 Envirolink is a new quarterly magazine published as part of the Environment center's developing role in the community. it aims to be a substantial publication providing news, comments and discussion for all those actively working towards creating a healthy and substantial communities. More than anything else, Envirolink is aiming to show what can be done by groups and individuals in the wider Harrogate area. in this way the isolation and sometimes frustrating of those who feel they are working alone can be overcome by sharing experiences and where appropriate, pooling resources. As ever finances are a problem. Group subscriptions of £10 or individual membership of the environment center (£5) entitle you to your own regular of Envirolink. Any donations will also be gratefully received. Corporate sponsorship and / or advertising will be gratefully appreciated from environmentally friendly enterprises. Following a pilot issue the launch issue went out in November 1997 and included and exclusive interview with Phil Willis MP and featured articles on tele-working sustainable transport issues, hunting and building conservation in ripon in future there will also be regular science and education pages, reviews and plenty of space for local group news and events. If any group or individual would like to contribute a piece on their current concerns or offer administrative or other help please write to: John Blewitt at Envirolink, The environment center, 5 station parade Harrogate HG1 1UF OR Tel/Fax 01423 540290 I look forward to hearing from you.  |
BIODVERSITY ACTION PLANNING At the last meeting of the harrogate district environment Forum Martin Hammond an ecological consultant gave a presentation on the background to Biodversity Action planning. He Advised the forum that extinction was occurring at an alarming rate in this country with plants and animals that were once common lost for ever. Further action needs to be taken to ensure that future generations can enjoy a countryside which ought to be no less rich in terms of diversity of the species that it is at the moment. Biodversity Action Planning Concerned with retaining a range of life forms of both plant and animal species in an area as first discussed and international policy issue following the rio summit in 1992 This lead to a UK action Plan Biodversity Challenge which folks on the need to start planning at a local level in order to prevent extinction of species local to the area The first stage in producing one of these plans is to audit the natural resource in an area identifying threatened habitats a species and determining the priority of both local and national importance. Once the priorities have been identified an action plan can then be produced and implemented involving local organisations who have expressed an interested Mr Hammond used slides to illustrate local species and habitats which were under threat Tansy beetles could now only be found on the banks of the river Ouse and the Trent valley. River Lamprey and sea lamprey found only in the ouse have migratory route down and then back up the Ouse and therefore districts would need to join together to help preserver this species Various habitats were under threat from changing patterns in agricultural such as meadows heathland wetland habitats sandy breck and chalk downs. In the harrogate district initial survey work has already been undertaken by groups such as the naturalist Society but this data has not yet been analysed. It was suggested the impetus for further work could come from the harrogate district environmental forum and that they could assist the borough council with development work The forum agreed to consider the next steps to take this forward at this meeting in may when the councils countryside officer Paul burgess will be invited to lead a discussion on the proposals for future action. Environmental Projects Funding AvailableEnvironmental company Yorventure which is backed by northallerton waste management company Yorwaste LTD via the landfill Tax credit scheme, has funding for environmental improvement projects in North Yorkshire. Yorventure, which recently funded a new 3 years post of part - time warden at quarry moor, just outside ripon will have pledged around £1 million to projects by the end of this year Projects can be put forward by the general public, community groups and local environmental and charitable bodies , These generally fall into one of the following categories of interested. Community projects - projects within a 10 mile radius of a landfill site which create maintain or restore public parks and amenities buildings historic and architectural interest and places of religious worship. Land restorationProjects which reclaim derelict land Education projects projects which raise public awareness about sustainable waste management. Research projectsresearch into sustainable waste management practices aimed at improving waste management technologies and assisting in the reclamation of despoiled land and the remediation of the effects of pollution.If you want more information on how to put forward projects or have any questions about Yorventure telephone John Kilner on 01943 850089 |
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