WILDLIFE CRIME

THE WILDLIFE CRIME AND CONSERVATION CONFERENCE BROUGHT NEWS OF MEASURES THAT SHOULD RESULT IN MORE ACTION AND LESS TALK, WRITES PAUL GALLAGHER

Facing up to the threat of Wildlife CRIME

" MASS POISONING EVENTS LIKE THE KILLING OF 23 BUZZARDS IN CORK LAST YEAR CONTINUE TO THREATEN IRELAND’S NATURAL HERITAGE AND POSE A SERIOUS RISK TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS."

ith a world in lockdown due to COVID, 2020 was the year many found solace in nature. Whether gardening, birdwatching or getting out for a walk, it brought relief from the restrictions and daily news headlines of mortality and infection rates. However, although such new appreciation for the environment was welcome, similarly there were those intent on taking advantage of these restrictions to continue with its destruction. Although the law is clear on such matters, particularly in relation to hedge cutting etc, Ireland has always fallen short when dealing specifically with the issue of wildlife crime.

Wildlife crime is a significant and growing threat to species conservation, animal welfare and the environment. Globally, approximately €24 billion is generated

annually in wildlife crime-related activities (offences). Mass poisoning events like the killing of 23 buzzards in Cork last year continue to threaten Ireland’s natural heritage and pose a serious risk to local communities and domestic animals.

The Wildlife Crime and Conservation Conference that took place in October last sought to highlight these issues and looked at methods to counter such activities. Like most events planned for 2020, the event was online. The content of the two-day conference was split between ‘wildlife crime’, the focus of the first day and ‘conservation’ in the context of development and planning, forming discussion for the second day.

‘Mary’ the hen harrier, poisoned in Co. Meath in 2020

Buzzard by Adrian Coleman

The event was opened by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling wildlife crime by announcing the formation of a Wildlife Crime Unit within An Garda Síochána.

Representatives from both An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland presented their inter-agency cooperation as well as the current methods by which both forces are dealing with wildlife crime. The National Parks and Wildlife Service added to this by showing its methods of recording and reporting such incidents. Shooting and hunting fraternities, who were represented through the National Association of Regional Game Council (NARGC), presented ‘Shooting and The Law’ and made the ludicrous claim towards the end of this informative talk that buzzards had become a ‘pest’ species that needed adequate control.

Thankfully, the day ended with the announcement of a new wildlife crime reporting app which Lorcan O’Toole presented. The app forms part of an initiative by wildlife crime umbrella body Partnership Against Wildlife Crime (PAW Ireland) to record and pressure existing agencies within Ireland to step up monitoring and prosecution of wildlife crime. PAW Ireland was formed earlier in the year by an array of wildlife NGOs with the aim of bringing together statutory agencies, non-statutory agencies and interested parties with the common goal of combating wildlife crime through publicity, education and campaigning. The app is currently still in development but it is hoped it will help minimise cruelty, torture, maiming and killing of innocent wildlife, by allowing users to: • Record and report suspected wildlife crime at the scene or afterwards if preferred • Easily report potential wildlife crime directly to the National Parks and Wildlife

Service (NPWS) • Access simple guidelines on what to do and what not to do at a wildlife crime scene • Complete an on-screen form to record a suspected wildlife crime • Attach photographs from the scene which are automatically tagged with a GPS reference of the location

It was developments of a different kind that formed the narrative for the second day of the conference. The planning and upgrade of public roads was covered by all agencies affected. From badgers to bats and owls to otters, the construction and expansion of our road network has had a massive impact on these species’ mortality in Ireland. With presentations given throughout the day showing the impact of such infrastructure projects on their environment, it is hoped that better planning for future initiatives can help alleviate the impact on some of our most threatened species.

With discussions and conversations taking place throughout the weekend whether in breakout rooms or during the Q&A sections at the end of each talk, Wildlife Crime and Conservation 2020 certainly succeeded in bringing an array of participants to the table to discuss these matters openly and respectfully. But with announcements made by Minister Darragh O'Brien committing to the creation of a Wildlife Crime Unit and the development of a Wildlife Crime app, the event will be best remembered for making sure more action and less talk is taken to tackle wildlife crime in Ireland. *If you would like to contribute to the development and maintenance of the Irish Wildlife Crime Reporting app, please go to the recently launched GoFundMe campaign. They are seeking €3,000 per year to cover costs. The PAW app is available now to download. Paul Gallagher is the secretary of PAW.