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Post by North Devon Coast & Country Chronicle.

Former chair of North Devon Biosphere takes up leading wildlife charity role

A north Devon man who has spent a lifetime in the cause of international environmental movements has joined the board of a leading local wildlife charity. Former chair of North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Mike Moser, is taking up the role of trustee with the Devon Wildlife Trust. Mike was unanimously elected by supporters of the wildlife charity at its recent Annual General Meeting held in Plymouth. Mike's CV reads as a career spent devoted to conservation and includes spells at the British Trust for Ornithology, Director of Wetlands International and English Nature. Today he continues to work, mainly with the United Nations, supporting wetland, forest and coastal conservation projects in developing countries. For the past three years Mike has also overseen the ground-breaking conservation work done with local farming communities as chair of the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area. Despite a busy professional life Mike still finds time to manage a small farm and woodlands at his home near Chulmleigh in north Devon. Now Mike is joining the trustee board which oversees the running of another leading conservation organisation: the Devon Wildlife Trust. Marking the announcement of his new role Mike said: "Devon is one of England's most beautiful counties, but that beauty belies serious problems of habitat fragmentation, degradation and continuing loss of wildlife. It could and should be much better! Wildlife will only thrive again when we have restored and joined up our fragmented habitats so that they can function properly. Devon Wildlife Trust is a champion for this landscape-scale conservation, and I aim to bring added-value to the organisation by drawing on my international, national and local experience. I'm delighted to be elected and look forward to helping to develop the charity's work for wildlife." Devon Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Harry Barton welcomed Mike's appointment: 'We're very pleased to welcome Mike. As one of our trustees he joins Devon Wildlife Trust at a very exciting time. He'll now be part of our development as we open the major new visitor centre Seaton Jurassic in East Devon, as we continue to expand our 49 nature reserves and as we campaign for better protection for Devon's wonderful marine wildlife. The challenges facing Devon's precious environment have never been more profound and the work of Devon Wildlife Trust has never been more urgent. I'm glad Mike will be with us to help!' Mike Moser's new role as a Devon Wildlife Trust trustee followed the retirement from the board of another north Devon wildlife champion, Ian Ferguson. Ian has become a familiar face at countless community events, campaigns and meetings over an astonishing 50 years of volunteering for the charity. 

  North Devon conservationist Mike Moser has joined the trustee board of Devon Wildlife Trust.

Photo copyright DWT (All rights reserved)

Nature Improvement Areas are boosting England's wildlife, communities and rural economy. Devon project leading by example.

Wildlife, communities and local economies are reaping the benefits of England's new Nature Improvement Areas, according to a report published today Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) set up by the government in 2012 have helped farmers to access EU grants, made valuable contributions towards university research and boosted the £210 billion rural economy. They've also attracted outside investment - more than £730,000 from business partners and £7.8 million from NGOs and not-for-profit organisations. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: "A healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand. These Nature Improvement Areas show how protecting our precious wildlife and outstanding landscapes can help grow our £30 billion rural tourism industry and create more jobs for hardworking people as part of our long term economic plan." Almost 19,000 hectares of threatened habitat - equivalent to 23,000 football pitches- have been created or restored since the NIAs were set up with £7.5 million of government funding. Volunteers have spent 24,300 days - or 66 years in total - surveying wildlife and improving habitats, and more than 11,000 people have taken part in educational visits. Locally the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area is the largest of England's 12 NIAs, covering 72,000 hectares of the river Torridge catchment. The project is leading by example exceeding many of its targets: since April 2012 it has worked with landowners and local people to restore more than 1,300 hectares of wildlife habitat, working with 51 parishes and 249 different landowners. So far the project has held 137 community events, taken 47 school groups out on site, and held 32 land management workshops. Lisa Schneidau, Northern Devon NIA Project Manager, said: "The NIA partnership in Devon is going from strength to strength. We aim to continue for many years yet in achieving our vision of a working landscape, rich in wildlife, valued by everyone. It's inspiring to be part of such a vibrant, positive network of projects which are showing how this vision can be achieved. As we work towards the end of this round of Government support for NIAs, we urge the Minister to build on the good work already achieved through NIAs, and provide leadership and support for existing and new NIA projects into the future." The Together England's 12 NIAs are spread throughout the country, from glistening sands of Morecambe Bay to the butterfly-filled South Downs in Hampshire. These wild habitats are now bigger, better connected, and more widespread, enabling wildlife such as butterflies and water voles to thrive. NIAs were first announced in the Natural Environment White Paper, the first government White Paper on the environment for 20 years, with the aim of creating 12 initial areas to reconnect nature on a significant scale through local partnerships. The NIA partnerships have improved access to the countryside, creating new public footpaths and connecting a network of paths which will span 540km by 2015. The NIA partnerships are on track to restore, create, enhance and maintain a further 5,500 hectares by 2015, joining up people and communities with their landscapes.

The river Torridge has been the focus for the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area's work over the past three years. Photo copyright Kevin New (All rights reserved)