Government invites applicants for funding to vaccinate badgers in 11 English counties

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has reopened its 2014 scheme to fund badger vaccination in selected English counties, in areas close to high-risk bovine TB (bTB) hotspots.

First launched in April, the take up then was slow, with many farmers in heavily infected areas being sceptical about the effectiveness of vaccination as it does not address disease in already infected badgers.

However, also planned is a new Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme (BEVS) to be launched towards the end of the year, where the aim is to slow the onward spread of bTB from high risk areas, creating buffer zones to prevent the disease being carried out of the hotspots by sick badgers.

The move, welcomed by Care for the Wild and the Badger Trust, will fund the inoculation of badgers against the disease, and the training to administer the vaccine.

Continued

Funding for Aberdeen research using shark immune systems to develop drugs

A team developing anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs from research based on the immune systems of sharks has received a £1.5m funding boost.

The University of Aberdeen has received the financial backing to develop man-made proteins closely related to structures found in sharks.

Sharks are one of the most ancient species on the planet.

Scottish Enterprise and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council awarded the money.

Structures called variable novel antigen receptors (VNARs) are found in the shark immune system.

Continued:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-21352836

Wildlife Crime Unit gets funding for another year

Vital funding confirmed, but only for 1 more year

January 2013. Continued funding has secured the future of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) Environment Minister Richard Benyon has confirmed, at least for 1 more year.

The NWCU is at the forefront of the UK's fight against the growing illegal wildlife trade. Through effective intelligence-led enforcement, it targets key criminals engaged in serious and organised crime.

Announcing the funding, Richard Benyon said: "Wildlife crime is a very serious issue with organised gangs using the proceeds from illegally traded items like rhino horn to fuel other illegal activities. It's right that a specialist unit supports the police in bringing these people to trial. The funding for another year will mean the unit can continue to bring criminals to justice and tackle the illegal wildlife trade both at home and abroad.

Rhino horn
The Wildlife Crime Unit has been instrumental in the UK in combating the illegal trade in rhino horn, which now has a blackmarket value in Asia as high as gold.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/ncwu-2013.html

Fund gives Dh2m to study rare species

ABU DHABI // A conservation programme is donating almost Dh2 million to help save dozens of species of animals and plants from extinction.


The Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund will help 73 projects in 40 different countries by giving Dh1.8 million to protect plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, fish and fungus.

The fund provides small grants of not more than Dh91,800 to on-the-ground conservation projects that have a specific research purpose.

"In a few short years the fund has already become a world leader in providing this type of targeted financial support," said Razan Al Mubarak, managing director of the fund.

Most of the grants go to scientists working with animals and plants that are classified as either critically endangered or endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

One such creature is the Sinai baton blue butterfly (pseudophilotes sinaicus).

The size of a thumbnail, the world's smallest butterfly lives in a territory of only seven square kilometres in Egypt, on Mount Sinai and a few surrounding peaks. Because of the small area and the fact it is solely dependent upon one plant, Sinai thyme, the butterfly is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.

For the second time, the fund is giving a grant to Francis Gilbert, associate professor at the UK's University of Nottingham, who is studying the butterfly and testing a hypothesis that the grazing goats of Bedouin tribes can encourage its plant host to grow in larger numbers. Dr Gilbert has been awarded Dh5,520.

There is a high demand for the fund's financial support, with 430 applications received between November last year and this February.

"We were able to offer our support to less than 20 per cent of projects requesting money," said Ms Al Mubarak. "Although this demonstrates our high standards, more importantly it reveals the increasing pressure on our world's threatened species.

"We wish we could give away more money to support species conservation."

In Morocco, the fund has awarded Dh18,400 to a project to study the critically endangered northern bald ibis (geronticus eremita).

Other projects to receive funding focus on species about which little is known.

One is a study of the population distribution of a rarely seen Vietnamese ungulate, the saola (pseudoryx nghetinhensis), with the researchers being awarded Dh18,400.

The saola, discovered only 20 years ago, is so rarely seen and secretive that scientists will look for traces of its DNA in the blood sucked by leeches living in the area.

The same grant was awarded to a team in Colombia that is researching the rare Dracula orchid (Dracula gorgona). It grows out of litter on the ground and flowers in beautiful ivory blooms speckled with red or dark purple.

The fund was established in 2008 through an endowment by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Since its launch the body has distributed Dh28.3 million to nearly 700 projects in more than 115 countries.

Projects from the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Yemen have received a total of Dh514,000.

"The fund is a global initiative and we are aiming to reach out to as many conservationists across the globe as possible," said Ms Al Mubarak. "In the region, we have engaged with researchers and universities to increase the number of applications."

More grants area to be awarded before the end of September.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/fund-gives-dh2m-to-study-rare-species

San Gabriel seeks additional funds for Vincent Lugo Park renovation

SAN GABRIEL - The city has applied for additional grant funds to finish the first phase of the Vincent Lugo Park Renovation Project, which began more than a year ago.

The first portion of the three-phase renovation project began in February 2011, and has run into a few unexpected snags along the way. Those have cost the city additional money, time and resources.

According to a staff report, the project has already garnered $400,000 in Los Angeles County grant money. Last week, council approved an application for $50,000 in additional county funds to pay for the extra costs.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has given $7,400 to the Friends of La Laguna for emergency work in the La Laguna de San Gabriel Playground located in San Gabriel's Vincent Lugo Park March 18, 2010. The whimsical sea creatures, including Sandy the Sea Serpent, were cast in concrete in 1965 were the work of a Mexican artist. (SGVN/Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb) 

One of the major problems, Director of Parks and Recreation Rebecca Perez said recently, has been large pieces of concrete found as workers started digging up the park's new dry riverbed.

"There have been various challenges along the way," Perez said. "When there's rubble we have to dig down deeper and dig out further to create a stable surface. ... That added time, resources, everything."

The first phase of renovations also includes new pedestrian lighting, a multi-purpose athletic field and a walking path.

Resident Bianca Vargas, who lives near the park, said she has been frustrated with it's ongoing closure because she has no where else convenient to take her son to play.

"I don't know what the city does with their money," she said. "I just don't understand what they are doing. It's ridiculous."

Councilman Mario De La Torre said he has also been frustrated with the delay and said he hopes the park can be reopened as soon as possible.

"We want our park to be open, of course," he said. "Parks are very important to us as council members and as residents."

The city's request for the additional funds has already been approved by Supervisor Michael Antonovich and is set to go before the County Board of Supervisors in May.

lauren.gold@sgvn.com, 626-578-6300, ext. 4586