High level dialogue on Climate Change between the EU and Japan – Stepping up cooperation on climate policies

At the High Level Dialogue on Climate Change between the European Union and Japan, senior officials agreed to deepen their bilateral co-operation, work together towards achieving climate neutrality and tackling climate-related challenges. The meeting was co-chaired by Kurt Vandenberghe – Director General at the Directorate General for Climate Action at the European Commission and Yutaka […]

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Passive tree diversity increase after intense forest exploitation? A matter of drought-tolerant and animal-dispersed species – The Applied Ecologist

Miriam Selwyn discusses their latest study’s findings, conducted with colleagues. Results find ca. 30 years of passive tree species diversity increase following intense forest management release. This is largely thought to be led by animal-dispersed and higher drought tolerant species in the context of increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitations. Why does diversity matter? Tree species […]

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Notification by Germany of voluntary cancellation for plants closed in 2022

On 28 December 2023, the Commission received a notification in the sense of Article 12(4) of Directive 2003/87/EC (‘ETS Directive’) from Germany, concerning its intention to voluntarily cancel allowances associated with the closure of electricity generation capacities in two ETS installations in its territory in 2022 due to additional national measures. The notification follows the […]

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Can livestock help restore pollination services? – The Applied Ecologist

Anna Traveset and Carlos Lara-Romero talk us through the effect of green infrastructure on the restoration of pollination networks and plant performance in semi-natural dry grasslands across Europe. Alongside colleagues, Traveset and Lara-Romero suggest that enhancing ecosystem functions while avoiding biotic homogenisation is a necessity. Introduction and objectives In Europe, semi-natural grasslands are living treasures, nurtured […]

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Mariona Pajares-Murgó on how mutualistic and antagonistic phyllosphere fungi contribute to plant recruitment in natural communities

This project is part of my doctoral thesis, which I am carrying out at the University of Jaén and at the Zaidín Experimental Station (ZEE) in Granada, and these are photos of the dream team that made it possible so far! From left, Antonio J. Perea, Jesus Bastida, Sandra Lendínez and me, and comfortably sited […]

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Commission publishes new Recommendations on draft National Energy and Climate Plans from Bulgaria and Poland

The Commission has today published its assessments of the draft updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of Bulgaria and Poland, which include recommendations on where these 2 countries should raise their ambitions in line with the agreed EU targets for 2030. These follow the individual assessments and recommendations on draft updated NECPs previously published […]

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Contributing to the conversation on community engagement in ecosystem restoration – The Applied Ecologist

Authors Judy Kingsbury and Marian Farrior share proven practices developed from existing community-based restoration programmes to foster similar programmes around the world. Our article, co-authored with Bradley Herrick, was inspired by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the call to halt and reverse the degradation of Earth’s ecosystems. We share the principles, practices and […]

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Changes to the existing ETS and MRV applying from 1 January 2024

On 5 June 2023, the revisions of the EU emissions trading system (‘ETS’) Directive by Directive (EU) 2023/958, Directive (EU) 2023/959 and the Regulation on Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (‘MRV’) for maritime transport emissions by Regulation (EU) 2023/957 entered into force. Member States were due to transpose the above-mentioned Directives by 31 December 2023 regarding […]

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Land sparing outperforms land sharing for Amazonian bird communities regardless of surrounding landscape context – The Applied Ecologist

Benjamin Birch discusses the role of wildlife-friendly habitat in the wider surrounding landscape in promoting farmland diversity. Alongside colleagues, Birch modelled strategies of land sparing and land sharing under different levels of production. Background The conversion of natural habitats to agriculture is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity globally. Currently, 40% of the Earth’s […]

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No change in burning of peatland in Eastern Scotland’s moorlands – The Applied Ecologist

Author Benedict Spracklen used satellite imagery to better understand the impact of prescribed burning of moorland on ecosystem services. Prescribed burning has long played a role in the management of moorland, both in Scotland and across the UK. In Eastern Scotland, moorland burning (muirburn) is carried out to remove old vegetation and encourage new growth, […]

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