§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the extent of barn owl deaths caused by traffic; and what steps are being taken to prevent them. [141037]
§ Mr. BradshawResearch on this issue was commissioned by the Highways Agency with a final report produced in 1999—Impact of Roads on Barn Owl Populations. This year, the Barn Owl Trust published Barn Owls and Major Roads, the results and recommendations of a 15 year study. Both reports confirm that major roads present a significant hazard to barn owls. They act as barriers to dispersal and reduce barn owl populations in the adjacent countryside.
The Highways Agency commissioned Highways and Birds—a best practice guide, published in 2001. This investigates the potential value of land alongside major roads to birds and provides generic best practice guidance for engineers and ecologists on highway design and management techniques of benefit to bird populations. These aim to minimise the risks to birds associated with traffic while making best use of the habitat within areas of the road verge where birds are considered to be at a safe distance from the carriageway.
The Highways Agency's Biodiversity Action Plan acknowledges the extent of barn owl decline and states its intention to implement appropriate actions to reduce the threat from major roads.