Feb 2, 2018 - Scotland. Champion for Capercaillie with RSPB. Scotland. Jamie Halcro-Johnston MSP. SPECIES CHAMPIONS. Feb
SPECIES CHAMPIONS Members of the Scottish Parliament lending political support to the protection of Scotland's threatened wildlife by becoming Species Champions
New Champions
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February 2018 In the Chamber
Champions Outside
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Parliamentary Activity
Other News
Over 70% of MSPs now Species Champions! Meet Our Most Recent Champions...
There are now
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Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP John Mason MSP AKA 'The Moss Boss': Champion for Rusty Bog-Moss with Plantlife Scotland
Champion for Kestrel with RSPB Scotland
Ben Macpherson MSP
Jamie Halcro-Johnston MSP
Champion for Common Tern with RSPB Scotland
Champion for Capercaillie with RSPB Scotland
Species Champions in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament Votes to Support Iconic Mobile Species Scottish Environment LINK members welcomed today’s Scottish Government announcement to provide additional resources for the development of four nature conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) including for some of Scotland’s most iconic mobile species. Following a call from the Scottish Green Party, the Scottish Government has committed additional funding to support the designation of these important sites in a revised budget proposal that was put to a vote in Scottish Parliament. If designated the MPAs would be the world’s first sites designated for the protection of basking sharks, Risso’s dolphins and minke whales, all of which have their own Species Champions, and would see the introduction of area based measures that should provide greater protection than surrounding areas of sea. MPAs are recognised as an effective conservation tool globally; with the right management measures in place can provide much needed spatial protection to highly mobile species as well as seabed habitats. Although whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected under European Law, MPAs can help protect areas that contain significant numbers of animals, or are essential to key life cycle stages – such as calving, feeding or breeding.
Species Champions Around Scotland Buglife Scotland invited Alex Rowley MSP (Labour, Mid Scotland and Fife, Narrow Headed Ant) to look for, and learn more about his species in Black Wood of Rannoch near Pitlochry.
Bill Bowman MSP (Conservative, North East Scotland, Twinflower) joined the Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group near Dulnain Bridge in the Cairngorms to view Twinflower sites. Lewis Macdonald MSP (Labour, North East Scotland, Curlew) joined RSPB Scotland to visit his species and to learn about its threatened status and is keen to continue his involvement in 2018.
Representatives from RSPB Scotland invited Ken Mackintosh MSP (Labour, West Scotland, Black Grouse), along to assist with bird counts at a lek near Loch Arklet.
Adam Tomkins MSP (Conservative, Glasgow, Hazel) planted three hazel trees at the University of Glasgow with Woodland Trust Scotland. Angus MacDonald MSP (SNP, Falkirk East, Bog Sun Jumper Spider) joined Buglife Scotland on Wester Moss near Stirling to look for and learn about his species. Colin Smyth MSP (Labour, South Scotland, Badger) helped to launch both the Scottish Badger week and Scotland’s new badger hub at the Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation were joined by Richard Lochhead MSP (SNP, Moray, Minke Whale) to participate in their Big Shorewatch at Spey Bay in September. Richard joined in with activities and had the chance to speak to WDC staff about his species and their work.
Graeme Dey MSP (SNP, Angus South, Woolly Willow) joined staff from Scottish Natural Heritage and The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh at Corrie Sharroch, within Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve to view his species and further his knowledge on Woolly Willow conservation issues. Keith Brown MSP (SNP, Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Sticky Catchfly) has been out with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Plantlife Scotland learning about his species, which occurs in just 11 locations in the UK, one of which is in Holyrood Park (pictured) and the other within his constituency.
Parliamentary Activity Shetland Orca Competition
March 2017
Pearls In Peril 2nd February 2017
Curlew in Crisis Week 20th April 2017
“That the Parliament congratulates all of the schools that took part in the Shetland Orca Competition and welcomes the work of Whale and Dolphin Conservation in raising awareness of the species” Tavish Scott MSP, Champion for Orca, commended Schoolchildren and Whale and Dolphin Conservation on work to conserve and raise awareness of Orca.
Flame Shell Reef, Loch Carron 24th April 2017
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of damage to the Loch Carron flame shell reef by a scallop dredger." Maree Todd MSP raised her concern to Government as champion for Flame Shell, on the impacts of scallop dredging for her species and others.
