8 Acknowledged

Engage urgently with stakeholders and publish a protocol for Taskforce consultation and advice.

Recommendation
Urgent stakeholder engagement is required to build relationships with key individuals; these stakeholders should have an open invitation to join the Stakeholder Forum and be able to feed into Taskforce decisions through it. The Government should be clear when the Taskforce is expected to provide advice and the influence of that evidence. In cases where the Taskforce’s recommendations are not followed, there should a clear explanation and rationale published by the Government so as to not undermine the Taskforce’s credibility and scientific authority. The Government should publish a protocol with clear guidelines stating when the Taskforce will, and will not, be consulted on reintroduction decisions.
Government Response Summary
The government responded by outlining the Taskforce's existing activities, including its establishment, meeting schedule, published terms of reference, and ongoing efforts by the Chair to contact stakeholders, with further plans for meetings this autumn to improve engagement. It did not explicitly commit to the specific mechanisms for engagement or transparency requested.
Paragraph Reference
26
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
The Reintroductions Taskforce was established in 2021 and a chair appointed in September 2022. It intends to meet six times in 2023. Its terms of reference agreed in 2022 have been published online in a dedicated website https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/england-species-reintroductions-taskforce The taskforce does not play a formal role in licensing decisions. The taskforce is able to use the knowledge and expertise of its members to identify where advice related to translocations may be needed. We consider the role of the taskforce is to provide technical advice on approaches taken and cross-cutting matters regarding translocations, as set out in their Terms of Reference. For example, the group are looking at ways to improve the understanding and use of the Reintroductions Code by stakeholders to promote best practice, as well as developing understanding of the impacts of predator species reintroductions. With regard to engagement of stakeholders by the taskforce, as an observer member, Defra is aware of the taskforce’s ambition to improve engagement. The Chair has already been in contact with a number of stakeholders who have made representations. The group has further plans to hold meetings with key groups of stakeholders, including landowners and managers, this autumn.
Timeline
Recommendation age 2.9 yrs
Report published 11 Jul 2023