NGO Response to the State of Nature report

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A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, said: "It is ironic that habitat loss and degradation have been identified in State of Nature as key drivers behind the decline of many species of wildlife. Yet the organisations who compiled, what was always clearly intended to be a high-profile report, did not have the wit to include gamekeepers among those who were asked to lend their name to it."

He added: "Gamekeepers work hard creating and managing habitat in both the uplands and the lowlands over an area of the UK nine times the size of all the wildlife reserves and national parks combined. So it is clear that keepers are a potent and effective force for conservation. The wildlife-richness of game shoots backs that up.

"By ignoring gamekeepers and gamekeeper-led conservation you begin to question some of the motives behind the report. Is it too cynical to ask whether the objective of State of Nature is, as the report claims, to "save nature" or whether it is targeted more towards attempting to seek publicity and public approval for the organisations involved?"

He added: "It must also not be forgotten that predator control can become even more important as a wildlife-conservation strategy in places of poor quality and degraded habitat. That's a message that all those who like to think of themselves as conservationists should take on board."

The report is available to view at http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/stateofnature_tcm9-345839.pdf

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Notes to Editors
- For further information on this release please contact Julian Murray-Evans on 01766 523795 or email jmurrayevans@btinternet.com

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