Recommendations & Conclusions
16 items
1
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
Without interim species abundance targets it is unclear how this and future governments will be able to monitor progress against the Environment Act targets. We support species reintroduction as part of the effort to deliver current species abundance targets, but also believe that interim targets should be introduced to track …
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Without interim species abundance targets it is unclear how this and future governments will be able to monitor progress against the Environment Act targets. We support species reintroduction as part of the effort to deliver current species abundance targets, but also believe that interim targets should be introduced to track progress against those.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the need for interim targets and stated some were published in January 2023, but rejected setting a specific interim target to reduce species abundance decline by a percentage, citing difficulties and impracticality.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
3
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
It is unclear which plant and animal reintroductions the Government supports and there is no current long-term vision for how reintroductions fit into the Government’s species abundance targets. This has caused confusion and concern between stakeholders seeking to reintroduce certain species, and amongst those against the reintroduction of such species, …
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It is unclear which plant and animal reintroductions the Government supports and there is no current long-term vision for how reintroductions fit into the Government’s species abundance targets. This has caused confusion and concern between stakeholders seeking to reintroduce certain species, and amongst those against the reintroduction of such species, for example beavers.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that species reintroduction is not a priority, and therefore it will not be producing a long-term strategy or a list of priority species, preferring to assess proposals on a case-by-case basis.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
4
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
Despite assurances by the Minister that we would be provided a list of priority species for reintroduction in June, in a letter to the Committee on 14 June the Minister said that the Department does not prioritise species but that she would discuss the information that could be provided with …
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Despite assurances by the Minister that we would be provided a list of priority species for reintroduction in June, in a letter to the Committee on 14 June the Minister said that the Department does not prioritise species but that she would discuss the information that could be provided with the Chair of the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce. We were disappointed not to receive this list, which we consider essential as a starting point for a broader species reintroduction strategy. Without this, the current passive and piecemeal approach will hinder meeting the Government’s species abundance targets and risk further damaging biodiversity.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the idea of producing a list of priority species for reintroduction or a reintroduction strategy, stating that reintroduction is not a government priority.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
5
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
The Government should produce a list of priority species for reintroduction as part of a long-term strategy on species reintroduction in tandem with the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce. This will allow stakeholders to plan applications ahead of time and have a more strategic, coordinated approach to projects to benefit nature …
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The Government should produce a list of priority species for reintroduction as part of a long-term strategy on species reintroduction in tandem with the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce. This will allow stakeholders to plan applications ahead of time and have a more strategic, coordinated approach to projects to benefit nature recovery. This strategy should be published by January 2024.
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Government response AI summary
The government explicitly rejects the recommendation, stating that species reintroduction is not a government priority and therefore it will not be producing a long-term strategy or a list of priority species.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
Using evidence from the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce and its Stakeholder Forum, the Government should agree on the plant and animal species it is willing and able to support the reintroduction of in England and bring this information together in a register. This register should be included in the Strategy …
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Using evidence from the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce and its Stakeholder Forum, the Government should agree on the plant and animal species it is willing and able to support the reintroduction of in England and bring this information together in a register. This register should be included in the Strategy and should be reviewed by the Taskforce every 12 months. This register should also contain details of the species the Government does not support the reintroduction of in England. The Strategy should include a long-term vision for each species the Government supports, and justification for the reasoning behind those it explicitly does not. (Paragraph 20) Species Reintroduction 21 Strategic vision
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that reintroduction is not a priority and therefore it will not produce a strategy or a species register. It reiterated its focus on assessing proposals on a case-by-case basis and existing best practice guidance.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
10
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
The current system for reintroducing species is overly bureaucratic, hindering nature recovery. There are many species—particularly amongst plants, fungi, and insects—that pose little or no risk. Identifying and supporting those low-risk species would give confidence to stakeholders seeking to reintroduce them and reduce the burden on the Department, allowing it …
