We all value the wildlife we have.  It inspires and enriches our lives, contributes to our wellbeing and underpins the ecosystem services we need to survive.  We meet our national and international obligations to conserve and protect rare and vulnerable species by making sure they are protected and managed in a fair and humane way.  We also make sure wildlife crime is addressed through co-ordinated enforcement.

The case for government action

For the most part, mankind and wildlife are able to co-exist successfully.  But sometimes conflicts do arise.  Wildlife needs to be protected from cruel and inappropriate management activities.

Given the limited market for wildlife management products (this can range from traps and pesticides to specialist fencing and deterrents), it is not always economically viable for commercial organisations to invest in the development of new, more humane ways of controlling animals, such as fertility control.

Latest news

• February 2012 – A new Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2012 came into force
• July 2011 – The Law Commission announced its 11th Programme of work.  This includes a project to look at how wildlife management legislation can be reformed.

The current situation and background

Individuals should be free to manage wildlife within the law.  Dealing with problem wildlife is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the owner or occupier of the property where the problem occurs.

Further information about Defra’s over-arching wildlife management policy making aims and principles, decision making process, roles and responsibilities, can be found in Defra’s policy making framework document.

Information about Defra’s policy on determining and granting certain licences under wildlife legislation, can be found in Defra’s Wildlife licensing web page.

More species specific information can be found on the following pages:

• Species expressly protected for conservation purposes or from cruel or excessive exploitation
• Species whose import, keeping or release is regulated or population control expressly required
• Species subject to general protection only
• Regulation of control methods
• Weeds Act 1959

Natural England is Defra’s key delivery partner and the principal regulatory and licensing authority for nearly all licences relating to wildlife management in England.  It also has a team dedicated to providing wildlife management advice to the public on Defra’s behalf.

• Wildlife Management and Licensing Service – Natural England
• Natural England licensing statistics

Science is at the heart of good policy making at Defra, contributing to the evidence base that informs our decision-making.  Defra works closely with Natural England and other expert organisations such as the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) to make sure wildlife management policy is informed by sound science.  We also invest in the development of new, humane methods of species control.

A review of the Wildlife Management R&D programme was held in 2011.  This is part of cycle of reviews that are held every 3-5 years. Its aims were to assess the scope, balance and direction of the research, to ensure that it was meeting Defra’s policy and scientific objectives and that the programme was providing value for money.  A wide range of stakeholders took part in the review including researchers, representatives from Government Departments and their agencies, non-Governmental Organisations and independent scientific assessors.

• Read the executive summary of the outcomes from the review (PDF).

Relevant legislation and regulations

Many different pieces of legislation conserve or protect wildlife, principally by setting out offences, enforcement powers and penalties. The main provisions are:

• the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/1372), which regulates the commercial use of certain rare and vulnerable species in the UK;
• the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/490), which protects certain rare and vulnerable animal and plant species listed for protection in Europe;
• the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which protects wild bird species requiring protection in Europe and rare or vulnerable native species of animals and plants not protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010;
• the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which protects wild animals from unnecessary suffering when under the control of man;
• the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, which protects wild mammals from intentional cruelty.