[Adastra] FW: The Farming Minister asks for ideas on helping wild life - you can contribute!

[Barry Yates]

From: Edward Mayer 

Sent: 28 July 2010 11:26



Dear Swift Friends, 
    
The farming minister, Richard Benyon,  http://www.richardbenyon.com/index.php  wants members of the public to contact him with ideas on how to enhance opportunities for wild life in this country.  There is going to be a National Environmental White Paper when they incorporate the ideas that they receive from us citizens. See http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/our-responsibilities/nat-environment/ <http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/our-responsibilities/nat-environment/>  to participate.

This is our big chance to do something for Swifts, and House Martins and Swallows too; they all need help with nest site availability. But we need to emphasise that this is all to do with the built environment, and not just helping wildlife in remote parts of this land that we, and Swifts too, never reach!

Things we could ask for include : 

*	Obliging builders and developers to re-instate any Swift, Martin or Swallow nests that they find on site and have to remove during works. 
*	Amending the law to protect Swift, Martin and Swallow nests ALL YEAR ROUND. This has already been done in several EU countries (Holland, Czech Republic and others). 
*	Stiffening penalties and facilitating prosecution of those who destroy occupied bird nests. In England it has to be proved that the culprit did it "knowingly", which often rules out any chance of a prosecution. In Scotland the law only requires that the culprit did it "recklessly" which makes it much easier to obtain a prosecution, and so acts as a greater deterrent. 
*	Obliging builders and developers to spend 00.20% of the project's cost on built-in biodiversity features like artificial Swift and House Martin and Swallow nests. This would be £2000 per £ Million spent on any project which would be I think quite a good amount. It compares favorably with the previous "1% for Art" scheme which I found to be resented by many developers. 
*	Improving the Planning Laws to require a definite specified "Green" component in every building project, incorporating support for insectivorous bird species, via the use of native plants, and availability of water. This could be in the form of green roofs, landscaping, recycled rain water features, the possibilities are many and there are many fine examples extant, and more to the point maybe, it's all good for humans and the economy too as it lessens the need for water supply and mains drainage, lessens the risk of flooding, improves the look and feel of the built environment (versus "concrete jungle", "urban wasteland" perceptions) and removes harmful insects. It would benefit a whole range of birds that are currently threatened. One notes that seed eaters seem to be doing well in built up areas, probably because of extensive handouts from humans, while insect eaters are in many cases (eg Spotted Flycatcher, Warblers, Swallows) doing rather badly. This may help them. 

http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/our-responsibilities/nat-environment/ 

is the link to go to, to e-mail in your thoughts. Please feel free to expand, amend, enhance the above, but please, do your bit for Swifts!

Thanks for any help you can give with this exercise. It is much appreciated.
Best wishes, 
Edward



Swift Conservation -  http://www.swift-conservation.org/ - Keeping the Skies Alive! 


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