CA welcomes Welsh Government decision on the preservation of Greenland White-fronted Geese

Lesley Griffiths AM, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, has announced that the existing year-round voluntary moratorium on shooting Greenland White-fronted Geese will remain and has committed to funding research in to the conservation needs of this iconic bird.

The Countryside Alliance has been lobbying for the status quo to remain since the first petition was presented to the Assembly in April 2014. The Alliance was one of 25 organisations to respond to the consultation which received over 1,200 responses.

Rachel Evans, Director for Wales said: "It is extremely pleasing that the Welsh Government has both engaged with the shooting community and used the expert knowledge of shooters to their advantage. The funding for research is very much welcome and will greatly help the conservation of the Greenland White-fronted Geese that choose to over-winter in Wales"

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said: "It is crucial we do all we can to conserve this iconic bird. The consultation responses did not generate any evidence to indicate Greenland White-fronted Geese are currently being shot in Wales"

"This has led me to the conclusion the existing year-round voluntary moratorium on shooting Greenland White-fronted Geese in Wales on land over which shooting clubs have shooting rights is currently working effectively and is being adhered to by wildfowling clubs in Wales."

The research will involve monitoring numbers, their behaviour and distribution, population and condition as well as other measures that will help understand the needs of the bird and will help in the future management decisions for the Greenland White-fronted Goose.

The Minister's statement is here.

Follow Rachel Evans on Twitter @CAevs