§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what wildlife species in the Norfolk Broads currently are under threat; and what financial resources would need to be allocated to the Nature Conservancy Council and other bodies.
§ Mr. KingThe Nature Conservancy Council advises me that one bird—the Bittern—one insect—the Norfolk aeshna dragonfly—and three species of plant—under threat.
the narrow-leaved pondweed, the holly-weed and the fen orchid—are currently
315WThe Nature Conservancy Council has two nature reserves in the area and voluntary conservation bodies have others, but these do not adequately protect the threatened species. To do this resources would be needed for site safeguard and management, for research studies specific to these species and also to ensure acceptable standards of water quality. I cannot say at this time what this would involve in financial terms.
§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he considers that continued agricultural drainage in the Norfolk Broads area poses a threat to wildlife; and what is the minimum acreage of grazing marshland required to ensure the continued existence of all animals and plants that depend upon this particular habitat.
§ Mr. KingThe Nature Conservancy Council advise me that agricultural drainage does pose a threat to the fauna and flora of the Norfolk Broads. Substantial examples of grazing marshland in each of the main river valleys would need to be safeguarded in order to ensure that continued hydrological viability of the grazing marsh dykes which contain the characteristic flora and fauna of these areas. These problems are currently being studied by the University of East Anglia at the request of the Broads authority and its report will be examined by the Nature Conservancy Council.