Strategy needs project team

Sep 26 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

THE study concludes that future squirrel strategy in the region will require a core project team of project manager, conservation officers, full-time control officers and a community engagement officer, with partnerships developed with other conservation organisations, in particular local red squirrel groups and landowners.

The project team and allied groups should be managed by a committee representing all red squirrel conservation stakeholders.

It says the control of grey squirrels is the key to red squirrel conservation and will be an ongoing, year-on-year process.

The committee would have to balance the idea of protecting reserves or landscapes on a priority basis where they can have real effect, against the risk of spreading resources too thinly.

This may pose a great dilemma and lead to argument and disillusionment among groups who see their local red squirrels as the priority.

As an example, with little money available, it may be that only red squirrels within Kielder Forest District should be defended, since Kielder holds 9,000 reds - the largest remaining population in the North of England.

Much grey squirrel control needs to be carried out on private land but current funding through the English Woodland grant scheme is inadequate and too restricted and does not cover small woodlands.

The study says that if the present conservation strategy continues, with no replacement scheme following the lifetime of the currently funded SOS campaign in 2010, the likely long-term outcome of is the gradual loss of red squirrels from all reserves, except for the main bastions such as Kielder.