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Reptile translocation - UPDATE |
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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Hi Gemma and Chris Gemma - how about a joint statement from ARG UK and LEHART/other specialist organisations (Froglife/HCT/ARC - not sure if they're still one body...) expressing concern / disapproval at this idea of wildlife offset/environmental credits ? = lots of small voices together Chris - thanks for your much better account of what this all seems to be about than my hurried post! my worry is that the Wiltshire scheme becomes a flagship for this sort of thing Will |
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administrator
Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Will that would be one way to go. Why not get those groups together and add, Bat Groups, Badger Groups, Mammal experts and any group/expert in any field who can say distant translocation is not the way to go. Why not add a petition too so all of us small voices can join in. I think it was around 10 years ago I figured land banks were a possible solution to the continued problem faced by consultants of not being able to locate suitable receptor sites. So I'm not really surprised that we now have this company. I also figured out the problems it could cause and feel it needs to be regulated. We don't want a situation for example where land prospectors see this as a new opportunity to make some cash before eventually selling the land for development and I certainly do not want to see further long distant translocations of reptiles on a huge scale. It appears to me this was a case of the land was already available in Wiltshire so Wiltshire was an easy option for the developer/consultant but not a desirable one from a conservation point of view. We need a rule that these companies operate at no more than county level and preferably operate to best practice guidelines where translocation is a last resort and very local.
Edited by GemmaJF |
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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I agree Gemma; land banks seem the logical (but wrong) solution to the fact that most commercial translocations undertaken by non-experts are ill-prepared and reactive, or at least there has not been enough time to locate and enhance local receptor sites. Finding a decent receptor site without an extant population of the species in question has always been the hardest part of the translocation process by far. I like the idea of finding survey work and enhancement of local land banks much more than the Wiltshire case, provided that this is not seen as a justification for trashing existing habitat such as the wonderful brownfield / 'edgelands' habitats where reptiles, badgers, orchids, bats etc often choose to hang out... perhaps someone with more expertise and time than me could draft a statement and put it forward as a petition for various wildlife conservation organisations to sign? (or not - then we'd know where the various parties stand...) |
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herpetologic2
Forum Coordinator Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1511 |
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Petition (wording) 'We call on the government to introduce strict guidelines (or legislation) to regulate the emerging Biodiversity banking industry in the UK In particular, measures should be implemented in relation to priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan to ensure that local conservation status (or favourable conservation status) is maintained through such schemes All Biodiversity banking/Conservation Credit schemes should demonstrate that they fulfil the current best practice guidelines prior to them being approved. In relation to the widespread species of reptiles - translocations should be the last resort and any such scheme should have a minimum of 21 years post development monitoring (in perpetuity) Feel free to amend - shred to pieces etc Regards |
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Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
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Jon, I am completely focused thanks and it is just such a dismissive approach as this comment encapsulates that a) pus enthusiatst off from joining in debates and b) adding their name to the calling. The point I was making in case it went completely over your head is that in NE there appears to be a connection with the MOD - which just coincidentally "used" to own the Wiltshire site! Work it out. I also was pointing out, those that are making the frameworks for such wildlife credit banks to work to have very little field experience and maybe, just maybe, they see everything in pound notes! And with regard to the wording of your call to arms - cut to the chase, lets see it in laymans terms - no taking wildlife out of their home range countys! Ok?? That means, sod the "best practice", if best practice is saying it's ok to take them miles and dump them in another county. Cheers Rob |
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RobV
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herpetologic2
Forum Coordinator Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1511 |
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Hi Rob
That's the point the best practice does not say it is okay to move animals hundreds of miles out of their local area. The gateway project did not meet the 2nd aim of a reptile mitigation project as stipulated in Natural England's own guidance. The great crested newts were kept in Essex - in fact on adjacent land bought up were at least 35 ponds were created. probably 100,000 smooth newts were kept in Essex, water voles were moved to save them from rising sea levels according to the Essex Wildlife Trust. I look forward to other views on the petition wording |
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Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
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RobV
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administrator
Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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I agree with Rob regarding the NE involvement, it's all part of a wider picture and NE need to wake up regarding this sort of badly thought out project. This particular project might be the focus of this thread, the focus though of a petition needs to be much wider and address more than just long distance translocation of reptiles. |
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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I'd be happy with any wording which allows all groups working to conserve species that tend to be impacted by this sort of thing to join together - eg herp groups, those conserving badgers, bats, dormice etc - for a joined -up approach. We could 'challenge' parties like Wildlife Trusts to sign up. Could be interesting to see what happens...
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administrator
Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Agreed Will it would be very interesting to see what happens in some cases but a joined up approach is exactly what I was thinking of. It may well be each group can add specific wording or quote existing specific guidelines too to cover their own interest area. I've no doubt we won't prevent this new industry, but we can all try and make sure it works within reasonable guidelines. Your post is also why I thought a petition was a good idea. When I talk to people for example Wildlilfe Trust volunteers... they are often very aware of these sorts of issues and might well sign a petition, when for example their organisation might be reluctant to get involved. (or simply not understand the issue or just say no to be awkward) Also don't forget consultants, we are not all entirely clueless! Edited by GemmaJF |
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