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New ways to tackle illegal wildlife poisoning

Farming Minister, Jeff Rooker launching the renewed campaign at the Game FairA renewed campaign to protect wild animals from illegal poisoning by pesticides was launched on Saturday at the Game Fair by Farming Minister, Jeff Rooker.

Over the next three years the Campaign Against Illegal Poisoning will focus on preventing poisoning, educating people against accidental poisoning, and improved detection of poisoning cases.

The Campaign is a joint partnership by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Natural England, the Countryside Alliance, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Education will be targeted at landowners, farmers and gamekeepers to promote best practice in controlling a range of pests from foxes, rabbits and crows to slugs on broad-acre crops.

Free workshops will be held across England during the winter months for farmers and gamekeepers, and a new website and brochure will promote best practice in pest control. The campaign will also be visiting many of the agricultural shows and events throughout the year to talk to farmers, landowners and gamekeepers.

Jeff Rooker said:

“Countryside users from farmers and gamekeepers to walkers have a strong interest in protecting wildlife, and it is heartening to see the commitment to the CAIP campaign from such a wide group of organisations. The campaign will work not only to raise awareness of the problem of pesticide poisoning of wildlife but also to help tackle it, and I am sure it will be a success.”

Led by the Pesticides Safety Directorate, the CAIP campaign is funded by the pesticide industry and Defra, the industry contribution coming from the levy on all UK pesticide approval holders.

Further information

Page published: 28 July 2008