Anti-shooting campaigner is ‘ignoring the evidence’
Grouse shooting is branded as ‘economically insignificant’ in the latest attempt to have it banned by Wild Justice, despite two previous failures.
Anti-shooting campaign group Wild Justice has launched another petition to ban grouse shooting, wasting yet more government time following two earlier failed debates on the matter (BASC, 4 December).
In the information accompanying Wild Justice’s online petition, it says it “believes that driven grouse shooting is bad for people, the environment and wildlife”. It added that “grouse shooting is economically insignificant when contrasted with other real and potential uses of the UK’s extensive uplands”.
The founders of the lobbying group have launched two previous petitions with the same aim, which have resulted in parliamentary debates on the topic in 2016 and 2019. Both debates have failed to affect grouse shooting legislation and in the most recent one’s closing statement, it was pointed out to the petitioners that there was clearly “not support in this House for the petition”.
Alex Farrell, head of uplands for BASC, said: “Grouse shooting is a cornerstone of conservation in the UK’s uplands, supporting biodiversity, tackling climate change and sustaining rural economies. Managed grouse moors have up to five times more threatened wading birds than unmanaged areas, while vital peatland restoration efforts on these moors protect the UK’s largest carbon store.
“These practices enhance not only the environment but also the resilience of iconic landscapes within our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Beyond conservation, grouse shooting provides around 2,500 jobs, underpinning the livelihoodsof upland communities.
“We urge MPs to look beyond the rhetoric of those calling for a ban and recognise the full picture. Sustainable grouse shooting represents a model of responsible land management that benefits wildlife, people, and the environment,” he said.
Adrian Blackmore, director of shooting at the Countryside Alliance, said: “Driven grouse shooting is a topic that often inspires debate, but all too often it is debate that is driven more by emotion than factsor science.
“In calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting, Wild Justice is once again ignoring the science and evidence, and totally disregarding the impact such a fundamental change in land use would have both on biodiversity in our uplands and the livelihoods of many, all in pursuit of its anti-shooting agenda.
“As we did ahead of the two previous debates, the Countryside Alliance will be briefing political stakeholders with the science and evidence prior to any debate that might follow,” he added.
