P-06-1208 New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline
P-06-1208 New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline
This
petition was submitted by Craig Shuttleworth, having collected a total of
10,553 signatures.
Text of Petition:
It's illegal to kill or
injure a red squirrel. Yet a forest containing them is not protected and can be
cut down.
Although a felling licence
is required to fell woodland, these licences cannot be refused even if they
cause habitat loss and red squirrel population decline.
State owned forests do not
require a licence but are managed under Plans which last 10 years or more. They
don’t have to annually assess the cumulative impact of felling on red squirrel
populations.
This must change.
Additional Information:
Rare red squirrels are
threatened by outdated 1960s tree felling law:
Even in Welsh Government
owned forests managed by Natural Resources Wales, the agency clear-fells
habitat without assessing the impact on squirrel populations. On Anglesey, NRW
has spent £0 in 10 years to monitor red squirrels. They have no idea of the
effect of repeated tree felling on populations and are continuing to fell
habitat regardless:
https://www.thenational.wales/news/19304998.expert-raps-nrw-felling-red-squirrel-habitat/
Welsh Government say
tackling global deforestation is 'vital' to prevent 'decline of our
biodiversity' yet their forest regulator destroys forest habitat here without
assessing impact on red squirrels.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56185205.
Status
This petition was
considered completed by the Petitions Committee at its meeting on 24/01/2022.
The Committee noted the positive debate and the Welsh
Government commitments, congratulated the petitioner, and closed the petition.
In doing so, Members agreed to write Minister asking that Natural Resources Wales adopts their approach to red squirrel conservation on Anglesey in the light of their exemplar in north east Wales.
Full details of the consideration of this petition by the
Committee and related documents can be seen on the Meetings tab above.
It was first considered by the Petitions Committee on 20/09/2021.
Senedd Constituency and Region
- Arfon
- North
Wales
Further information
- The Petitions Committee homepage
- View all open petitions
- View all petitions the committee is currently considering
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petitions system works
Business type: Petition
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: For consideration
First published: 15/09/2021