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The current system for reintroducing species is overly bureaucratic, hindering nature recovery. There are many species—particularly amongst plants, fungi, and insects—that pose little or no risk. Identifying and supporting those low-risk species would give confidence to stakeholders seeking to reintroduce them and reduce the burden on the Department, allowing it to focus on more complex and high-risk cases. Rather than attempting to include all species in the register, the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce should identify commonly requested species for inclusion in it.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to identify commonly requested species for a register, stating that reintroduction is not a priority and it will not be producing a strategy or a list of priority species.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
11
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
We recommend that the register contained within the new Strategy should include species categorised according to the risks related to their reintroduction. Of those that it has not ruled out, the Government should categorise regularly requested species into low, medium and high risk and create differentiated channels and processes for …
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We recommend that the register contained within the new Strategy should include species categorised according to the risks related to their reintroduction. Of those that it has not ruled out, the Government should categorise regularly requested species into low, medium and high risk and create differentiated channels and processes for the proportionate management of cases in each risk stream.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to include categorised, risk-based species in a new strategy and register, stating that reintroduction is not a priority and it will not be producing such a strategy or list.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
12
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
We recommend that the Government should be clear how the classification of species determines the requirements for stakeholder consultation and involvement of the Department. We recommend that all species categorised as high-risk reintroductions should be subject to a national, independent impact assessment assessing their potential benefits and risks, including to …
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We recommend that the Government should be clear how the classification of species determines the requirements for stakeholder consultation and involvement of the Department. We recommend that all species categorised as high-risk reintroductions should be subject to a national, independent impact assessment assessing their potential benefits and risks, including to food production, infrastructure and disease implications. Local communities and land managers should be consulted in which species are translocated, and how and where this happens. (Paragraph 33) 22 Species Reintroduction
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation for clear classification-based consultation requirements and national independent impact assessments, stating that assessing release licence applications on a case-by-case basis allows for comprehensive and proportionate consideration of species, circumstances, and risks.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
13
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
Creating a central species reintroduction hub designed to be a one-stop shop for interested parties would be a positive step forward to improve collaboration and coordination in this policy area. The value of any hub lies in its ability to bring good practice guidance, licensing information, and sign-up opportunities together, …
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Creating a central species reintroduction hub designed to be a one-stop shop for interested parties would be a positive step forward to improve collaboration and coordination in this policy area. The value of any hub lies in its ability to bring good practice guidance, licensing information, and sign-up opportunities together, as well as bringing people together for the benefit of species recovery. This seems an appropriate task for the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the idea of a central species reintroduction hub by stating that reintroduction is not a priority and it will not be producing a strategy or a list of priority species, which would form the basis of such a hub.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
14
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
The Government should create an online species reintroduction hub by June 2024, supported by the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce and Stakeholder Forum, for parties interested in the reintroduction of species. The hub should be a one-stop shop for good practice and collaboration and its advice should be aligned with a …
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The Government should create an online species reintroduction hub by June 2024, supported by the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce and Stakeholder Forum, for parties interested in the reintroduction of species. The hub should be a one-stop shop for good practice and collaboration and its advice should be aligned with a national reintroduction strategy. The hub should display the Government’s species reintroduction register and clearly outline the licensing conditions and classification relating to each species. It should also directly connect landowners and managers interested in introducing species with groups able to support them in doing so. (Paragraph 37) Legislative framework and good practice
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to create an online species reintroduction hub by June 2024, stating that reintroduction is not a priority and it will not be producing a strategy or a species register.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
15
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
There is little support for the current conservation translocation licensing regime: on the one hand some stakeholders said that it is too bureaucratic, and, on the other we heard that the existing system is not stringent enough. As a priority, the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce should seek to clarify and …
