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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 27 May 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 June 2015. It was answered by Rory Stewart (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 June 2015 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Herons: Conservation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve the habitat of bitterns.

Answer

Like all wild birds, the bittern is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Under this Act it is an offence to kill or injure any wild bird; take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built; and take or destroy an egg of any wild bird.

Bittern habitat is also protected and improved through being designated and managed as Special Protection Areas under the EU Habitats Directive, and as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

In 1994 Natural England (then English Nature) initiated a Bittern Recovery Programme. By 2012 restoration of approximately 2500 hectares of bittern reed-bed habitat at 80 sites across the UK had been achieved. This resulted in an increase of bittern numbers, from a 1997 low of 11 males to a high of 140 males in 2014.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
65
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Conservation Herons
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk