Wales Species Champion for the Curlew, Mark Isherwood AM, who on Monday attended the Curlew Summit at 10 Downing Street, has called on the Environment Minister to respond to points made at the meeting, including that without action the Curlew could become extinct in Wales in only 15 years.
Since becoming the Wales Species Champion for the Curlew in 2016 Mr Isherwood has been highlighting the significant declines of the species and calling for action to prevent its extinction.
Yesterday in the Chamber he raised the matter again in response to the Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: ‘Sustainable Farming and our Land’, highlighting the related issues which were raised at the Curlew Summit.
He said:
“The Curlew is now considered the most pressing bird conservation priority in the UK, and the relevance of this to your Statement will become evident. The 'State of Birds in Wales 2018' partnership report shows that losses of Curlew have been more acute than in the rest of the UK, with more than three quarters of the Welsh Curlew population disappearing over the last 25 years and no hint of this trend levelling out. And Gylfinir Cymru, the Curlew Wales partnership, has heard that agri-environment schemes for the Curlew, although operating for 40 years, clearly haven’t worked for this species.
“Yesterday, I attended the Curlew Summit at No. 10 Downing Street, alongside: Lewis Macdonald MSP, Species Champion for the Curlew in the Scottish Parliament; Jake Berry MP, Species Champion for the Curlew in Westminster; and the Lead Specialist Adviser for Ornithology in Natural Resources Wales.
“We heard that sufficient resource will be required to advise, encourage and assist groups of farmers to come together to deliver, monitor and champion curlew and biodiversity across landscapes, and that there’s a need to understand the multiple and multi-species benefits from an ecosystem resilience and a cultural and natural heritage perspective, that can be delivered through Curlew conservation action.
“So, how do you respond to the following relevant points to your Statement made at this large round-table and cross-party meeting: that we’re at a critical time for the Curlew, and perhaps have only 15 years left; that we should all be involved in co-designing a scheme, with tests and trials; that we need a needs-based mechanism for farm payments, a smart-based and measurable approach; and that we need co-ordination of actions, working at scale and together, including statutory agencies from across the UK? And I emphasised the critical importance that the Welsh and Scottish Governments be invited to become involved fully at the first moment that DEFRA or any UK agency is brought into this.”
He added:
“I conclude by quoting Environmentalist and Curlew Moon Author Mary Colwell, who was present, who said, 'It's so shocking that Wales may truly have only 15 years left of the haunting call of the Curlew – heartbreaking’. It is heartbreaking. We can do something about it, but it isn't only about the Curlew, it's about the farm support plans that follow and the multiple both food production and species benefits that can follow. How would you respond to those points made?”
Responding, the Minister said: “I think maybe it would be good to put forward a response to the consultation. I'm sure you will get some farmers who would come together as a group to do that, because I'm sure that - if you say it's 15 years, that's a Curlew crisis by any other words. I'd be very happy to also have a discussion with you outside of the Chamber around that. I'm not quite sure how it fits into the consultation, but I would certainly look at any response and whether it could be viewed as an environmental outcome. I'm sure it can.”
Mr Isherwood added: “The Curlew’s distinct and ethereal song is a familiar sound that is deeply ingrained within our culture. It is essential that we act together now to stop these beautiful birds from edging towards extinction”.