Natural England planning to sell off nature reserves

 


According to this article, DEFRA is planning to meet its 25% cuts target
by
measures including Natural England selling it off its Nature
Reserves.

'Plan to sell off nature reserves risks 'austerity countryside' |
Politics | The
Guardian' (http://tinyurl.com/3x5mzjn )

Nature reserves are not simply pretty places to visit or museums of
natural
history, they are living deposits of biodiversity vital to our
long term
future.




--
kay

 

kay wrote:

I recall a remark about people who know "the cost of everything, and the
value of nothing".

--
Mike.

 

On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:33:17 +0200, Mike Lyle  


There would be some advantages to the sale/transfer of National Nature  
Reserves to suitable managers (local and national wildlife trusts) as they  
could attract considerable European funding for their management,  
something which a quango is not able to do.
--
rbel

 



Correct.

What seems to be being suggested is an extension of ownership by other
organisations. I note that the article mentions selling "minority or
majority stakes" and wonder why not the whole of them. That would raise
money but still safeguard the sites. Every single NNR is also an SSSI
and, in the great majority of cases, has additional protection under
European legislation, e.g as SPAs or SACs. Actual ownership matters much
less than how the site is managed.

This from the NE website:
"There are currently 224 NNRs in England (and one Marine Nature Reserve,
Lundy)"

"Natural England manages about two thirds of England’s NNRs, whilst
the remaining third are managed by organisations approved by Natural
England; for example, National Trust, the Forestry Commission, RSPB,
many Wildlife Trusts and Local Authorities. Of Natural England’s NNRs,
about 30% are owned and almost 50% leased. The rest are held under
Nature Reserve Agreements."

--
Malcolm

 

Malcolm wrote:

Ah, that sounds good. But note that the OP mentioned "selling off": that
rings alarms.

--
Mike.