Hen Harriers

Dear Mike
Thank you for your email of 24 August, requesting further information on the measures the Welsh Government is taking to protect hen harriers in Wales.
Tackling raptor persecution is a priority in Wales as well as the UK as a whole. One of the shared aims of both the Welsh and UK Groups is ‘to protect raptors from persecution by developing and sharing best practice methodologies to safeguard birds, their eggs and their nests’. As Species Champion for Raptors in Wales, I hosted a round-table meeting with stakeholders in February of this year to discuss ways in which we can raise the profile of bird of prey persecution with the public and encourage them to look out for dead or injured birds, poisoned bait, pole traps and report these to the police.
Following this event, the Welsh Government and the RSPB have jointly funded a new Raptor Fieldworker in Wales and the post holder started work in April this year. The aim of the post is to establish the extent of illegal killing of birds of prey in key areas of Wales through proactive presence in areas of risk. The post holder will also support police and Welsh Government officers in following up reports of persecution incidents from the public.
The Welsh Government has also agreed to fully fund the continuation of the RSPB hen harrier tagging work started in 2015 as part of an EU LIFE project. This will enable the RSPB to continue to fit satellite tags to Welsh hen harrier chicks to understand more about their post-fledging dispersal, to aid with management plans for the Special Protection Areas and implement further protection measures for this species.
Bae Caerdydd • Cardiff Bay
Caerdydd • Cardiff
CF99 1SN
Canolfan Cyswllt Cyntaf / First Point of Contact Centre:
0300 0604400
[email protected]
[email protected]
Rydym yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.
We welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh. Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and corresponding
in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.
Partnership working between the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the
Police, Fire Service, Government Agency Intelligence Network and the Crown Prosecution
Service plays a fundamental role in detecting, preventing, investigating and enforcing wildlife
and rural crime, both at a national strategic level and a regional operational level. Welsh
Government officials work closely with the four Welsh Police Forces, NRW and other
enforcement bodies through the Wales Wildlife and Rural Crime Group. The Group identifies
regional wildlife and rural crime priorities as well as ensuring Welsh interests are represented
at UK Priority Delivery Groups, including the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group.
In Wales, the Welsh Government is also responsible for the Wildlife Incident Investigation
Scheme (WIIS). The Scheme investigates and provides analysis services for wildlife,
companion animals and honey bees suspected of being poisoned by pesticides.
Regards
Lesley Griffiths AS/MS
Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs