Plans to sell nature reserves in trouble.

[Ukwildlifeo]

First they tried to sell them and no one wanted them. Then they tried to off load them to wildlife charities without and money to help them. All to save £10 million a year - a pitiful amount in the grand scheme of things.

Plans to dispose of nature reserves in chaos - Nature, Environment - The Independent

[STYRBJORN]

Yesss!! And the charities they tried to rip off have turned round and said "Sure we'll do the job for you. If you pay us." Oh dear. Poor Mr Cameron. Don't like the taste of your own medicine do you?

[turkeyneck]

But what happens now though?
The Government will make this saving, DEFRA have taken some massive cuts lately and sounds like more to come, hence this sale.
I can't see for the life of me which way the Governemnt will turn but turn they will but at what cost to the environment and wildlife. I find this very worrying as it seems this government is going to make a 'killing' in savings. I just hope this is metaphorical sentence I've just typed

[SheffieldLass]

Excellent news.

They could sell off Chequers instead. A Prime Minister does not need 3 homes.

[maccyd82]

An interesting article, thanks for this! Looks like the government didnt really think this one through...

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by maccyd82

An interesting article, thanks for this! Looks like the government didnt really think this one through...

Why would they ruin such a fine tradition!

[eeyore]

Interesting article if slightly misinformed on specifics - like for instance what specific NNRs comprise - for example although they are correct that the lizard itself comprise maginificent cliffs etc - virtually all the coastline is already in the hands o the National Trust - The NE holding is basically Goonhilly downs heath , which is a rare and important heathland environment, but has nowt to do with seabird colonies.

Likewise not all NNRs are in NEs ownsership anyway - Weeting Heath NNR for example is wholy owned and operated by the NWT.

Also the article is slightly disingenuous on the costs, because the charities concerned will not need to replicate NEs staffing bill for maintaining the NNRs as they already have ranger /warden or resrve teams of their own - and much of NEs staffing is tied up with paperwork not on the ground management anyway - therefore the Govt could pass the NNRs over to charities like NT/RSPB etc and provide operational funding while still making a major cost saving.

and finally ten million may be a trvial ammount compared to the national debt, but it is not trivial compared to NEs operating budget - and if they cant save it from sale of NNRs they are likely to cut grant programs which will directly impact on the running of nature sites currently in the hands of charities

[turkeyneck]

Originally Posted by eeyore

and finally ten million may be a trvial ammount compared to the national debt, but it is not trivial compared to NEs operating budget - and if they cant save it from sale of NNRs they are likely to cut grant programs which will directly impact on the running of nature sites currently in the hands of charities

Yes my thoughts exactly

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Likewise not all NNRs are in NEs ownsership anyway - Weeting Heath NNR for example is wholy owned and operated by the NWT.

Not relevant - we are only talking about the sale of state owned land. Yes, some NNRs are owned by other organisations.

Originally Posted by eeyore

Also the article is slightly disingenuous on the costs, because the charities concerned will not need to replicate NEs staffing bill for maintaining the NNRs as they already have ranger /warden or resrve teams of their own - and much of NEs staffing is tied up with paperwork not on the ground management anyway - therefore the Govt could pass the NNRs over to charities like NT/RSPB etc and provide operational funding while still making a major cost saving.

They will have their own staffing oncosts. As if all the charities money was spent on on the ground work only NE staff may have other duties than organising on the ground work but perhaps you can give some examples of where their time is wasted. Charities staff have the expertise but they are overstretched already.

Originally Posted by eeyore

and finally ten million may be a trvial ammount compared to the national debt, but it is not trivial compared to NEs operating budget - and if they cant save it from sale of NNRs they are likely to cut grant programs which will directly impact on the running of nature sites currently in the hands of charities

Oh, right. Is that inside information or a guess? What we are witnessing here is the ruination of an internationally respected nature conservation body that has been developing its expertise for 60 years. It is not just the sale of the NNRs (and for heaven's sake, why shouldn't the best examples of wildlife habitats be state owned?). Hundreds of staff will go, reserve wardens are reduced to estate workers and scientific staff to admin. A little money may be saved from NE operating costs but the main point is EU funding will become available for management. And where will this come form - mainly agri-environment schemes (Countryside Stewardship)meant for conservation in the wider countryside and deducted from farm subsidies (>10%) supposedly for this purpose. So much for re-building the countryside and reversing habitat fragmentation. This amounts to a cut of funding available for nature conservation. The charities should have nothing to do with this. Furthermore, NE will be required to charge consultancy rates for some of their services. Does anyone on here currently konw anyone at NE who is content?

I'm incensed. This is ideological in that the Tories do not want state owned land (or industry) or regulation in the countryside. Would they have brought in the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act? I doubt it. And frankly, we have partly brought this on ourselves, because conservation is a model for the Big Society. Rather than develop proper career development and professionalism we have relied on volunteers and people willing to work for ridiculously low wages despite high qualifications. So now we tell graduates leaving university with a £20,000 debt to spend a year or two funding themselves through additional training before we will consider them for employment. Brilliant.

Rant over .......for now

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Interesting article if slightly misinformed on specifics - like for instance what specific NNRs comprise - for example although they are correct that the lizard itself comprise maginificent cliffs etc - virtually all the coastline is already in the hands o the National Trust - The NE holding is basically Goonhilly downs heath , which is a rare and important heathland environment, but has nowt to do with seabird colonies.

Likewise not all NNRs are in NEs ownsership anyway - Weeting Heath NNR for example is wholy owned and operated by the NWT.

Also the article is slightly disingenuous on the costs, because the charities concerned will not need to replicate NEs staffing bill for maintaining the NNRs as they already have ranger /warden or resrve teams of their own - and much of NEs staffing is tied up with paperwork not on the ground management anyway - therefore the Govt could pass the NNRs over to charities like NT/RSPB etc and provide operational funding while still making a major cost saving.

and finally ten million may be a trvial ammount compared to the national debt, but it is not trivial compared to NEs operating budget - and if they cant save it from sale of NNRs they are likely to cut grant programs which will directly impact on the running of nature sites currently in the hands of charities

TBH there probably going to get hammered whatever happens, you are more optimistic than I if you think NE will get all, if any of the money from the sale of NR.

As fot giving it to charities, there is no mention of which ones. What if they give bird of prey heavy reserve to the lastest incarnation of the 'songbird survival trust' or another bunch of idiots mascarading as a conservation charity. Hopefully this is unlikely but based on the last few months anything is possible!