Interim Gamebird Release Licence in England

In response to a legal challenge, the Secretary of State commissioned a review to consider the legislative arrangements around the release of the common pheasant and red-legged partridge on and around European protected sites and whether there are ways in which their effectiveness could be improved. As part of that review, an independent report was considered which summarised the impacts of gamebird release on habitats and species. The independent report identified a number of key issues that influence the impacts (notably overall number of birds, density, and siting of pens), as well as a number of evidence gaps. To manage any potential impacts while the current evidence gaps are addressed, Defra is proposing to introduce an interim licence by adding the common pheasant and the red-legged partridge to Part I, Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), in respect of European protected sites and a 500m buffer zone. This proposal would mean a