BBC Environment — The investigation, reported in the journal Nature, warns that large areas of currently productive land could become engulfed by shifting sands. “The social consequences of these changes could be drastic,” they say. The team, led by Professor David Thomas, urges politicians in the region not to pursue development policies that might exacerbate the coming problems, turning currently semi-arid areas into desert. “We’ve seen in Botswana, for example, with European Union support, an enormous growth in livestock production using groundwater. That in itself has put great pressure on the Botswana landscape,” Professor Thomas told BBC News. “[The shifting sands] will make those Western-sponsored programmes very unsuccessful into the future.” The Oxford team took data from three different computer models that are used to forecast likely climate change over the course of the next century. The scientists ran this information through their own simulator, which has been specifically tuned to the dynamics of the Kalahari dunefields. These dunes punctuate 2.5 million sq km of Africa - from the northern end of South Africa, right up through Angola, Botswana and Namibia, to western Zimbabwe and western Zambia.  They were built up thousands of years ago and are now reasonably well covered by vegetation. But Professor Thomas and colleagues found that no matter which general climate model data they used, their simulator came out with projections for dramatic increases in dune “activity” - they will start to erode and move as precipitation falls and wind speeds increase. The southern dunefields of Botswana and Namibia become activated by 2040, while the more northerly and easterly dunes in Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia begin to shift significantly by 2070. By the end of the 21st Century, all the dunes from South Africa to Zambia and Angola are likely to be reactivated. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of people would be affected by such changes, the team said. “The Kalahari is a large area that supports a reasonably big rural population that lives by farming,” Professor Thomas explained. “It’s these people who are vulnerable to their currently savannah-like environment becoming a rather more hostile, active, dune landscape than it is today. (06/30/05)
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BBC Nature –
Hedgehog numbers across the UK are falling, particularly in the east of
the country, a survey has found. According to the Mammals Trust UK,
hedgehog numbers have dropped steeply since 2001, when a survey to spot
animals on roads began. The idea behind the study is that the quantity
of hedgehogs on roads can indicate the size of the UK population.
Experts say that, amongst other factors, tidier decked gardens are
responsible for the animals’ decline.  Dr Valerie Keeble of the
Mammals Trust UK (MTUK) said people should leave their gardens a bit
haphazard to encourage the animals’ return. “Don’t be too tidy in your
garden,” she told BBC News. “Leave some rough areas and leave a few
bushes and hedges, and twigs on the ground. “Make sure there is plenty
of stuff for them to make their nests with; leave leaves and twigs
lying about, that kind of thing.” … Dr Paul Bright of Royal Holloway,
University of London, said: “It is important to continue to monitor
hedgehogs and determine why their numbers are changing, not only to
ensure that we safeguard this species in the future, but also because
if the hedgehog is declining so will many other species with similar
needs. “Mammals on Roads is currently the only survey able to monitor
hedgehog numbers on a national scale.” If you would like to take part
in this survey, or would like to find out more, call MTUK on 0207498
5262. (06/30/05)
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