Rewild a quarter of UK to fight climate crisis, campaigners urge

A quarter of the UK’s land could be restored to nature, making a significant contribution towards cutting the nation’s carbon emissions to zero, under a new rewilding proposal.

Regenerated woodland at Alladale wilderness reserve in Sutherland, Scotland.

The plan, published by Rewilding Britain, calls for billions of pounds in farm subsidies to be redirected towards creating native woodlands and meadows and protecting peat bogs and salt marshes. The group says wildlife would benefit, farmers would not lose money and food production need not fall.

The environment secretary, Michael Gove, is in favour of natural solutions to the climate crisis and huge losses of wildlife, and the government has pledged it will ensure “public money is spent on public goods” after the UK leaves the EU’s subsidy regime.

Read the story from The Guardian by Damian Carrington - “Rewild a quarter of UK to fight climate crisis, campaigners urge.”

New transport fund announced to assist drought-affected farmers in New South Wales

A new scheme to assist drought-affected farmers in New South Wales has been unveiled today as more than a quarter of the state deals with worsening dry conditions.

Paddocks near Denman in the NSW Upper Hunter
Valley show the impact of dry times.

The NSW Drought Transport Fund will provide up to $20,000 in low-interest loans, with a two-year interest and repayment-free period.

The fund is intended to help eligible landholders pay for farming freight costs, including water cartage, fodder transport and to shift stock to agistment.

Read the ABC News story by Cecilia Connell -  “New transport fund announced to assist drought-affected farmers in New South Wales.”

Keep global warming under 1.5C or 'quarter of planet could become arid’

More than a quarter of the planet’s surface could become significantly drier if global temperatures rise 2C above pre-industrial levels, scientists predict.

Acidification is a serious threat – as well as leading to droughts and wildfires
it can also have an impact on agriculture, water quality, and biodiversity.

The study, which is one of the most detailed assessments to date of future aridity, suggests that many regions could face an increased threat of drought and wildfires.

Limiting global warming to under 1.5C would avoid extreme changes for two-thirds of these areas, the study suggested.

Chang-Eui Park, the first author from the Southern University of Science and Technology (Sustech) in Shenzhen China, said: “Aridification is a serious threat because it can critically impact areas such as agriculture, water quality, and biodiversity. It can also lead to more droughts and wildfires similar to those seen raging across California.”

Read Hannah Devlin’s story on The Guardian - “Keep global warming under 1.5C or 'quarter of planet could become arid’.”