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There is little support for the current conservation translocation licensing regime: on the one hand some stakeholders said that it is too bureaucratic, and, on the other we heard that the existing system is not stringent enough. As a priority, the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce should seek to clarify and resolve this situation. The Government should clarify its position on reintroduction licensing.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the need to clarify or resolve concerns about the reintroduction licensing regime, asserting that assessing applications on a case-by-case basis allows for comprehensive and proportionate consideration of species, circumstances, and risks.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
16
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
The Government’s 2021 code and guidance for species reintroductions form a valuable tool, but it must be revised and updated to maintain high project standards, for example in relation to assisted colonisation, disease risks, exit strategies, impact assessments, large predators and herbivores, and more effective stakeholder consultation. The England Species …
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The Government’s 2021 code and guidance for species reintroductions form a valuable tool, but it must be revised and updated to maintain high project standards, for example in relation to assisted colonisation, disease risks, exit strategies, impact assessments, large predators and herbivores, and more effective stakeholder consultation. The England Species Reintroductions Taskforce, and its Stakeholder Forum, should feed into this process.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation, stating they do not consider the need to revise the 2021 code and guidance for species reintroductions at this time.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
17
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
The Government should revise the species reintroduction code and guidance by January 2024 and reissue it alongside the new Strategy. The revised code and guidance should be available via the species reintroduction hub when it is launched. (Paragraph 46) Management plans and rapid responses
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The Government should revise the species reintroduction code and guidance by January 2024 and reissue it alongside the new Strategy. The revised code and guidance should be available via the species reintroduction hub when it is launched. (Paragraph 46) Management plans and rapid responses
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to revise the species reintroduction code and guidance by January 2024, stating they do not consider the need for revision at this time.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
18
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
We have seen first-hand in Bavaria that crop damage compensation and mitigating works, such as substantial structural changes to the drainage system, were major calls on the public purse, requiring bold decisions and significant funding. The annual budget for compensating farmers for damage to crops such as maize and sugar …
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We have seen first-hand in Bavaria that crop damage compensation and mitigating works, such as substantial structural changes to the drainage system, were major calls on the public purse, requiring bold decisions and significant funding. The annual budget for compensating farmers for damage to crops such as maize and sugar beet amounted to €450,000 alone. We also saw the benefits of rapid response consultants. We believe that this approach, in combination with a government funded compensation scheme, is the best way to mitigate concerns and provide reassurance to land managers potentially impacted by high-risk reintroduction Species Reintroduction 23 projects. Where populations are already established, the case for establishing a management process should be urgently considered, with priority given to species with protected status.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the idea of a new government-funded compensation scheme for land managers, stating its focus is on existing environmental land management schemes and expecting reintroduction applicants to provide funding for managing impacts.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
19
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
The Government should implement localised control and management systems by forming and funding a network of rapid response consultants by 2026. The rapid response consultants should be members of the local community and be empowered to make prompt decisions on the remedial action to be taken where problems caused by …
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The Government should implement localised control and management systems by forming and funding a network of rapid response consultants by 2026. The rapid response consultants should be members of the local community and be empowered to make prompt decisions on the remedial action to be taken where problems caused by reintroduced species are identified. The framework for creating these networks should be included in the strategy called for above.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to implement and fund a network of rapid response consultants, instead stating that release proposals should demonstrate their own management provisions, that existing management groups support communities for some species, and that funding should come from applicants or incentivised environmental …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
20
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Species Reintroduction
Rejected
Those affected by the reintroduction of species, including farmers and land managers, must have access to sufficient support and funding to prevent and deal with potential negative impacts. Budgetary provision should be made for this as part of the Government’s reintroduction strategy. The framework for this provision should be included …
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Those affected by the reintroduction of species, including farmers and land managers, must have access to sufficient support and funding to prevent and deal with potential negative impacts. Budgetary provision should be made for this as part of the Government’s reintroduction strategy. The framework for this provision should be included in the strategy outlined above.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected committing to new budgetary provision for those affected by species reintroductions, stating its focus remains on existing environmental land management schemes and expecting applicants to provide sufficient funding.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs