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2008 Press Releases

05.05.2008  PROFESSOR FUENTES PROMOTION

25.04.2008  TRAPS ON EAST SIDE

21.04.2008  STATEMENT ON MACAQUES

16.03.2008  COURSE FULL

27.02.2008  NATURE NEWS PUBLISHED  

26.02.2008  GREENPEACE SPAIN CONDEMNED

22.02.2008  2006 BIRD REPORT PUBLISHED

24.01.2008  POWER STATION CONCERNS

12.01.2008  NATURAL HISTORY COURSE Updated with course programme

01.01.2007  THE YEAR OF THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR

2007 Press Releases downloadable in PDF format here.

2006 Press Releases downloadable in PDF format here.

2005 Press Releases downloadable in PDF format here.

2008

5 May 2008

GONHS MACAQUE EXPERT APPOINTED PROFESSOR

Agustin Fuentes, who leads one of the research teams working on Barbary macaques in Gibraltar in collaboration with GONHS (The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society), and has been most supportive of the GONHS role in macaque management throughout the recent culling controversy, has been promoted to the post of Full Professor.  Professor Fuentes, until now an Associate Professor at Notre Dame University in Indiana, USA, takes on his new role in the autumn.

He will continue with his work in Gibraltar, following on from that which has been regularly published over the last two years, and co-authored with local researchers.  The work includes studies on interactions between macaques and humans, disease transmission, and behaviour. 

Professor Fuentes is considered one of the world’s macaque experts, having also worked on other macaque species in Asia, notably in Bali.

We congratulate Professor Fuentes on this appointment.

Professor Agustin Fuentes:

abridged cv

Degrees
1994  Ph.D.  Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley
1991 M.A.   Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley
1989 B.A.    Double Major: Anthropology and Zoology, University of California,
Berkeley

Agustín Fuentes completed a B.A. in Zoology and Anthropology, and an M.A.& Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. He taught in the Department of Anthropology and directed the Primate Behavior and Ecology Program at Central Washington University from 1996-2002 and is currently Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. His research and teaching interests include the evolution of social complexity in human and primate societies, cooperation and conflict negotiation across primates, including humans, and reproductive behavior and ecology. He is also interested in issues of human-nonhuman primate interactions, disease and pathogen transfer. Fuentes' recent published work includes the books "Core Concepts in Biological Anthropology" (McGraw-Hill) and "Primates in Perspective" (co-edited, Oxford University Press) and articles such as "It's Not All Sex and Violence: Integrated Anthropology and the Role of Cooperation and Social Complexity in Human Evolution" and "The humanity of animals and the animality of humans:  A view from biological anthropology inspired by J.M. Coetzees' Elizabeth Costello" in the American Anthropologist, and "Human culture and monkey behavior: Assessing the contexts of potential pathogen transmission between macaques and humans" in the American Journal of Primatology. His current research projects include assessing behavior, ecology, and pathogen transmission in human-monkey interactions in Southeast Asia and Gibraltar and examining the roles of cooperation, social negotiation, and patterns of niche construction in primate and human evolution.

25 April 2008

ANMAL TRAPS FOUND ON EAST SIDE
Public asked to be on the alert

During the course of conservation work on the east side, on the known as theTalus above and just north of Catalan Bay, GONHS has found clear evidence of illegal trapping of the Rock’s native wildlife.

Two traps were reported yesterday and one was retreived today, suggesting that at least one had been taken by the poachers.

The taking of wildlife is a criminal offence under the Nature Protection Act and the area in question is an extremely important habitat which falls within a site that is protected at a European level.

The trap is a walk-in trap, designed to catch both rabbits and Barbary partridges, both opf which are protected species.  Moreover, this being the breeding season, the taking of either species will leave orphaned young doomed to predation or death by starvation.

GONHS condemns the action and will be contacting the Police about the situation.  It also calls on members of the public to immediately report any person seen in the area by calling the Police on 72500.

21 April 2008

GONHS STATEMENT ON BARBARY MACAQUES

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society, which, together with the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic is responsible to Government for different aspects of the management of the Barbary macaques, has issued a statement describing its position.

The main points made are:

• The current management regime of the macaques is the best ever, especially in relation to feeding, health, technical know-how and data collection by the management team.
• The setting up of splinter groups by the macaques, and roaming over large areas, are natural processes, and reflect the current good state of health and well-being of the monkeys.
• Urbanisation of splinter groups and nuisance to people is mainly the result of the monkeys being conditioned to behave in this way by people who feed them illegally, and of the availability of waste food in both public and private bin stores.
• Removal of surplus animals, including culling of selected animals, is a necessary management tool as long as it is done humanely and after careful study and consideration.
• GONHS is not in favour of large culls, but the removal of entire splinter groups will be necessary on occasion.
• This will preferably be by exportation, where suitable destinations are available.  None have been identified recently despite continuing efforts to do so.
• Repeated complaints by the public puts pressure on Government to take decisions on the future of the macaques.

