- The Guardian, Thursday August 24 2006
It is right that the question "What are the ecological impacts of the ban on hunting with dogs?" should feature among the 100 biggest questions to face the UK environment (Report, August 21).
Earlier this year, a peer-reviewed scientific study defined the contribution by hunts to the management of UK woodland and other habitats. The study, accepted for publication by the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, reports that hunts manage over 24,000 hectare of woodland in England and Wales. In these woods there are, on average, more than 15 times more individual butterflies and the number of species was over seven times higher, than in unmanaged woodland.
None of the biggest questions facing the UK environment can be considered in isolation, and while they provide a good signpost to this government, the environmental issues facing the UK need to be considered holistically.
Simon Hart
Chief executive, Countryside Alliance
