Game shooting industry hit with both barrels over environment
THE game bird industry must change in order to protect the environment, Natural England has warned as it published its first major report into the release of pheasants.
Along with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the government quango has released a report which shows the large-scale release of game birds into the countryside is detrimental to the environment and major action needs to be taken to mitigate the damage.
This is the latest development in the debate over shooting in the countryside, ignited last year by BBC’S Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, who pressured Natural England into revoking shooting licences for “pest” birds.
His campaign group has been fighting to ban the release of game birds.
The review by scientists from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the University of Exeter is likely to play a critical role in guiding the debate on the release of game birds.
About 35 million pheasants are released into the countryside each year causing a rise in the number of predators. They threaten rare native birds and cause extra competition for food.
The report suggests that these negative effects can be tackled by setting up extra feeding stations for the game birds, taking measures to control predators and making smaller releases over a wider area.
Natural England is working with the shooting industry to find a solution to the problems caused by game bird release after facing criticism for caving to Chris Packham’s campaign group Wild Justice last year and revoking shooting licences. The quango was rebuked by countryside representatives and had the responsibility for the licences taken off it by Michael Gove, the environment secretary at the time.
A spokesman for Natural England said: “We have worked with BASC recognising that by having this large, shared evidence base, we can work more effectively towards protecting and recovering nature. This review demonstrates that the large scale release of birds has a negative effect on nature if best practice is not followed.”
Caroline Bedell, BASC’S executive director of conservation, said the industry was willing to make changes.
She said: “If a practice leaves a net negative impact, some levels of mitigation, be it code of practice or other, should be undertaken. Activities that leave a net positive impact should be enhanced and widened.
“We know that shooting is an overall net positive, especially when including the social and economic benefits. However, we know that we can do better.”