MPs back Alliance call for caution on species reintroductions

A House of Commons committee has urged the Government to take greater account of risks to land, farms and wildlife when deciding about species reintroductions, after receiving evidence from the Countryside Alliance. 

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee published its report on species reintroductions on 11 July, following an inquiry launched in November. The Countryside Alliance submitted a response along with other groups representing the interests of farmers, land managers and conservationists. 

In our evidence, we made it clear that the Countryside Alliance is not opposed to species reintroductions as such. However, reintroductions must focus on species of clear benefit to ecosystems while the countryside is recognised as a living and working environment. The guiding principle must be that only the right species are reintroduced in the right places, with an acceptance that wildlife management may be necessary, including lethal control. 

Reintroduced species must be monitored so that once they become a sustainable population they can be managed if needed to avoid undue negative impacts on other species and the needs of rural communities, especially farmers. Any management plan must include a proposal for how to deal with an increasing population, and an exit strategy where a project becomes unsustainable. Approaches to reintroductions must not continue to overlook the issue of food production and food security. 

As well as taking evidence from within the UK the Committee visited Bavaria, which has experienced beaver reintroductions dating back to the 1960s. That programme required substantial public investment in compensating farmers for damage to crops and mitigation works such as structural changes to drainage, whereas the UK Government is not currently considering a reintroduction compensation scheme. Bavaria had, however, facilitated over 1,000 beaver consultants to manage releases and migrations, and promote coexistence with landowners and communities. 

The Committee set out an array of recommendations to the Government. These include establishing clear targets for species abundance, with a priority list and a register detailing which species the Government does and does not support for reintroduction. This, it argued, should be supported by a categorisation of species based on their associated risks. Meanwhile, better relationships must be forged with those on the ground who must deal with harms caused by reintroduced species. 

Although the Committee stopped short of advocating an option for lethal control, it recognised the importance of species management and criticised the Government for granting beavers protected status before risk assessments and management plans were in place. It suggested adopting the Bavarian model of funding a network of consultants empowered to make prompt decisions on remedial actions, and both supporting and funding farmers, land managers and others affected by the consequences of reintroductions. 

The Countryside Alliance will continue to monitor developments in species reintroduction. We will advocate approaches that balance the interests of biodiversity, including the protection of existing species, with the essential countryside activities of farming and land management.

To support our work, please consider joining the Countryside Alliance today.