Proceedings of the 3rd June 2023
In June 2023, the Glasgow Natural History Society held its 4th Herpetological Conference at the University of Glasgow’s Advanced Research Centre and the proceedings of that meeting have just been published in the latest volume of the Glasgow Naturalist (volume 28, part2). Opened by Brian Whittle MSP, the Scottish Environment Link’s Nature Champion for the leatherback turtle, the conference, summarised by Froglife trustee Professor Roger Downie, included talks, poster presentations and discussions on a wide range of herpetological subjects. Froglife contributed with presentations by Kathy Wormald, Jenny Tse-Leon and also John Howieson, from the University of the West of Scotland, working on a project supported by Froglife, examining the presence of British amphibians in saline environments.
Kathy Wormald discussed the value of Froglife’s practical conservation work in Scotland, with Come forth for Wildlife and Fife Living Waters creating 205 ponds, restoring 22 and improving 370 terrestrial habitats as well as involving over 200,000 people in some aspect of these projects.
Jenny Tse-Leon‘s presentation highlighted the concern about changes to the eligibility criteria of species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the potential risk to the protected status of 334 species including 8 of our 13 protected reptiles and amphibians. The JNCC advice on the proposed changes has still not been published as we move into the July 20024 election.