Something from Defra

I had a response (yesterday evening) from Defra to my request for information on the Hen Harrier Sub-group.

Most of it is a series of e-mails trying to fix dates for meetings but there are just a few interesting bits too.

The information will also be published on www.govuk – good luck to you if you can find it.

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These were some thoughts from the ‘Protected Landscapes’ (PL – which I take to mean National Parks and AONBs) representatives which were forwarded to all members of the group by Defra on 9 April 2014. They are interesting in setting out where National Parks had reached in their thinking.

 

Action 1: Monitoring of populations in England and UK
PLs support the continuation of monitoring of numbers in England, and the satellite tagging and tracking by NE and RSPB. Pls would also welcome data sharing that will enable them to contribute more to the co-ordinated monitoring of populations and protection of important Hen Harrier habitat.

Action 2: Diversionary Feeding
PLs welcome the research that is currently being undertaken and, where appropriate, will look to work with other organisations and landowners to implement the research findings when breeding attempts occur in PLs and where this is felt to be a requirement for successful breeding.

Action 3: Work with Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group CRPPDGl to analyse monitoring information and build intelligence picture
PLs welcome the collation of raptor persecution data, and where appropriate, support work with other organisations and landowners to implement the advice on the most effective enforcement and deterrent measures, including involvement in publicity and raising awareness – with local agreement between partners. We would wish to see longer term surety for the NWCU and further prioritising of the Hen Harrier in its work.

Action 4: Nest and winter roost protection
Where appropriate and locally agreed, PLs will work with statutory agencies, NGOs & landowners to provide a co-ordinated approach to nest and winter roost monitoring.

Action 5: Lowland Reintroduction
PLs welcome any conservation measures that will improve the conservation status of Hen Harriers in England. However, the action plan needs to ensure that any measures undertaken in the lowlands of southern England do not detract from the prioritisation of funding and focus in the uplands. The objective of re-establishing breeding Hen Harriers populations in the uplands of the north of England must be the priority for any available funding ahead of any introduction programme. The objective of re-establishing breeding Hen Harriers populations in the uplands of the north of England, including the protected landscapes is critical.

Action 6: Trial Brood Management Scheme

PLs agree with the principle of brood management but only as part of an integrated strategy, that includes the use of other measures such as diversionary feeding, for the conservation of Hen Harriers. The scheme would only be supported once numbers have increased to pre-agreed minimum thresholds that are appropriate for the conservation of Hen Harriers, and without significantly restricting the breeding range across northern England.

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From RSPB (name withheld) to Chris de Grouchy, Defra on 21 May 2014.

Hi Chris

Following your chat with [name blanked out] last week, we’ve now had chance to discuss your suggestions for the Hen Harrier Action Plan (HHAP). We think your thoughts and ideas could lead to the genuine recovery of the hen harrier population in England and are keen to explore them further. Here are some comments on taking this to the next stage:
1. A crackdown on persecution
In 2007-08, Operation Yatta (based within the National Wildlife Crime Unit) focused on utilising seconded Detectives to target wildlife crime enforcement efforts towards the serious and organised element of bird of prey persecution. As part of the HHAP, our ‘red line’ is that we want to see a number of Detective-level Wildlife Crime Officers in persecution ‘hotspot’ areas and a Coordinator to work on raptor persecution. We would be prepared to consider part-funding of this activity and we know such a scheme will be costly.

2. A two-tier approach to the Brood Management Scheme (i.e. within SPAs, the hen harrier population target is the SPA designation level, and the BMS can only apply after it is reached. Outside, the BMS could begin earlier with a presumption that this is still triggered by reaching a threshold and that diversionary feeding is in place first)
As you know, we accept that a brood management scheme could be included in the HHAP and merits experimental investigation in England in the future, but only once hen harrier numbers have recovered to a pre-agreed level nationally and less interventionist approaches, particularly diversionary feeding, have been widely attempted. This is our ‘red line’. We would like to see further details of a two-tier approach, given that it gives us confidence our red line would not be crossed, but we urge you to consider legal scrutiny of the new proposals. Once we see firmer proposals, we can offer our legal analysis but we would suggest, in particular, early consideration of a) Section 16 WCA licensing implications and b) the possible adverse effects of brood management on SPAs and whether the derogation tests can be met.

 

 

 

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