The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has developed a set of Principles of Gamebird Management in the UK and is inviting feedback from people involved in the game shooting and conservation community. The principles, which are based on international agreements on conservation, focus on maximising the contribution that good game management can make to nature conservation.
“We know from 50 years of the GWCT’s research that game management can be a significant force for good for nature conservation” said Roger Draycott, the GWCT’s Head of Advisory Services. “It can help improve farmland, woodland, moorland and wetland. When best practice is followed, the net biodiversity gain from shooting can be huge. These principles are designed to help land managers gain the most environmental benefit from shooting. Now we want to know what people involved across the sector think. Please visit gwct.org.uk/principles and give us your comments by 30 June.”
The GWCT principles focus on maximising nature’s gain from the active management of the countryside to support gamebirds, as well as ensuring that shoots are run sustainably. The hope is that these principles will be widely adopted to ensure the best environmental gain. The GWCT also aims to foster greater understanding across the wider community of the role that good game management can play in biodiversity conservation.
In aiming to achieve a net biodiversity gain, the GWCT principles align with Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan, and with international agreements on hunting and biodiversity which are supported by the IUCN.
Anyone interested in giving their views can read the Principles and complete our short questionnaire at gwct.org.uk/principles until 30 June 2020.
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
For information, contact:
Eleanor Williams
Telephone: 07592 025476
Email: press@gwct.org.uk