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Restoring Key Species to Britain Issues, examples and lessons Roy Dennis MBE Highland Foundation for Wildlife Reintroducing key mammals • • • • Workshop at the right time Suddenly there’s more interest Probably best time for 30 years Now the time to press ahead – cos the pendulum always swings back sometime • My view is key species are essential for functioning ecosystem. Reminder how bad the loss is! Lost from Scotland since last Ice Age: Auroch (wild cattle), Moose (Elk), Reindeer, Wild boar and Beaver Lynx, Wolf and Brown Bear These are really influential animals in the functioning of ecosystems. Their absence is detrimental to nature conservation and management in the UK What to do about it? • Reintroduction – big mammals not going to get back naturally like some birds, bats or insects • EU Directive encourages member states to examine the potential for restoring lost species • But many feel that we should do these things ourselves to make up for past mistakes and to restore nature. Bird Reintroductions – more pro-active Capercaillie – 19th century White-tailed eagle – 1959, 1968, 1975 onwards Red Kite 1989 to Scotland and England Goshawk – by the back door from 1960s Osprey to central England from 1996 More recently translocations of Golden Eagle to Ireland Corncrake to England What can we learn? And other species in people’s minds such as common crane and white stork Old breeding sites of Sea Eagles Isle of Skye Scotland Middle Ages – widespread then intense persecution. 1800 - about 20 pairs left in Scotland 1916 - last pair nested in Inverness-shire Early reintroductions: 1959 – 3 birds Argyll 1968 – 4 young Fair Isle. 1968 - imported four young sea eagles from Norway; two of each sex. Died or dispersed Too few, wrong place Stopped from getting more Rum National Nature Reserve NCC 1975 – 85 92 young from Norway Reared and released from hacking cages Resulted in first breeding 1983 First young in wild 1985 First wild young bred in 1995 Still not 10 young per year in wild by 1997 56 more imported 1993 -1998 100 young reared by 2000 and 22 pairs on territory 30 young from 36 pairs in 2006 Total young reared 222 Sea Eagle Reintroduction It took a long time and was not easy. Project stopped in 1969 Restarted because strong push from Ian Newton and Morton Boyd Population on west coast Scotland secure but food supplies problematic Breeding range far too restricted Proposals to restore them in eastern Scotland for last 15 years – delays Now proposals and discussions for East Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland Techniques all work well - but ever increasing bureaucratic hurdles Use big starter populations – choose areas of richest habitat and food supplies Exterminated in Scotland end 19th century; re-introduced from Sweden 1989 to 1993; now re-established and spreading Chose most ecological productive area for project Chose long term project progression Linked to joint project with England 93 young from Sweden 1989-1993 First breeding 1992 More releases: in late 1990’s Central Scotland early 2000’s South-west Scotland 4 sites in England using Spanish kites RAF support and lots of publicity Success of Red Kites • Moving programme of releases • Partnership teams of RSPB, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, and ornithologists,landowners and managers • Lots of birds released • Great publicity and success • Kites in general countryside not in special reserves – so close to people Now to the really important players in ecosystems – the lost mammals The Auroch is lost for ever Our dominant mammal is now red deer But wouldn’t it be great to have a few herds of ‘wild’ Highland cattle The ecological value of big herbivores is more and more understood. Lots of new projects and thinking but we need far more Ecological functioning Heck cattle in Netherlands Future: Increase in cattle for conservation wild ‘feral’ herds of native cattle Or will we be prevented because of ‘health & safety controls’ Beavers are keystone species with very important role in ecosystem health They are essential in nature – just like oil in a car engine! Important ecological effects nearly all beneficial Water flows, sedimentation Ameliorating floods Habitat manipulation Habitat creation - ponds Invertebrates Fish Plants Mammals Amphibians Birds But how long do we have to keep repeating it!!! Is there available habitat in UK?– we have hundreds and hundreds of suitable places! Moose: exterminated about 900 years? ago – increased in last 40 years in Europe. How do we keep forest ponds open or kill trees for woodpeckers Wild Boar Exterminated long ago by hunting and incorporation into domestic free-ranging pigs. Since 1988 storms, escapes free living from ‘wild boar farms’ Lynx & roe deer and ancient trees Lynx – most suitable candidate after beaver. Provider of carrion – we need top predators We need return of large predators to Influence middle range predators such as badger, otter, fox and marten Wolf Last to survive Last killed in Scotland in 1743 Lots of culture and history. Lots of antagonism! But…. there is room and lots of prey Important effects on red deer – not only kill some but move the others around – good for regeneration Importance of telling stories Greenland polar wolves Bears : there are problems but people in Europe live with them And why should the poorer countries of Europe have the big mammals not us Zarnesti Study Area – Romania 13000 hectares Gamekeeper Mosu Compared to Scotland Red deer 105 1000 Roe deer 120 350+ Boar 160-180 0 Brown Bear 43 0 Wolf 5-7 0 Lynx 6 0 Red fox, badger, wildcat, pine marten and otter. Austria Bear Project Is it possible? 12 years ago two experts from Bavaria & Romania visited the Highlands – definitely suitable habitat for all lost species The issue is social and political not ecological But now rapidly changing attitudes changes in agriculture with rural management and ecotourism opportunities. I think it is possible. Difficulties from Conservation Colleagues and Bodies Reintroductions are expensive and/or unnecessary Rare birds are sexy and special feature of area or reserve – so regional staff don’t want them common elsewhere Not enough habitat Make it too complicated – excessive time and money spent on feasibility studies Too much time on special issues such as genetic pools Too few staff in important positions know the species in the wild Scared of it going wrong rather than excited at it succeeding Putting off decisions until next year – then a new problem Society and political issues People can be scared of big changes and big animals Difficult to get politicians to take bold decisions especially when advised by civil servants Excessive influence of farmers, land-owners, fishermen as opposed to ‘ordinary’ citizens Countryside side changing and ecotourism now very important in rural areas – many of these animals have high economic values Must have sound and robust management action Scared to have big mammals in UK but happy to sponsor tigers in India or lions in Africa UK a rich country and needs to do much more for ecosystem restoration You need to get on and do it • • • • • • • • Learn as much as possible about the species Get to know species in the wild Be sensible and sensitive Tell interesting stories Don’t give up - keep pushing Today’s impossibility is tomorrow’s project Emphasise ecological values Always ask for greater areas of nature and more resources for in-field wildlife management