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| Grouse-shooting estates face ban on burning of peat bogs | Grouse-shooting estates face ban on burning of peat bogs |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The government has been developing plans to ban grouse-shooting estates from the environmentally damaging practice of burning peat bogs, a minister has told parliament. | The government has been developing plans to ban grouse-shooting estates from the environmentally damaging practice of burning peat bogs, a minister has told parliament. |
| Zac Goldsmith, a junior environment minister, said the government had been working on a law to ban the owners of estates from repeatedly burning heather on their moorlands to help boost the numbers of grouse for shooting. | Zac Goldsmith, a junior environment minister, said the government had been working on a law to ban the owners of estates from repeatedly burning heather on their moorlands to help boost the numbers of grouse for shooting. |
| Previously, the government had sought to persuade the owners of the estates to end the practice voluntarily to ward off the threat of a compulsory ban. | Previously, the government had sought to persuade the owners of the estates to end the practice voluntarily to ward off the threat of a compulsory ban. |
| But this approach had been criticised by environmental campaigners who had accused the government of letting the owners of large grouse estates off the hook. | But this approach had been criticised by environmental campaigners who had accused the government of letting the owners of large grouse estates off the hook. |
| On Monday, Goldsmith told MPs that its voluntary approach had not been successful, adding legislation was now needed. | On Monday, Goldsmith told MPs that its voluntary approach had not been successful, adding legislation was now needed. |
| Environmentalists welcomed his statement. Guy Shrubsole, campaigner with the green group Friends of the Earth, said:”Voluntary measures to stop moorland burning have simply not worked. The government is right to say it will outlaw this outdated and damaging practice.” | Environmentalists welcomed his statement. Guy Shrubsole, campaigner with the green group Friends of the Earth, said:”Voluntary measures to stop moorland burning have simply not worked. The government is right to say it will outlaw this outdated and damaging practice.” |
| “Burning on blanket bog is bad for the climate, bad for communities and bad for nature. Ministers now need to legislate for a comprehensive ban on moorland burning, with no loopholes that could let landowners off the hook.” | “Burning on blanket bog is bad for the climate, bad for communities and bad for nature. Ministers now need to legislate for a comprehensive ban on moorland burning, with no loopholes that could let landowners off the hook.” |
| Grouse estates investigated over heather burning | Grouse estates investigated over heather burning |
| A mixture of aristocrats, City financiers and businesses located in offshore tax havens own the estates in England, charging clients large sums to shoot grouse, according to Friends of the Earth. | A mixture of aristocrats, City financiers and businesses located in offshore tax havens own the estates in England, charging clients large sums to shoot grouse, according to Friends of the Earth. |
| Green campaigners have opposed the practice of burning peat bogs to encourage new heather shoots – a source of food for grouse. | Green campaigners have opposed the practice of burning peat bogs to encourage new heather shoots – a source of food for grouse. |
| During Monday’s parliamentary debate, Goldsmith told MPs that the government agreed that burning peatlands was a problem. “There has been an attempt, through voluntary initiatives, to scale back — to reduce and eventually eliminate — the burning of fragile and important peat ecosystems, but that has not proven 100% successful as had been hoped. We are developing a legislative response to the problem”. | During Monday’s parliamentary debate, Goldsmith told MPs that the government agreed that burning peatlands was a problem. “There has been an attempt, through voluntary initiatives, to scale back — to reduce and eventually eliminate — the burning of fragile and important peat ecosystems, but that has not proven 100% successful as had been hoped. We are developing a legislative response to the problem”. |
| The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is unlikely to have time to bring its proposed law to parliament before the next general election. | The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is unlikely to have time to bring its proposed law to parliament before the next general election. |
| Amanda Anderson, the director of the Moorland Association which represents the estates, said: “In our submission to the government’s consultation on heather burning over deep peat we stressed that there is a world of difference between severely damaging wildfire and careful, skilled burning. | Amanda Anderson, the director of the Moorland Association which represents the estates, said: “In our submission to the government’s consultation on heather burning over deep peat we stressed that there is a world of difference between severely damaging wildfire and careful, skilled burning. |
| “95% of grouse moor interests signed the voluntary commitment not to rotationally burn heather over deep peat and to only use fire as part of a carefully considered restoration action in line with current guidance. | “95% of grouse moor interests signed the voluntary commitment not to rotationally burn heather over deep peat and to only use fire as part of a carefully considered restoration action in line with current guidance. |
| “Grouse moors are delivering a substantial environmental benefit, particularly in terms of carbon capture on peatland, and we believe strongly that this should be taken into account by government. Between us we must find a pragmatic balance between restoration and protection from wildfire that also reduces emissions.” | |
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