"That the Parliament welcomes that the Pearls in Peril initiative has been selected as the winner of the UK 2017 River Prize in Partnership and Multiple Benefit category... since this project was set up on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire just four years ago, nearly 40km of river bank has been protected and over 11,000 trees planted" Alexander Burnett MSP, outlines river management conservation efforts on the River Dee with focus on his species, Freshwater Pearl Mussel.
Scottish Badger Week 16th May 2017
"That the Parliament welcomes the first Scottish Badger Week, badgers are an intrinsic part of the country's biodiversity and landscape, Callouthowever, they remain under threat from persecution, habitat loss and road deaths."
"That the Parliament recognises that 24 to 29 April 2017 is Curlew in Crisis Week, which is organised across the UK by the RSPB to draw attention to the plight of the bird and to promote projects that are currently working to help improve curlew numbers."
Pufferazi
Colin Smyth MSP, champion for Badger, spoke in Parliament welcoming the first Scottish Badger Week.
1 June 2017
Claire Baker MSP welcomed the launch of RSPB citizen science initiative, aiming to research Puffin diet.
Lewis Macdonald MSP lodged a motion highlighting the threats faced by his species, Curlew and commending the work of the RSPB Scotland Curlew Recovery Programme.
Celebrating “That the Parliament notes that 2 February 2018 marks World Wetlands Day; celebrates Scotland’s what it sees as the importance of Scotland’s Wetlands
12th January 2018
13 March
wetlands and the unique and productive habitats that these bring.”
As species champion for Short Eared Owl, Iain Gray MSP outlines the ecological importance of wetlands, including in supporting his species, and calls on the government to continue to commit to protecting wetlands.
"That the Parliament welcomes the launch of RSPB Scotland’s Puffarazzi, which aims to find out more about what puffins feed their chicks"
Risso's Dolphin
Neil Bibby MSP, Champion for Risso’s Dolphin with Whale and Dophin Conservation wrote to Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP asking when proposed nature conservation Marine Protected Areas (ncMPA) would be considered/designated for Risso's Dolphins.
Other News EEB Conference - Environmental Commitment and Species Champions In November, LINK co-hosted the annual European Environmental Bureau conference at Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth. The keynote speech was delivered by Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP, who confirmed that EU environmental principles were, and will continue to be, at the forefront of Scottish policymaking, looking ahead to Brexit and beyond. She outlined that failure to commit to these principles could risk Scotland lagging behind environmental targets and indicators. This position was welcomed by LINK and the environmental community for its commitment to environmental issues and inter-cooperation.This commitment has a significant context within the Species Champion initiative. Ensuring this commitment is actioned on the ground and reflected in future policy would represent the best outcome for our species, habitats and the services and value they offer. Help Ensure These Commitments and Stand Up for Your Species:
Support the implementation of these principles in policy making and ensure they are actioned. Stand up for issues which threaten your species or habitat. To continue to support the implementation of the biodiversity strategy and specifically how it affects your species and surrounding habitat.
"…My ambition is to carry through not just the letter of EU environmental law but also the underlying principles of precaution, prevention and rectifying pollution at source, as well as the ‘polluter pays’ principle…”
MSPs Champion Their Species in the Chamber New LINK LINK and member organisations were delighted to see Species Champions being raised in the Chamber in a recent Parliamentary Debate in December, led by Mairi Gougeon MSP (pictured), who has been an impassioned supporter for her species, the hen harrier. The debate gave MSPs the opportunity to talk about their own species and their role as a Species Champion, with Donald Cameron (Merlin), Graeme Dey (Woolly Willow), Christine Grahame (House Sparrow), Gillian Martin (Yew), Liam McArthur (Scottish Primrose), David Stewart (Great Yellow Bumblebee) and Andy Wightman (Mountain Everlasting) all speaking up for their species. Government Minister Joe Fitzpatrick also used the debate to reiterate government support for the Species Champion Initiative.
Species Champion Intern
Want to Do More With Your Species?
If you want to do more, or learn about how your species or its habitat interacts with upcoming policy or current affairs, LINK would be happy to help you, please get in touch.
LINK are pleased to welcome Calum Langdale as their new Species Champion Intern. He has recently graduated with an MSc in Environmental Management from the University of Stirling. Calum’s role is to support LINK’s Wildlife Subgroup with the Species Champion initiative, to support and help strengthen the initiative, to communicate Species Champion developments to MSP’s and to use social media to raise awareness about the initiative to wider audiences.
[email protected] @SpeciesChampion www.scotlink.org/work-areas/species-champions LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899). LINK is core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts.
