Simplistic approach over farmland bird figures does not tell whole story

Blaming land management issues for declining numbers of certain farmland bird species is too simplistic an approach which ignores the real issues, the NFU said today.

Responding to Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies’ call for renewed action on farmland birds, NFU Vice President Paul Temple said: "For the past 20 years, farmers have participated in voluntary agri-environment schemes which, among other things, protect and enhance habitats and biodiversity and bring about positive changes to land use and management.

"There are currently almost six million hectares now under management agreements within the schemes. The Entry Level Scheme alone covers over 50 per cent of the eligible agricultural land in England, and this rises to 65 per cent if you include uptake of all the other agri-environment schemes as well.

"While the benefits of these schemes will take some time to be felt due to the lag in changes of management they will undoubtedly have a significant impact on improving habitats. What is more it is absurd to believe that the figures quoted by Defra can somehow be used to conclude that there is a need to consider putting in place measures to mitigate the loss of set-aside. These declines, if correct, have taken place while set-aside was in place!

Mr Temple also questioned the use of the Farmland Bird Indicator to judge the success of Environmental Stewardship schemes.

"The Farmland Bird Index (FBI) seems to be the indicator of choice when judging the success of Environmental Stewardship schemes and the alleged biodiversity impacts of the loss of set-aside, but how representative can this be when it only features 19 species, with many species familiar to farmers on their land being omitted and yet increasing?

"Farmland birds, including the swallow, magpie, collared dove and chaffinch – none of which are included in the Farmland Bird Index – have all increased in population over the past 30 years. Also a number of species which do feature on the Index, such as lapwing, grey partridge, yellowhammer and yellow wagtail, nest on or close to the ground so are likely to be under intense pressure from increasing numbers of predators," he said.

"It is much too simplistic to lay the blame for decreasing numbers at the door of farmland management. This is a multifaceted issue where other elements, such as climate change, encroaching urbanisation and increased traffic, will all be contributory factors."