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Written question asked by Alex Mayer (Labour) on Monday, 4 November 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 November 2024. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Monday, 11 November 2024 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hedgehogs: Conservation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has for the (a) protection and (b) conservation of hedgehogs following the change to their conservation status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

Answer

The Government has no plans to provide additional legal protection to the hedgehog in England. While we are concerned about hedgehogs, there is no evidence to suggest legal protection will address the main causes of decline namely habitat loss, pesticide use and road traffic accidents.

However, the Government remains committed to restoring nature and we have wasted no time in announcing a rapid review of the Environment Improvement Plan to deliver on our legally binding environment targets, including reversing declines in our native species, such as hedgehog.

Measures such as Countryside Stewardship, Sustainable Farming Incentive Scheme, Biodiversity Net Gain and Local Nature Recovery Strategies will drive the creation and restoration of habitats, particularly hedgerows, that will benefit the conservation and recovery of hedgehogs as well as a range of other species.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
12529
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Conservation Hedgehogs
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk