Board to ponder request to stop ‘sport’ shooting of pheasants

THE board of Natural Resources Wales will decide today how to respond to Environment Minister Hannah Blythyn’s request that it stop the shooting of pheasants for sport on land it manages for the Welsh Government.

Animal welfare groups have expressed concern that a report to be considered by board members recommends permitting game shooters to drive birds off NRW-managed land to be shot, using as a justification the “right to roam” concept of access to the countryside.

Fiona Pereira, campaign manager for Animal Aid, said: “We are relieved that NRW is finally recommending to bring an end to the shooting leases on its land. It is, however, shocking that the public body only came to that position after the minister intervened. The original review carried out by NRW dismissed compelling evidence regarding the damage that shooting does to animals and the environment, as well as overwhelming public opinion via an opinion poll and a 12,000-plus-signature petition which called for an end to the killing of birds on public land. In its latest paper, NRW correctly states it cannot prevent pheasants entering its land. However, it should insist that any pheasants on its land are under its control and therefore should be left to live freely. A right to roam is not the same as the right to scare birds from the woods in order to kill them for ‘sport’. We urge the board to bring an end to the shooting of birds on public land managed by NRW but to also grant the pheasants who wander onto that land the chance to live in peace.” Animal Aid has asked that two NRW board members linked to the shooting lobby should not vote at today’s meeting. NRW would not comment before the meeting.