Background to conservation in England. We are very aware that we are conserving a cultural landscapes. What we choose to conserve is a cultural landscape. Recently we have chosen to conserve semi-natural habitats, past management critical. Most land is privately owned. The main task was holding the line against intensification and the destruction of remaining wildlife
In the 1990s things have got better in terms of legislation, and we had time to step back and think about our conservation objectives. We had biodiversity action plans - enabled conservation to move out into landscapes. Had started to thing about more dynamic approaches. Could we create an English rewilding?
Were we talking about trying to create an original natural landscape, or some sort of future natural landscape? Is it important that the animals are wild? Domestic vs wild ponies? What do we do about introductions? Does our future rewilded landscapes include invasive species such as rhododendron?
Finding appropriate areas. Most English protected areas are too small. Upland areas are more extensive but they are poorer quality.
Conservations have to learn to live with uncertainty. Rewilding is inherently unpredictable, and conservationists want to learn to hold back
Ways forward: we are going to need large areas
Interesting sketch graph of human influences trajectory since the Neolithic
We have one chance to get it right or we are stuck with bad publicity.
In the 1990s things have got better in terms of legislation, and we had time to step back and think about our conservation objectives. We had biodiversity action plans - enabled conservation to move out into landscapes. Had started to thing about more dynamic approaches. Could we create an English rewilding?
Were we talking about trying to create an original natural landscape, or some sort of future natural landscape? Is it important that the animals are wild? Domestic vs wild ponies? What do we do about introductions? Does our future rewilded landscapes include invasive species such as rhododendron?
Finding appropriate areas. Most English protected areas are too small. Upland areas are more extensive but they are poorer quality.
Conservations have to learn to live with uncertainty. Rewilding is inherently unpredictable, and conservationists want to learn to hold back
Ways forward: we are going to need large areas
Interesting sketch graph of human influences trajectory since the Neolithic
We have one chance to get it right or we are stuck with bad publicity.