New evidence highlights ongoing chaos with wildlife licensing and its impact on conservation

In May, the Countryside Alliance, alongside the NGO and Moorland Association, wrote to Defra Secretary of State with a joint paper 'Wildlife Licensing in England: Chaos, Crisis and Cure' in order to draw his attention to the continuing crisis in wildlife licensing, and to ask him to set up a feasibility study into bringing wildlife licensing back into central Government, where it can be more efficient, effective and cheaper. We have now been joined by BASC in sending the Environment Secretary a further joint letter with a supplementary paper which updates our earlier analysis, and highlights three key points which needs Defra's immediate attention and action. These are that:

• Defra should take back control of all wildlife licencing forthwith.
• All corvids currently on the General Licences must remain on them.
• Individual Licences for gulls must be readily available in rural areas next spring.

The paper clearly provides examples of the ongoing chaos being experienced by our members, and the subsequent crisis for wildlife conservation, and we have asked the Secretary of State to give this her urgent personal attention.

The supplementary paper can be read here.