Page 59 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #05

AGENDA NEWS

YOND

THE
headlines

SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION

PEOPLE WILL HAVE fracking in those created by
DIFFERENT VIEWS human activity. But we also
ON FRACKING, BUT IF know you can significantly
The impact of YOU WANT TO KNOW reduce the odds of a quake
windfarms on WHAT THE SCIENCE by fracking a safe distance
breeding gannets SAYS ABOUT ITS from the fault line.
is a concern.
IMPACTS, REFINE
HAS THE ANSWERS, What about water
SEABIRD STUDY FAILS TO SAYS RICHARD contamination?
DAVIES. Yes, this can also happen,
BRING PEACE OF MIND but not if you don’t frack
What is fracking? close to the surface
RSPB unconvinced by research consultancy APEM, which Fracking is short for (which is where drinking
downplaying the threat posed carried out the work. hydraulic fracturing,and water comes from) – we
by wind turbines to gannets. The research focused on is the process by which recommend fracking takes
gannets during the autumn pressurised liquids are place at least 1km below
Research carried out on behalf migration off England, but pumped underground to the surface.
of Scottish Power Renewables RSPB Scotland says this does fracture the rock – in
and Swedish windfarm little to allay its fears for the this case to release ReFINE says
developer Vatenfall, suggests impact proposed windfarms shale gas, which that its research
gannets are four times less likely will have on seabirds off is methane. reveals the truth
to fly into wind turbines than Scotland’s east coast. about fracking.
other studies have found. “The issue there is the impact What is ReFINE?
“The lessened risk will mean on breeding gannets when the It’s a consortium
more favourable outcomes for birds behave differently due to of scientists, led
firms seeking consent for wind the demands of feeding their by Newcastle and
farms,” says Dr Mark Rehfisch chicks,” says the RSPB’s head Durham Universities,
of aquatic and environmental of planning Aedán Smith. which researches the
environmental and social Should fracking take
impacts of fracking. It place in the UK?
I'm neutral on fracking,and
began life in 2011 when we
The age of Sudan, the last male northern
45 white rhino, when he was put down in mid- realised there were lots of if I did have an opinion,it
would be irrelevant.What
questions the public had
March. The two females of the subspecies
we are doing is providing
about fracking that experts
left are his ofspring. Northern white rhinos
previously ranged across parts of Uganda, Chad, Sudan, Central couldn’t answer. the evidence to allow other
African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. people the opportunity to
Such as? take a view.
Question like,‘Can fracking
cause earthquakes?’,‘Can it Who funds ReFINE?
causewatercontamination?’, We are mainly funded by
and‘How much methane is the energy and chemical
emitted when fracking takes industry,but all our
place?’But people also want research is published as
PENGUIN DISCOVERY
to know if it can cause health peer-reviewed science and
Ahitherto unknown colony of 1.5mAdé élie issues and what the impact our work is guided by an
penguins has been found on the Dange er on lorry tra c will be. independent science board
Islands,just of the eastern side of the
Antarctic Peninsula.Conservationists s say that decides what research
it reinforces the urgency of protecting Can you answer these we carry out.
Antarctic waters from the twin threa ats questions?
of climate change and overfishing Many of them,yes.We know
– a Marine Protected Area covering that fracking can cause RICHARD DAVIES is project lead
of ReFINE www.refine.org.uk
2
1.8m km has been proposed. earthquakes,though mining
O Want to comment? Email
is a much bigger factor than wildlifeletters@immediate.co.uk
Spring 2018 BBC Wildlife 59