The fortunes of birds relying on farmland in England, such as turtle dove, grey partridge and corn bunting, have been given a major boost today. Natural England has given the RSPB over £536,700 for three projects to help struggling farmland birds.
Farmland birds in England have declined more than any other group of bird in recent times. Of 40 species of bird on the red list of the UK’s Birds of Conservation Concern, over one third are reliant on farming. These birds were placed on the red list in 2002 either because of declines of more than half over the previous 25 years, or because of large historical declines.
The grants have been awarded under Natural England’s Countdown 2010 biodiversity action fund, which aims to help some of England’s most threatened wildlife.
Receiving the funding news, Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director, said: “The declines of wildlife in England have been among the greatest of anywhere in Europe, and farmland species have suffered more than most.
“The RSPB has an excellent record of researching why farmland birds are declining and then putting in place recovery plans. The funding will give us the chance to put more birdsong back into the countryside.”
Key beneficiaries include:
· the Cirl Bunting Reintroduction project in Cornwall;
· a project to help twite in the Southern Pennines;
· and three projects to help farmland birds in the Fens, Sherwood and the borders of Lancashire and Cheshire. All three areas have been identified as farmland bird hotspots supporting core populations of at least four priority farmland bird species.
An additional £207,750 has been awarded to the RSPB for a Bringing Reedbeds to Life project. This funding will help the bittern, another red list bird.
Dr Sue Armstong Brown, the RSPB’s Head of Countryside and Species Conservation, said: “The bittern has enjoyed its best year this year for over 120 years. With 75 males recorded in the breeding season, it’s difficult to believe the bittern could be in trouble. However, many of this wetland bird’s best nesting sites are threatened by sea level rise. This funding is the first going towards climate adaptation for a bird in England.”
Precious
Natural England's Chair, Sir Martin Doughty, said: "We want to improve the fortunes of some our most precious species and habitats and today’s funding will help our conservation partners to meet these challenges. Cirl buntings, cornflowers, crayfish, orchards and a wide range of other habitats and species including our marine environment will benefit from this extra funding.”
Natural England’s Chief Executive, Dr Helen Phillips, said: “Halting biodiversity loss takes time. We’ve already seen major biodiversity successes for many species such as bitterns, ladybird spiders and many important habitats are being steadily improved. Clean water, flood management and carbon storage are all delivered by a healthy natural environment and we all benefit from these improvements.”
The money awarded to the RSPB is part of a £5.5m package awarded to key conservation projects in England.