🌊🪨 Have you ever seen a nice pebble on the beach and thought it would make a lovely souvenir? 👀 Well, if you acted on that thought in the UK, you’d be breaking the law (under the 1949 Coastal Protection Act) 👩🏻⚖️ In a recent article in @theconversationdotcom by researchers from Lancaster University, they explain the science underlying the law 🥼 Spoiler alert: these beaches are crucial for protecting our coastline 🌊 #BESConservation 📸: @jess.w92 🌊: Pensarn, Wales
#NoMowMay is almost over! Are you going to continue providing a feast for pollinators, or mow it back? 🌱 How about checking out who else joined in with No Mow May 2024? Copy the link in the comments to have a look 👀 @plantlife.loveplants #BESConservation 📸: @jess.w92 (sadly not her garden, but a nearby meadow!)
👁️ The power of the third eye(lid) 👀 Have you ever noticed that your pets have a ‘third’ eyelid as they fall asleep on you? This is actually a specialised fold of the conjunctiva, and is found in many mammals, as well as some reptiles, birds (see above), amphibians, and fish. It can look spooky, but functions as an extra layer of protection 🌟 In camels, this specialised fold is semi-transparent, allowing them to see in sand storms while protecting their eyes 👀 Find out more in a recent story on @theconversationdotcom, link below! #BESConservation 📸 MabelAmber
☕️ Good morning and, like many others, I hope you’re enjoying your morning brew 🫖 Take a moment between sips to think about where your tea originates 🌱 Today is International Tea Day, designed to highlight the cultural significance of tea, and promote collective action towards its sustainable production and consumption ☕️ Can this sustainable production also support biodiversity? We suggest reading the paper below to find out more on tea agroecology 👀 #BESConservation
🦔👀 Hedgehog spotters wanted!!👀🦔 Fancy helping out the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme? They’re looking for volunteers to help spot hedgehogs on camera trap images 📷 Find out more in our newsletter, or heading to the link below! #BESConservation @ptes_org 📸: Alexas_Fotos
📚 Do you have a paper or textbook you find yourself often going back to? 🔂 For Andy Suggitt, one of our ✨ Extraordinary Members ✨, it’s this one ➡️ Ecological Census Techniques, by Bill Sutherland. Andy said, “Reading it is a bit like when you have a nice chat with a friendly mentor in the corridor at work” 💬 #BESConservation
You’ve got mail! ✉️ Last week we sent out our latest newsletter 👀 check it out for the latest #BESConservation and #britishecologicalsociety news 📰 , job and conference opportunities 🚨 , and our featured conservation article of the month ✨Not subscribed? Head over to our website to sign up! ✍️ Want to read April’s newsletter? Send me a message and I’ll send you the link 🔗
#NoMowMay is here! 🌱 Are you taking part? 🐝 According to @plantlife.loveplants, over the last ~90 years, the UK has lost 97% of its flower-rich meadows 📉 Not only do we miss out on the beautiful wild flowers and long grasses, we also lose food sources for vital pollinators 🦋🪰 If you have space, why don’t you give #NoMowMay a go! #BESConservation
One of our ECR reps is currently out in Spain in El Chorro ⛰️🧗🏼♀️This country contains ~75% of the world’s Griffin Vulture population 🇪🇸 Unfortunately, Griffin Vultures have one of the highest bird collision rates with wind turbines (can you spot them in the 2nd photo?). However, research has highlighted some ways to reduce such collisions, and there is even some work that suggests these amazing birds may have the ability to habituate to wind farms 🤔 What do you think? #BESConservation 📸 1: Geschenkpanda 2 & 3: @jess.w92 (3rd photo is within the Caminito Del Rey)
🌍 Planet vs. Plastics🥤was the theme of yesterday’s #EarthDay. This year, campaigners are demanding a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040 - do you think we can do it? 🤔 With 5 of the top 10 global risks highlighted by the World Economic Forum linking to the environment, we need to! 🍃 #BESConservation 📸 Ilie Barna
💚GREEN MATCH FUND WEEK💚 Donate to the British Ecology Society today and your donation will be DOUBLED by the @biggiveorg 💰💰 Donations will be put towards the BES Next Generation Bursary Scheme and BES Summer School, specifically to support those from low opportunity backgrounds. Donate now, and help us to lower the barriers faced by some aspiring ecologists 🍀🐯🐸 Head over to @britishecolsoc for the link to their donation page 🍄 #BESConservation 📸 Steffen Wachsmuth
🎶 Did you know it’s World Voice Day today? 🗣️ Nope, me neither 🎙️ Did you know that @besconservation have a podcast? 👥 Check it out on our website and keep an eye out for new episodes coming out over summer ☀️ If you’ve got a story to tell, get in touch! Raising the voices of conservationists across the globe and learning from others is crucial if we are to work together on our shared goal of conserving our natural environment. 🗺️ #BESConservation #besconservationcareersstories 📸 Amy Spielmaker
“Conservation is fundamentally the management of human behaviour”🗣️ This quote is from a Nature paper - Chan, K. M. (2008). Conservation: in a rut, we need rut-inspired solutions 📄 it’s also a top pick from Lydia (our Chair)✨ Do you agree with it? 📸 Lan Ha Bay, by @jess.w92 #BESConservation
🌍 Did you know it was the WHO’s World Health Day on Monday? 🌎 Healthy ecosystems are critical for human health and well-being. Peatlands are no exception. Improving peatland management & preventing peatland fires has the potential to prevent thousands of deaths🔥✋🏼 here’s a picture of a healthy peatland in the Peruvian Amazon, and a degraded peatland in Malaysian Borneo 🍃 📸: Lydia Cole #BESConservation
✨THE COMMITTEE✨This Friday, we’re introducing you to the BES Conservation Ecology Group Committee! Check out our story and reels to find out a bit more about each person 🕺🏼 💃🏼 Fancy joining us? 👀 Get in touch! #BESConservation
📸 ✨ New instagram account incoming!! Watch this space to keep up to date with the Groups’ activities & events, top conservation stories, our latest podcasts, field trip stories, and more! 👀 #BESConservation @britishecolsoc