistence with large carnivores The EU-funded LIFE EuroLargeCarnivores Project has launched a Europe-wide video campaign that features testimonials from people sharing the landscape with large car- nivores. The videos demonstrate how peo- ple from all over the continent have found ways to coexist with these species. There are c. 17,000 wolves, 17,000 bears, 9,000 lynxes and 1,250 wolverines living in Eu- rope (not including Russia). Where people and large carnivores share the same land- scapes, conflicts can arise. People sharing their experiences in the videos include farmers and sheep herders that have found ways to protect their livestock, ecotourism operators and ordinary people from rural communities that accept and appreciate the presence of large carnivores. The videos were filmed in Finland, Norway, Germany, France, Slovakia, Romania, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Austria and Hun- gary, and have been published on the Project’s YouTube channel. Source: Emerging Europe (2020) emerging- europe.com/after-hours/stories-of- coexistence-emerging-europeans-share- their-exp eriences-of-living-with- large-carnivores


A beetle vs Romania’s most awaited infrastructure project The European Commission has postponed its decision on granting financing for Ro- mania’s most awaited infrastructure project: the Sibiu–Pitesti highway, which should link southern Romania and the capital Bucharest to the Transylvania region and Western Europe. The Committee’s decision was de- termined by vague environment protection objectives included in the report on the project’s environmental impact, which the Romanian government sent to Brussels with the financing request. Romania is trying to get EU financing for 85% of the project’s cost,whichis estimatedtobe c.EUR3 billion. The Commission’s concerns are related to the project’s impact on Morimus funereus,a species of beetle that lives in the area where the highway will be built. Also known as the tailor beetle, the species is on the list of animal and plant species of community in- terest whose protection requires the desig- nation of special areas of conservation. The EU authorities have sent Romania a list of questions on the project’s impact and the protection measures to be implemented. Source: Romania Insider (2020) romania- insider.com/romania-ec-beetle- highway-project


Oryx, 2020, 54(3), 290–295 © 2020 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605320000137


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