Contributing to a Senedd debate on a petition to introduce new laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss, the Welsh Conservative spokesperson for the environment and Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS - has called for a Senedd-led review into the requirements of a felling license so that “fair consideration is given to biodiversity and habitat loss.”
According to the State of Mammals in Wales report, although there has been a marked decline in the distribution of red squirrels since 1995, the population in Wales currently appears to be stable. However, Mrs Finch-Saunders used her contribution to underline that the prospects are poor, with the population of 9,200 on an overall downward trend.
Red squirrels can be found in four distinct areas in Wales: either side of the Menai; between Powys and Ceredigion; and Clocaenog Forest. As a result, Janet also used her contribution to call for an action plan to see the species returned to Aberconwy.
Commenting outside the Siambr, Janet said:
“Constituents in the Conwy Valley recall seeing red squirrels there decades ago. Today, they would have to travel over 20 miles to witness another in the wild. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the Welsh Government could develop an action plan to link the populations between Clocaenog and the Menai?
“In assisting with species recovery more broadly, the Red Squirrel Conservation Plan for Wales states that conservation action to protect red squirrels on mainland sites needs to focus on ensuring suitable habitat is present.
“However, three years on from recognising that the forest planning system was a constraint, NRW continue to be a barrier to progress. The organisation must explain why it has spent nothing on monitoring red squirrels in 10 years.
“Progress could be achieved via a Senedd-led review of the requirements for a felling licence, to ensure that fair consideration is given to biodiversity and habitat loss. My hope is that this would also rectify the fact that annual assessments of felling on this species are not undertaken for state owned forests.”
ENDS
Photo: by Pearse O'Halloran on Unsplash
