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Renewed action on farmland birds needed - Huw Irranca-Davies

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref :346/08) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 31 October 2008

Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies today called for renewed action on farmland birds, as new statistics show a decline in farmland bird populations while overall wild bird populations remain stable.

Today's statistics show that between 1970 and 2007 wild bird numbers have remained broadly stable. However, between 2005 and 2007 farmland bird numbers fell to their lowest recorded level, following a stabilisation in their numbers between 1999 and 2004.
Key findings of the Wild Bird Populations 2007 Report include:

* Breeding farmland bird numbers (in England) are 52 per cent lower than 1966 levels (the base year). There was a sustained decrease between the mid-1970s and the mid-1990s due to changes in agricultural practice, including the loss of over-winter stubbles, the loss of mixed farming, increased use of agro-chemicals, and the loss of field margins and hedges. Numbers stabilised between 1999 and 2003, and have since fallen. Farmland bird numbers are directly related to the availability of winter and summer food and nesting habitat.

* Woodland bird numbers (England and UK) are currently stable after declines in the 1980s and early 1990s. Woodland bird numbers are affected by factors including changes in woodland structure, deer grazing and nest predators.

* Water and wetland breeding bird numbers across the UK number they are six per cent lower than the 1975 level. Bird populations are affected by changes in the weather and climate.

* Seabird numbers (UK) are 31per cent higher than in 1970, but have shown a slight decline in recent years.

Huw Irranca-Davies said:

"A healthy environment is fundamental to our economy, as well as being a vital part of what living in Britain means to us. Some species such as the Goldfinch and Kingfisher are doing well. However others are continuing to decline, particularly those species that breed solely or mainly on farmland.

"We must continue the work we are doing with conservation bodies, land managers and farmers, and volunteers to help to stop and reverse the decline in wild and farmland bird numbers, and take further action."

Work to help farmland birds is underway. Changes to Defra's Environmental Stewardship scheme are being introduced following a report in February 2008 that included specific recommendations to give added help to farmland birds, such as increasing the size of the area that can be sown with wild bird seed mixture.

Following the EU decision to set a zero per cent set-aside rate for the 2008 harvest, and proposals to abolish it, Hilary Benn announced earlier this year the preferred approach to capture the key environmental benefits previously provided by set-aside, including for farmland birds. This approach would require farmers to manage a percentage of their land in an environmentally friendly way.

We are also carrying out research into potential measures to help reverse declines in farmland and wild bird numbers, and to build on our knowledge of their populations and declines.

Notes for Editors

1. The Wild Bird Population Indicator is based on data provided by the British Trust for Ornithology and the RSPB. They are based on previously published figures.

2. The Wild Bird Population Indicator can been be found at http://defraweb/environment/statistics/wildlife/kf/wdkf03.htm

3. Birds such as the Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper and Chiffchaff have benefitted from environmental improvements conservation work, and the increased management of land in an environmentally friendly way through schemes such as Environmental Stewardship.

4. New research projects will help us to look at measures to halt and reverse the decline and build our understanding of the declines in breeding bird populations, including farmland, woodland and water and wetland birds. They are expected to include landscape scale studies, the improvement of existing land management practices for farmland birds, and developing novel approaches.

5. Farmland birds will benefit from revisions to the options of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme for example: extending the hedgerow "no-cutting" period by a month, and increasing the size of the area that can be sown with wild bird seed mixture. In addition, a new option for "summer fallow" is under development which would be beneficial to ground nesting birds and provide important summer feeding habitats.

6. On 25 July Hilary Benn announced his preferred approach for capturing the environmental benefits previously provided by set-aside. The approach would require farmers to manage a small percentage of their land in an environmentally friendly way which would be complemented by new top-up options in Environmental Stewardship. Defra are currently considering implementation proposals and awaiting the results of the Common Agricultural Policy 'Health Check' by the European Union.

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