Positive News
The New Zealand river that became a legal person
In 2017, New Zealand granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River. Since then, other nations have followed suit in an effort to protect the environment. click link: The New Zealand river that became a legal person - BBC Travel
Give legal rights to animals, trees and rivers, say experts
Report for Law Society says framework is essential for future interactions with the environment and biotechnology.Granting legal rights and protections to non-human entities such as animals, trees and rivers is essential if countries are to tackle climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, experts have said
click link:Give legal rights to animals, trees and rivers, say experts | Environment | The Guardian
Sceptic viewpoint:Why I’m sceptical about giving legal rights to animals, trees and rivers | Letters | The Guardian
River Ouse may become first in England to gain legal rights
The River Ouse is on course to be the first river in England to be granted legal rights, as part of a growing movement to bolster protection for nature through the law. Guardian Mar 1 2023
Click link: River Ouse may become first in England to gain legal rights | Rivers | The Guardian
Why it's time to talk about Poo
The nutrients in human waste are drifting down our rivers anto into our oceans instead of back into soils. But there are much better uses for human poo than flushing it down the drain. click link: Why it's time to talk about poo - BBC Future
‘This is what a river should look like’:
Dutch rewilding project turns back the clock 500 years
Europe’s largest river restoration is making changes across the entire landscape, bringing benefits to wildlife and people
click link:
Economic argument for the importance and benefits of Nature in UK
Nature is not an impediment to UK economic growth: it’s vital to it
click link: Nature is not an impediment to UK economic growth: it’s vital to it | Tony Juniper | The Guardian
River Wear in Durham to be cleared of litter
A litter-strewn section of the River Wear is set to be cleared of debris after a local campaign.
click link: River Wear in Durham to be cleared of litter after Natural England approval | The Northern Echo
Reconnecting the Salmon rivers of Wales / Ailgysylltu Afonydd Eog Cymru
This project aims to remove 17 disused barriers to reconnect 141 km of fragmented river habitats across Wales in five iconic Atlantic salmon rivers: the Western and Eastern Cleddau, the Usk, the Tywi, and the Teifi. Reconnecting quality habitats will make these fish populations less isolated and make our rivers more resilient to future change.
click link: Reconnecting the Salmon rivers of Wales / Ailgysylltu Afonydd Eog Cymru | West Wales Rivers Trust
Exmoor river to be liberated in pioneering project
The idea of this “Stage 0” restoration project is to create the conditions for a landscape that is better for flora and fauna, with the slower water flow making flooding less likely.
click link: ‘Like a computer reset’: Exmoor river to be liberated in pioneering project | Rivers | The Guardian
Cumbria is ahead of the river curve: The second programme in Simon Reeves’ BBC TV series The Lakes features similar projects in Cumbria that are well under way, making a huge positive impact.
NRW Project to help the Teifi: Restoring LIFE back into four rivers in Wales
The largest conservation project to help restore wildlife on four important rivers in South Wales was launched on Friday 28 October 2022.
The Four Rivers for LIFE Project is led by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and will protect, enhance and help restore the Rivers Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau and Usk. An estimated 776km of river will be improved.
click link: Natural Resources Wales / Restoring LIFE back into four rivers in Wales
This project is based on a similar project that has proven very successfull on the River Dee
click link: Natural Resources Wales / NRW launches £6.8 million LIFE Dee River project
Here are a some YouTube videos about the Dee River project:
Study finds small isolated wetlands are pollution-catching powerhouses
Small isolated wetlands that are full for only part of the year are often the first to be removed for development or agriculture, but a new study shows that they can be twice as effective in protecting downstream lake or river ecosystems than if they were connected to them.
click link: Study finds small isolated wetlands are pollution-catching powerhouses (phys.org)
An Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) has been created on 15ha of land in the Stiffkey catchment to provide a sustainable, low-carbon, natural wastewater treatment system that will also boost biodiversity.
click link: Norfolk Rivers Trust | Stiffkey Integrated Constructed Wetland
Note however that half the wetlands in Europe have been lost in past 300 years
click link: Half the wetlands in Europe lost in past 300 years, researchers calculate | Biodiversity | The Guardian
River Dove: Thousands of trees planted to protect salmon
More than 2,000 trees have been planted in Staffordshire in a bid to protect the local salmon population. The saplings were planted along the River Dove, near Uttoxeter, as part of a project by the Trent Rivers Trust to help "climate-proof" the river habitat. It is hoped the trees will reduce erosion and slow the flow of water.
click link: River Dove: Thousands of trees planted to protect salmon - BBC News
Strange Plan to Full Rewild a River
Salmon migration returns to Cumbrian river after disappearance
Research shows that Salmon numbers have been falling for several years, but staff and volunteers from a partnership in Cumbria have been working to help them overcome the threats they now face. New figures released from Haweswater, where the RSPB works in partnership with landowner United Utilities show that Salmon are once again thriving in Swindale Beck at the site.
click link: Salmon migration returns to Cumbrian river after disappearance | News and Star
‘Historic moment’ for nature as Europe’s first wild river national park announced in Albania
A project with outdoor gear company Patagonia and NGOs will protect the Vjosa, one of the continent’s last free-flowing waterways.
One of the last wild rivers in Europe, home to more than 1,000 animal and plant species, has been declared a national park by the Albanian government, making the Vjosa the first of its kind on the continent.
Pearl mussels to be released into Welsh rivers to curb extinction
Conservationists are preparing to release pearl mussels into Welsh rivers in an attempt to save them from extinction.
Freshwater pearl mussels have become critically endangered because of poaching and changes to their habitat.
Over the past 100 years their numbers have dropped so much that only a handful can be found around Wales.
But now Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is set to release the first batch of young into five rivers this summer.
click link: Pearl mussels to be released into Welsh rivers to curb extinction - BBC News
Regional sewage treatment works set for site in Manx plantation
A new sewage treatment works to serve parts of the east of the Isle of Man will be situated in a plantation, Manx Utilities (MU) has said.
MU chairman Tim Crookall said the development meant the organisation could now "get on with delivering a modern sewage treatment process for Garff", which would "ultimately cease the pumping of raw sewage to sea on the coasts of our island".
click link: Regional sewage treatment works set for site in Manx plantation - BBC News
Dam fine work: record number of barrier removals helps restore rivers
In its annual report, Dam Removal Europe said Spain led the way for the second year with 133 removals, followed by Sweden and France. The UK completed 29 removals, including Bowston Weir, which was built on the River Kent nearly 150 years ago for a paper mill. Its removal will help restore the health of the river, which is home to white-clawed crayfish, freshwater pearl mussels, and water crowfoot (an oxygenating aquatic plant).
£11m Welsh Water investment to improve Cleddau water quality
Welsh Water is investing more than £11m to improve water quality in the River Cleddau, members of Pembrokeshire County Council have heard.
click link: £11m Welsh Water investment to improve Cleddau water quality | Western Telegraph