OUR POLICIES |
Golden Plover Award, run in conjunction with the Heather Trust, also highlighted the results of best practice moorland management integrated with hill farming. The reception of our policy contributions, policy and public support for our
projects, and the annual success of the Scottish Game Fair is very encouraging for game conservation in what remains a challenging Scottish policy environment.
England
There are no changes to the laws governing the use of lead ammunition. Codes of Practice were launched to improve welfare in the use of snares and rodenticides.
There are new opportunities to develop farming and environmental policies.
We saw several challenges on the policy front during the year. After five years the remaining members of the Lead Ammunition Group (LAG) delivered their report to the then Secretary of State, Liz Truss. The group was unable to agree a common conclu- sion and around half resigned, including the GWCT, prior to the submission. The report stated that lead ammunition poses a risk to wildlife, has the potential to impact human health and that:
‘An action plan is needed.... for a vigorous industry-led self-regulation of shooting sports; or alternatively, a clear directive from Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA)... developing statutory and regulatory measures for the restriction of lead in ammunition and replacement with alternatives’.
The Secretary of State responded, stating that this ‘marked the end of the Group’ and
that: “In both instances – human health and wildlife – the report did not show that the impacts of lead ammunition were significant enough to justify changing current policy; we therefore do not accept your recommendation to ban the use of lead ammunition.”
Although this is clearly a reprieve for the use of lead in ammunition, the process has resulted in the Food Standards Agency updating its recommendations on game consumption, particularly aimed at those people who eat substantial quantities of lead shot game. Whereas current evidence of effects on wildlife in England may not be signifi- cant enough to force a change now, fresh evidence will emerge over time. It is the lack of evidence which undoubtedly persuaded the Secretary of State to advocate ‘no change’. The importance of observing the law which bans the use of lead over wetlands
and for shooting wildfowl generally (in England) has never been greater. The remaining members of the LAG continue to meet and intend to re-focus their efforts on evalu- ating welfare impacts to wildlife as well as mortality. In other areas self-regulation has proved an essential means of improving practice
and removing the threat of restrictive legislation. Our predation department redesigned fox snares to make them more selective and humane, with the new breakaway snare meeting the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). They also helped to devise a new Code of Practice. A debate in the House of Commons calling for a ban on snares moved the Minister, Dr Theresa Coffey, to announce the launch of this new Code as an alternative to an outright ban. Similarly, our advisory department has been running training courses to improve operator practice in the use of rodenticides to reduce the incidence of secondary poisoning. Importantly this allows us to continue to control rodents around wildlife feeders in the countryside. Just as it is important that people observe the law on lead ammunition, so it is
important that we improve our practice in the deployment of rodenticides and snares. Without this, withdrawal is a very real danger. The UK’s planned departure from the EU means that we can design our own
agriculture and environmental policies. A lot of good policy work has already been done including Sir John Lawton’s Making Space for Nature report and Sir John Beddington’s Foresight report, Future of Food and Farming. Together these documents look at how we can improve our environment for nature and continue to grow food for the ever- expanding UK and global populations. We have always recognised the positive contribu- tion that farmers and farming can make to the environment and we will continue to develop our vision for farming and the countryside.
www.gwct.org.uk
The importance of observing the law which bans the use of lead over wetlands and for shooting wildfowl generally (in England) has never been greater. © Peter Thompson/GWCT
Our departure from the EU means we can design our own agriculture and environmental policies. © Peter Thompson/GWCT
GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2016 | 9
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