News

WHERE HAVE ALL THE WADERS GONE?

11th August 2004

….gone to grouse moors everyone. With the opening of grouse shooting this week a new analysis by The Game Conservancy Trust (GCT) shows that management of upland moor for grouse has not only helped to retain the upland heather habitat but it has provided the most important stronghold for upland waders in England. Species like curlew, golden plover, and dunlin breed in significant numbers on these moors, while they have been disappearing from other areas including some big National Parks.

This analysis* compiled by Dr Stephen Tapper of the Trust in collaboration with the National Gamekeepers Organisation shows that of the more than 675,000 upland acres now classified as Special Protection Area (SPA**) under the EU Bird Directive, 74% is actually managed as grouse moor. For example, the North Pennines SPA, which is almost entirely managed for grouse shooting, hosts 1,400 pairs of golden plover, 3,930 pairs of curlew, and 330 pairs of dunlin. By contrast Dartmoor National Park now only has one-three pairs of golden plover, one-three pairs of curlew and a dozen or so pairs of dunlin.

The continuing loss of waders in some districts follows the loss of the red grouse shooting. The golden plover’s breeding range contracted by 50% in the West Country between 1970 and 1990, and by 32% in Wales, whereas in northern England, where the moors are still managed for grouse, the loss was only 8%.

Dr Stephen Tapper, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, said, “Our analysis demonstrates the important role of grouse management in upland conservation. Lose grouse shooting and, in the long term, you are likely to lose not only the grouse, but many breeding waders too.”

The details of this analysis can be found and downloaded on The Game Conservancy Trust’s website: http://www.gct.org.uk/article.asp?PageId=78&ArticleId=73

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Notes to Editors:
*The Game Conservancy Trust in collaboration with the National Gamekeepers Organisation surveyed the conservation work carried out by all gamekeepers. The Trust holds data for 150 properties in England where gamekeepers manage moorland for grouse shooting – defined as controlling predators and rotational burning of heather. These properties employ 250 gamekeepers.
** SPA status is a relatively new EU-driven designation, with most moorland designations being made since 1997. These designations are based on the fact that the land in question hosts significant numbers of specified birds. To that extent, it is based on observed performance, rather than potential, and as such may be seen as an evaluation of the management up to that date.
The Game Conservancy Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out research into game, associated species and habitats. In 2003 the Trust spent £3 million in furtherance of its charitable objects of which £2 million was spent on research that is carried out by 60 scientists based at Fordingbridge, and at study centres throughout the country. The Trust’s main areas of interest include farmland, moorland and woodland conservation, river and habitat restoration, disease, predation control and education. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for black grouse and brown hare. Morag Walker – Press Officer Telephone – 01425-652381 (direct 01425-651000) Mobile – 07736-124097 www.gct.org.uk