Chris Monk
Well-known member
CONSERVATION: Nature centre faces closure
From Peterborough Today web site:
CONSERVATION: Nature centre faces closure
TOP scientists may lose their jobs in a shake-up which could see the region's main wildlife research centre shut down.
A "financial decision" could see more than 40 years of research at Monk's Wood Research Centre come to an end as the National Environmental Research Council (NERC) looks for ways to save cash.
The centre in Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, employs 25 scientific experts and carries out vital research into areas including the dangers of pesticides, the monitoring of bird species and the conservation of butterflies.
But the NERC's current business plan is looking at cutting its number of wildlife research centres from eight to four, which could mean the experts are left without jobs.
The NERC, which is funded by the Government, says it is not about cuts, rather about funnelling cash to other areas of research.
A further 175 jobs across the country are also under threat, and many will have to relocate to other areas to keep their jobs.
Sheila Anderson, spokeswoman for the NERC, said the closures would provide more focussed scientific research.
She said: "It is obviously a difficult decision to make, but we want a sustainable future. The decision was made to prioritise our research.
"We are going to cut back some research so we can free up space to do some other types of work."
Monk's Wood was set up in the '60s and became famous when it proved that some pesticides were killing off birds of prey and significantly hampering the feathered population. This led to some pesticides being banned.
Since then, it has become well known as the centre of the UK's phenology network, which records the timing of natural events such as recording the first swallow in spring.
Ms Anderson stressed the closure of Monk's Wood is not yet definite and it only earmarked to be shut down. No date for the final decision has been made.
• Tomorrow we look around the centre that's dedicated to saving endangered species in a special In Focus report
12 January 2006
From Peterborough Today web site:
CONSERVATION: Nature centre faces closure
TOP scientists may lose their jobs in a shake-up which could see the region's main wildlife research centre shut down.
A "financial decision" could see more than 40 years of research at Monk's Wood Research Centre come to an end as the National Environmental Research Council (NERC) looks for ways to save cash.
The centre in Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, employs 25 scientific experts and carries out vital research into areas including the dangers of pesticides, the monitoring of bird species and the conservation of butterflies.
But the NERC's current business plan is looking at cutting its number of wildlife research centres from eight to four, which could mean the experts are left without jobs.
The NERC, which is funded by the Government, says it is not about cuts, rather about funnelling cash to other areas of research.
A further 175 jobs across the country are also under threat, and many will have to relocate to other areas to keep their jobs.
Sheila Anderson, spokeswoman for the NERC, said the closures would provide more focussed scientific research.
She said: "It is obviously a difficult decision to make, but we want a sustainable future. The decision was made to prioritise our research.
"We are going to cut back some research so we can free up space to do some other types of work."
Monk's Wood was set up in the '60s and became famous when it proved that some pesticides were killing off birds of prey and significantly hampering the feathered population. This led to some pesticides being banned.
Since then, it has become well known as the centre of the UK's phenology network, which records the timing of natural events such as recording the first swallow in spring.
Ms Anderson stressed the closure of Monk's Wood is not yet definite and it only earmarked to be shut down. No date for the final decision has been made.
• Tomorrow we look around the centre that's dedicated to saving endangered species in a special In Focus report
12 January 2006
