Published date: 30/07/2015

Press Release
July, 2015
Notice on behalf of
The Deer Initiative for England and Wales

The Deer Initiative signs up to the Climate Change Accord.

The Deer Initiative (DI) has signed up to the Climate Change Accord: a Call for Resilient Forests, Woods and Trees. This Accord arose from work initiated by the English Climate Ready Support Service and Forestry Commission England in 2014.

Peter Watson, Executive Director, said: “We are delighted to sign up to the Climate Change Accord as the (DI) and our Partners recognise the importance of climate change and the need for adaptation. I believe that a collaborative approach at a landscape scale is key to achieve the aims of the Accord.”

The DI’s own objective for a sustainable deer population in England and Wales plays an important part in woodland protection. We work collaboratively with our 25 Partner organisations and landowners to achieve deer management through Best Practice.

We carry out impact assessments and provide the tool kit and training for landowners to carry out their own assessments. This gives them an evidence base which can be used in management plans to reach their woodland objectives.

We recognise that regeneration is important for the continuation of woodland regrowth and that at high densities deer can damage trees and woodlands which is a food source and habitat not only to themselves but to other species such as butterflies and nesting birds.

Deer management benefits may not be recognised in the short term but we believe that working collaboratively towards a sustainable deer population with contribute to a sustainable woodland.

END

Notes for editors:

About Climate Change Accord: A call for Resilient Forests, Woods and Trees

This Accord arose from work initiated by the English Climate Ready Support Service and Forestry Commission England in 2014, as a response to the threats to forestry and woodlands set out in the UK’s first Climate Change Risk assessment. The Accord provides an English perspective on climate change adaptation and represents the sector’s contribution to the first National Adaptation Programme. A series of meetings involving a wide range of stakeholders led to the drafting and ultimately to agreement of the vision in the Accord. It should be read in conjunction with the Adaption in Action statements prepared by a large number of sector organisations. These highlight specific approaches being taken or planned in respect to the common vision highlighted in this Accord.

The Deer Initiative

The Deer Initiative is a broad partnership of statutory, voluntary and private sector interests dedicated to ‘ensuring the delivery of a sustainable wild deer population in England and Wales’ (www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk). The Partners include such diverse organisations as the RSPCA, RSPB and The Highways Agency. All the members of the Partnership abide by the principles of the Deer Accord and encourage others to share their commitment and priorities as an integral part of their management of deer.

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For further details contact our Media Office:

E-mail: media@thedeerinitiative.co.uk