GONHS calls on Gibraltar to have more patience with the monkeys and to appreciate the complexity of the situation as it is being tackled.  It once again highlights the need to implement the Upper Rock Management Plan.  It suggests the creation of incentives to restaurants and hotels to make rubbish storage monkey-proof, and calls on Government to continue and speed up its programme of doing this with public bin stores.  Above all, it calls on law enforcement agencies to strictly apply the laws forbidding the feeding of monkeys by the public, anywhere in Gibraltar, including the Upper Rock.

The full text of the statement is attached and is available here.

16 March 2008

NATURAL HISTORY COURSE FULLY SUBSCRIBED

The course on Gibraltar’s Natural History organised by GONHS (The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society) got off the ground last Thursday at the Cottage on the Alameda Gardens.  The full complement of 25 people are undertaking the course, which is aimed to give participants an insight into Gibraltar’s natural history.  Topics covered will include plants and habitats, invertebrates, birds, the Barbary macaques, marine life and conservation, in lectures and outings led by a total of ten of the Society’s most experienced members.  The response has been so overwhelming that there is already a list being kept for participants next year.

The first lecture, on plants and habitats, was by the Society’s Botanical Co-ordinator Leslie Linares.

                                                           Leslie Linares talks plants

27 February 2008

GIBRALTAR  NATURE NEWS PUBLISHED

The latest edition of Gibraltar Nature News has just been released.  It is published by the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) and contains articles of interest related to nature conservation and the environment.

The latest issue carries informative articles on a number of areas of Gibraltar, including the east side and the former Aerial farm at Devil’s Tower Road.  It also carries opinion articles and responses to much that is going on in Gibraltar, including the New Flame incident, the new Development Plan and several planned developments.   There are also many snippets of relevant information.

Gibraltar Nature News can be enjoyed by all nature lovers, will stimulate thought and debate in those concerned about Gibraltar and its environment, and will provide an insight into the views and policies of one of Gibraltar’s most active non-Governmental Organisations.

26 February 2008

GONHS CONDEMNS ACTION OF GREENPEACE SPAIN

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society strongly criticises Greenpeace for its unilateral action in  Gibraltar waters.  This action was been taken without any prior consultation with Gibraltar environmentalists and casts aspersions on the soundness of Greenpeace’s environmental intentions.

GONHS  is clearly concerned about the outcome of the New Flame situation.  It has been following it closely from the first moment of the accident and in its opinion it has been handled in the best way possible in the circumstances.  While it is vital that the points identified in the Samothraki report be resloved without delay, once the ship had hit the reef, other considerations came into play.

The New Flame incident is merely a symptom of a far wider threat; that of an unsustainable level of maritime traffic and pollution in an area of such ecological importance. Had the Sierra Nava, Samothraki and the New Flame been commercial aircraft would airports not have been closed and urgent reviews ordered? There seems to be a far higher threshold of tolerance towards incidents at sea, perhaps in the deluded view that the sea is capable of enduring all we sink, spill or dump in it.   In an era where jellyfish are reaching plague proportions as a result of overfishing and global warming and shark species are being added to endangered species lists as a result of 100 million being caught every year, mostly for their fins, this view is both outdated and dangerous.  These are the issues that Greenpeace should seek to highlight, and not the political ones.

Regardless of the position on the New Flame, GONHS, which is a member of European, Regional and worldwide organisations wishes to remind Greenpeace that on the several occasions that it has approached them for support, for example on the fishing crisis some years ago and on the question of windfarms in the area of the Strait, the organisation has not even had the decency of replying, while many other organisations, including Spanish organisations have clearly supported Gibraltar’s stand.

Greenpeace should have contacted Gibraltar groups to discuss the way forward.  Instead, not for the first time, they have chosen a limited aspect of the environment and conveniently forgotten all the problems on the other side of the Bay, including the subject of the GONHS/ESG complaint to the European Commission on atmospheric pollution from industry on the north shore of the Bay.

