Created
on 21/09/2018 @ 16:22
By Elgan
Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
Pheasant
shooting leases on Welsh Government land at Caersws and other locations in the
county will come to an end next year.
The leases that are managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate (WGWE) at Maesmawr near Caersws, Bankwood near Llandrindod Wells and Cwmgwnen which stretches from north Powys towards Oswestry.
They will come to an end in March 2019 with NRW confirming there will be no lease renewals.
The decision was taken at an NRW board meeting this week and follows a three-year campaign by thy Animal Aid and the League Against Cruel Sports.
This included a petition signed by over 12,500 people urging the government body to ban the practice.
Bethan Collins, senior public affairs officer (Wales) at league against cruel sports, said: “NRW is to be commended in the strongest terms for ensuring pheasant shooting in the Welsh national forest is being brought to an end.
“This outcome reflects strong opposition to the practice from the Welsh Government, over 75 per cent of the public who oppose shooting birds for sport and an urgent need to reverse damage to wildlife and the environment on the public estate.
Fiona Pereira, campaigns manager at Animal Aid, added: “NRW can now use that land for positive activities that are kind to animals and to the environment, and importantly, set an example for other public bodies to bring about an end to the shooting of birds.
The decision by NRW, is part of its final position statement on the use of firearms on land it manages.
It had been expected to be discussed at a Board Meeting in July, but the body was plunged into crisis with the resignation of chairwoman, Diane McCrea, over issues with timber contracts.
The leases that are managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate (WGWE) at Maesmawr near Caersws, Bankwood near Llandrindod Wells and Cwmgwnen which stretches from north Powys towards Oswestry.
They will come to an end in March 2019 with NRW confirming there will be no lease renewals.
The decision was taken at an NRW board meeting this week and follows a three-year campaign by thy Animal Aid and the League Against Cruel Sports.
This included a petition signed by over 12,500 people urging the government body to ban the practice.
Bethan Collins, senior public affairs officer (Wales) at league against cruel sports, said: “NRW is to be commended in the strongest terms for ensuring pheasant shooting in the Welsh national forest is being brought to an end.
“This outcome reflects strong opposition to the practice from the Welsh Government, over 75 per cent of the public who oppose shooting birds for sport and an urgent need to reverse damage to wildlife and the environment on the public estate.
Fiona Pereira, campaigns manager at Animal Aid, added: “NRW can now use that land for positive activities that are kind to animals and to the environment, and importantly, set an example for other public bodies to bring about an end to the shooting of birds.
The decision by NRW, is part of its final position statement on the use of firearms on land it manages.
It had been expected to be discussed at a Board Meeting in July, but the body was plunged into crisis with the resignation of chairwoman, Diane McCrea, over issues with timber contracts.
No comments:
Post a Comment