Protected Species (Hansard, 21 January 2004)

§ Mr. Bradshaw

Every five years the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) advises Government on which animals should be legally protected by listing on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. JNCC reported to Government with its recommendations in September 2002, which included full protection for this species. The next stage is for Government to conduct a public consultation based on these recommendations, which will occur in spring 2004. Following this consultation, the Secretary of State will decide on the changes to be made to the schedules and these will be implemented by Statutory Instrument.

For a species to be recommended for scheduling one of the eligibility criteria in each of the Sections A to D below should be met: A. Generally, only native (including re-established) taxa are to be considered. Taxa introduced or thought to be introduced to Great Britain by man could be considered exceptionally, with the following provisos. 1235W (i) the organism is endangered or extinct in its native range, and (ii) preferably, the natural range reaches the north west coast of Europe (i.e. continental distribution extends to the Atlantic coast of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany or Scandinavia; for marine taxa, the distribution includes the north west Atlantic area), and provided that (iii) information suggests that the organism is unlikely to have an adverse impact on important native species or ecosystems. B. The taxon must be either: (i) established in the wild in Great Britain; or (ii) occur as a vagrant in Great Britain and require international protection; or (iii) be believed extinct in Great Britain as a breeding species, but be in the process of re-establishment; or (iv) be believed extinct in Great Britain, but with the possibility that it could become re-established naturally. C. The taxonomic status of the organism must be well authenticated. Taxa below the species level could be considered, providing they are: (i) clearly recognisable (i.e. morphologically distinct), and (ii) geographically or ecologically distinct. D The taxon must be endangered in Great Britain, or likely to become so unless conservation measures are taken, and/or be subject to an international obligation for protection. One or more of the following may indicate that a taxon is or may become endangered: (i) it is included in a JNCC-approved British Red Data Book as Extinct, Endangered or Vulnerable (or, in Red Lists drawn up using the recently revised IUCN criteria, as Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable)] (ii) it has been well searched for but is known from only a single locality; (iii) it is confined to a particularly threatened habitat. The extent or quality of the habitat is being significantly reduced or is likely to become significantly reduced, thus threatening the survival of the organism; (iv) it is rapidly declining in population, number of localities occupied or range. Indicative would be at least 50 per cent. decline observed, estimated inferred or suspected in the last 20 years, or a decline of at least 50 per cent. projected, inferred or suspected to be likely in the near future. The decline must transcend normal fluctuations; (v) it is endangered, or likely to become endangered through being targeted for exploitation or killing for commercial reasons and/or through being particularly attractive to collectors. International obligations apply to a taxon which is: (vi) naturally resident and listed on Appendices I, II or III of the Bern Convention; Annexes II, IV or V of the EC Habitats and Species Directive; Appendix I of the Bonn Convention (unless derogations are in force); and/or endemic to Great Britain and included in a JNCC-approved British Red List.