"A RETRACTION of controversial
claims about climate change does
not appear to have saved leading
British conservationist David
Bellamy from the imminent loss
of two prestigious posts.
Bellamy, 72, whose TV career
and relentless campaigning to
protect wild habitats have made
him an influential figure, recently
said that the science of man-made
climate change was "poppycock".
And in a letter to New Scientist
(16 April, p 28) he claimed that
most glaciers are advancing
rather than retreating.
He has since admitted that
his figures on glaciers were
plain wrong, and announced in
a letter to The Sunday Times on
29 May that he had "decided to
draw back from the debate
on global warming". But the
damage had already been done.
Two leading conservation
organizations have confirmed
to New Scientist that they intend
to go ahead with plans to replace
him later this year.
A spokesperson for Plantlife,
where Bellamy has been president
for 15 years, says it "would be
wrong to ask him to continue".
The Royal Society of Wildlife
Trusts, which manages 2500
nature reserves across the UK,
says it will not renew his
presidency in November for a
third term. New Scientist asked
Bellamy for a comment but did
not receive a reply by the time
the magazine went to press."