Consultation responses

UK Forestry Standard & Forest Guidelines

Our response to the consultation on the revision of the UK government and devolved administrations' minimum mandatory standard for sustainable forest management.

Forestry

UK Forestry Carbon Code of Good Practice response

Our response to consultation on a draft code. We believe that there are important technical and policy issues still to be resolved.

Forestry

RSPB response to planning reform in Northern Ireland

Overall, we believe that many of the consultation proposals will help to improve certainty, reduce delays and benefit the delivery of sustainable development. However, we have strong reservations about key issues on which we seek improvements.

Planning

Addendum to RSPB response to the planning reforms in Northern Ireland

Addendum making additional points to the consultation response.

Planning

Annex 1 to RSPB response to the planning reforms in Northern Ireland

This response presents our answers to the consultation questions and opinions on other issues arising from the consultation document.

Planning

Annex 3 to RSPB response to the planning reforms in Northern Ireland

Despite its dismissal in the Emerging Proposals paper, the RSPB believes that third party rights of appeal should be an integral part of a reformed planning system

Planning

RSPB response to a Draft Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland

We welcome the publication of the Draft Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland and believe that many of the measures proposed will promote reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. We have provided answers to the questions posed in the consultation document.

Climate change, Transport and energy

RSPB response to the Public Forest Estate in England consultation

There is real scope to improve the land managed by Forestry Commission England to benefit wildlife

Forestry

RSPB response to Defra’s consultation on a new independent body for Animal Health

Our response to a Defra consultation.

Species conservation

Forest Stewardship Council Draft Controlled Wood Risk Assessment for the UK - response by RSPB

This assessment has to properly consider the nature conservation value of the UK's native woodlands. It must also consider how the potential certification of timber and wood products from native woodlands will influence their management and wildlife value.

Forestry

Forestry Commission Scotland's consultation on the establishment of red squirrel strongholds - response by RSPB Scotland

Red squirrel strongholds need to be carefully located, designed and managed to ensure that other priority species, such as capercaillie and black grouse, benefit.

Forestry, Species conservation

UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) 3rd Edition, Initial Stakeholder Consultation - response by RSPB

This voluntary standard needs revision to ensure important open ground habitats are not replanted with plantations. Work is also needed to make UKWAS certification more accessible for small and/or low intensity managed native woods.

Forestry

Northern Ireland Environment Agency Revised Draft Enforcement and

We're keen to see the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) develop a strong and effective enforcement and prosecution policy to ensure that environmental objectives are delivered through effective implementation of legislation in Northern Ireland

Law

Forestry Commission England's open ground habitats policy consultation - response by RSPB

Important open ground habitats in England, such as lowland heathland, blanket and raised bogs and coastal dune systems were inappropriately planted with non-native trees in the second half of the 20th Century. Government must develop an effective policy to restore these key wildlife habitats to benefit priority bird species, such as woodlark, nightjars and dunlin.

Forestry

Response to the Environment Committee's Climate Change Inquiry

The RSPB considers that human-induced climate change is the greatest long-term threat to global biodiversity and will have very serious impacts on the wildlife of Northern Ireland and beyond.

Climate change

Response to the Review of the Wildlife (NI) Order

The RSPB welcomes the publication of proposals to reform the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985 (as amended) and looks forward to continued review of this legislation in line with the provisions of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives in the future.

Species conservation

Response to the proposed lead shot regulations for Northern Ireland

We believe that there should be a ban on the use of lead shot over wetlands in Northern Ireland, in line with similar restrictions across the rest of the UK.

Species conservation

RSPB reponse to the Natural England general licence consultation

The RSPB welcomes this opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the general licences issued by Natural England under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Law

RSPB Cymru Axis 2 review response

RSPB Cymru welcomes this review and believes that revision of the Axis 2 schemes is urgently needed to address the catastrophic loss of farmland biodiversity,to mitigate for and adapt to climate change and improve water management.

Farming

A Strategy to Develop the Recreational & Social Use of Forest Service Forests - consultation response by RSPB Northern Ireland

Northern Irish forestry policy, including on the recreational and social use of the state forests, must continue to promote sustainable multi-benefit forest management to benefit biodiversity.

Forestry