Birds of Prey: West Midlands

(asked on 17th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support the reintroduction of (a) the white-tailed sea eagle and (b) other endangered raptor species in the West Midlands.


Answered by
Rebecca Pow Portrait
Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This question was answered on 25th March 2022

The Government committed in the 25 Year Environment Plan to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of formerly native species where there are clear environment and socio-economic benefits. We will shortly be establishing an England Species Reintroductions Task Force to provide expert, evidence-based views on potential species for conservation translocation and reintroduction in England.

The Government is supporting a wide range of successful and ongoing reintroductions and translocations for raptors. Defra’s Hen Harrier Action Plan, published in January 2016, includes six specific actions to achieve a self-sustaining hen harrier population in England. Both Forestry England and Defra have supported a project to reintroduce white-tailed eagles to the Isle of Wight. Forestry England is also in the process of launching a feasibility study into the reintroduction of golden eagle into England.

As a result of decades of conservation work including reintroductions and increased protections, many birds of prey such as the red kite, marsh harrier and white-tailed eagle have been helped off the UK Red List for birds.

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