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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) cost and (b) efficacy of English Nature's raptor programmes. [154725] Mr. Bradshaw: Raptor conservation projects form a small element of English Nature's conservation work. The two significant projects currently ongoing are the Red Kite Reintroduction Programme and the Hen Harrier Recovery Project, with costs to English Nature in 2003-04 of approximately £10,000 and £90, 000 respectively. The Red Kite Reintroduction Programme is a partnership between English Nature, RSPB and a wide range of other organisations and funding bodies. The majority of funding for this programme comes from external sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund and sponsorship from private companies. The Red Kite re-establishment programme in England, together with a similar programme in Scotland and effective conservation measures for the species in Wales, has increased Red Kite numbers to a level where they constitute a small but significant proportion of the European total. As was intended at the outset, the project has helped enhance the international status of Red Kite, a species whose global distribution is restricted to Europe. English Nature's Hen Harrier Recovery Project is now entering its third year. It is staffed by a project coordinator and three seasonal fieldworkers. It has so far been successful in improving our understanding of the status of the hen harrier in England and of the factors affecting breeding numbers and success.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

418 c428W;418 c448W; 154725

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Birds Protection Nature conservation English Nature Wildlife Birds of prey

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk