Shooting can help environment post-Brexit, says BASC

BASC has highlighted shooting’s importance post-Brexit in its written response to an inquiry into the government’s 25-year Environmental Plan.

The UK’s largest shooting organisation has told the Environmental Audit Committee that continued engagement with stakeholders such as BASC will be key to the success of the plan.

BASC’s political affairs manager Sophie Hutchinson said: “BASC is fully committed to supporting the government with the implementation of its 25-year plan.

“The environmental impact of shooting will become increasingly important following the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, given that £250 million is currently spent annually by shoot providers on conservation and habitat management. In addition, 3.9 million work days are spent annually by shooters on conservation, which is the equivalent of 16,000 full-time jobs.

“The 25-Year Environment Plan is a clear message that the government wants to give the environment a voice. Shooting can help the government deliver on that ambition as it is involved in the management of two-thirds of the UK’s rural land area, with two million hectares actively managed for conservation as a result of shooting.”

In its response to the inquiry, BASC has also referenced the association’s white paper on landscape-scale conservation, which calls on national and local authorities to recognise the benefits shooting brings in areas such as conservation, crop protection and food security, wildlife management and farm business diversification.

Mrs Hutchinson added: “Shooting works hard for species not directly connected to shooting.  The good management of the environment is a responsibility that is taken by very seriously by the shooting community.

“The role of shooting in environmental conservation is going be increasingly important over the next 25 years and it will link directly to the Environment Plan.”

ENDS