RFS welcomes grey squirrel policy statement
The Royal Forestry Society responds to Defra and the Forestry Commission's policy paper on the management of grey squirrels.
The Royal Forestry Society welcomes the recent (29 Jan) Policy Paper from Defra and the Forestry Commission on managing England’s grey squirrel population. The statement recognises the considerable threat grey squirrels pose to forestry, with an estimated population of 2.7 million across Great Britain causing £37m annual damage to British woodlands.
The RFS is encouraged by the Government’s support for lethal control and silvicultural measures, and its strong backing for innovation in fertility control research and clearer public messaging on the importance of grey squirrel management to the public.
The RFS is pleased to see the government address these issues, which remain high on our agenda. The Society has always supported control measures and we will continue to represent the voices of woodland owners and managers. We will keep advocating for effective grey squirrel management wherever they are present to protect the resilience and future of our treescapes.
“The RFS welcomes the announcement of the Government’s grey squirrel policy statement,” said RFS Chief Executive Christopher Williams. “Grey squirrels present a persistent threat to the supply of quality hardwood timber and the effective management of resilient, biodiverse woodland. The RFS and its members have long been at the forefront of this battle, but still more must be done to reduce the impact of this invasive pest on our woods.”
“We welcome the renewed commitment to tackle grey squirrels, which includes more work to determine the economic impacts of squirrel damage and further support for research into fertility control. The RFS and its members have supported these initiatives in the past and remain committed to supporting this work going forward.”
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