3 Rejected

Government lacks clear vision and support for plant and animal reintroductions

Conclusion
It is unclear which plant and animal reintroductions the Government supports and there is no current long-term vision for how reintroductions fit into the Government’s species abundance targets. This has caused confusion and concern between stakeholders seeking to reintroduce certain species, and amongst those against the reintroduction of such species, for example beavers.
Government Response Summary
The government states that species reintroduction is not a priority, and therefore it will not be producing a long-term strategy or a list of priority species, preferring to assess proposals on a case-by-case basis.
Paragraph Reference
17
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government Rejected
Given that reintroduction is not a priority for the government, we will not be producing a strategy or a list of priority species for reintroduction. Proposals for reintroductions, and the suitability of the species proposed and associated risks, are highly dependent on the specific circumstances in which they are made. For example, the existing species assemblage, environmental conditions and socio-economic circumstances will all be factors and significantly influence decisions as to whether it is appropriate to reintroduce a species in a particular location or locations. We have set out best practice guidance in the government’s Code for Reintroductions which has been published on gov.uk alongside information on applying for a licence as appropriate.
Timeline
Recommendation age 2.9 yrs
Report published 11 Jul 2023