Completed petition New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline
It's illegal to kill or injure a red squirrel. Yet a forest containing them is not protected and can be cut down.
Although a felling licence is required to fell woodland, these licences cannot be refused even if they cause habitat loss and red squirrel population decline.
State owned forests do not require a licence but are managed under Plans which last 10 years or more. They don’t have to annually assess the cumulative impact of felling on red squirrel populations.
This must change.
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Rare red squirrels are threatened by outdated 1960s tree felling law:
Even in Welsh Government owned forests managed by Natural Resources Wales, the agency clear-fells habitat without assessing the impact on squirrel populations. On Anglesey, NRW has spent £0 in 10 years to monitor red squirrels. They have no idea of the effect of repeated tree felling on populations and are continuing to fell habitat regardless:
https://www.thenational.wales/news/19304998.expert-raps-nrw-felling-red-squirrel-habitat/
Welsh Government say tackling global deforestation is 'vital' to prevent 'decline of our biodiversity' yet their forest regulator destroys forest habitat here without assessing impact on red squirrels.
This petition was considered by the Petitions Committee
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The Senedd debated this topic
This topic was debated on 8 December 2021
The petition was debate by the Senedd in Plenary on 8 December 2021.