Many of Greenpeace’s actions around the world, for example their work against whaling fleets,  are well justified in being aimed at achieving genuine environmental goals.  Their record in Gibraltar, however, repeatedly calls into question the credentials of Greenpeace España, and clearly implies a political motivation.  Such a political bias is inappropriate and unprofessional and will in the long run be counterproductive to the environmental cause.  Greenpeace España is ill-informed and once again acting in an opportunistic manner.  It clearly has no knowledge of local situations,  and on current showing, has nothing to contribute in the Bay and waters of Gibraltar.

22 February 2008

2006 BIRD REPORT PUBLSIHED

The Society has just published its annual Gibraltar Bird Report for 2006. 

Edited by Dr Ernest Garcia, it summarises ornithological observations in Gibraltar during 2006.  it also carries a summary of birds ringed here during that year and a number of articles of interest.

One of these, by Keith Bensusan and Charles Perez, details observations of rare birds in Gibraltar, including the African Ruppell’s Vulture and the Moroccan Pied White Wagtail.  An article by Ernest Garcia describes an unusually large fall of migrants in 1968, and another by John Cortes and Mohamed Ameziane records populations of nesting Yellow-legged Gulls along the coast of north Morocco from Layla to Al Hoceima.

24 January 2008

POWER STATION CONCERNS

The  Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society has contacted senior Government officials to express concern about the announcment of the commencement of the tender process for a power station at Lathbury Parade Ground.

GONHS is concerned that the step is premature and pre-empts due process.  The proposal requires a number of environmental assessments, which have not yet been produced and so not given due consideration.

Care must be taken not to make any committments to prospective tenderers which may result in claims for compensation if the project does not eventually go ahead as planned.

GONHS agrees that the present power generation situation cannot be allowed to continue, but is  concerned with the proposed size and location of the station, and wants to re-open  a process of meaningful discussion with Government.  As the situation stands the station would have great impact in many different ways.  There are many issues that it feels need to be clarified before the plans are finally given a green light.

The increase in capacity for generation using fossil fuels is something that should not give us pride, and Gibraltar should instead strive to be world leaders in energy efficiency and in marrying generation facilities with its iconic landscape quality, which is increasingly under threat.

 
This is a serious step that is being proposed, and so the full process must be fulfilled with vision, openly and sincerely, so that Government achieves what is truly the best for Gibraltar's long term future. 

GONHS will for the moment make no further public comment on the matter, while it awaits the outcome of the discussions requested with Government.

23 January 2008

NATURAL HISTORY COURSE

The  Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) has announced today, that it will be providing a natural history course this spring.

The course is expected to run over eight weeks between March and May and will cover a wide selection of natural history topics, such as plants, birds, marine life, bats, invertebrates, caves & cliffs, bird of prey rehabilitation and the Barbary macaques, as well as wildlife conservation in general.

It will  consist of lectures at The Cottage within the Alameda Botanic Gardens and field trips for the topics covered. The course will be delivered by GONHS' own section heads and other experienced members.

Enrolment is open to all members of the public from the age of 12 upwards.  There will be a registration fee of £20.

Participants completing the course will be awarded a certificate of achievement.

A GONHS spokesman said, "The aim of this course is to raise awareness of Gibraltar's rich biodiversity and to introduce participants to some of
the wildlife that they are likely to encounter in Gibraltar. We also look forward to them joining GONHS and contributing to the study of Gibraltar's natural heritage, as well as to help protect it from the numerous threats this now faces."

1 January 2008

THE YEAR OF THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR

Following two years of targeted activity and campaigning, with 2006 as Biodiversity Year and 2007 as Year of the Tree, GONHS (The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society) has lablled 2008 as its “Year of the Strait of Gibraltar”, which it describes as a year “to promote and enjoy the Natural History of the region where we have the privilege to live”.

Already a number of activities are planned, and detaiuls have been published on the Society’s website (www.gonhs.org).  These include talks on work in Morocco, and walks, outings and visits to sites and activities, including those related to the cork induistry, in Alcornocales Natural Park.

These activities will seek to highlight the natural treaures to be found in the region of the Strait of Gibraltar, including the southern and northern shores and the sea, and on the importance of ensuring that they are protected and enjoyed.  They will stress the central role that Gibraltar must play in ensuring the integrity of the Strait in all its facets. 

The Society will also this year concentrate on its aim to achieve the acceptance by UNESCO that existing protected areas in Gibraltar be included in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve already established by Spain and Morocco, but from which Gibraltar has been excluded.

Below:  Contrasting views: 

The natural beauty of the Strait                                                                               A sinking ship, the possible site for a power station, and a developemt                                                                                                                                         eyesore blocking the view of the Strait of Gibraltar