Share
Wildlife Protectors Call for UK Lead Ammunition Ban:
In a strong move to safeguard our feathery friends, wildlife charities are appealing to the UK government for a prohibition on lead in ammunition ... it's just as heavy as it sounds!
A Heavy Load for our Feathery Friends:
The Wildfowl Wetlands Trust, RSPB, Wildlife, and Countryside Link, Chem Trust, and Wild Justice sent an open letter to Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, requesting an 18-month transition period for a ban on lead in ammunition sales. The charities claim birds can consume discarded shotgun scraps, mistaking them for seeds and grit. As a result, lead can contaminate our food chains.
Valiant Efforts with Little Impact:
A 2020 voluntary agreement to phase out lead shot has had minimal effect. A whopping 99.5% of birds shot two years after the agreement were found to contain the toxic metal. Tragic, isn't it? Plus, lead poisoning kills up to 100,000 waterbirds every winter in the UK, according to WWT estimates.
Meta Lead Matters:
Lead ammunition is already prohibited in wetlands across the European Union, and the European Chemical Agency proposed extending the ban to all habitats. But since Brexit, the UK has diverged from the EU on numerous environmental protection issues.
Hoping for a Healthy Sustainable Shot:
On the matter, Lord Browne of Ladyton, one of the signatories, said that a ban on lead ammunition was "not merely desirable, but essential," and that this was "a real opportunity for the government to show leadership by ending years of delay and indecision." Indeed, the ball is now in the government's court! A spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs stated they were "assessing the proposals before making a final decision in due course." Let's hope they strike a balance for healthier wildlife and a healthier planet!
In a strong move to safeguard our feathery friends, wildlife charities are appealing to the UK government for a prohibition on lead in ammunition ... it's just as heavy as it sounds!
A Heavy Load for our Feathery Friends:
The Wildfowl Wetlands Trust, RSPB, Wildlife, and Countryside Link, Chem Trust, and Wild Justice sent an open letter to Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, requesting an 18-month transition period for a ban on lead in ammunition sales. The charities claim birds can consume discarded shotgun scraps, mistaking them for seeds and grit. As a result, lead can contaminate our food chains.
Valiant Efforts with Little Impact:
A 2020 voluntary agreement to phase out lead shot has had minimal effect. A whopping 99.5% of birds shot two years after the agreement were found to contain the toxic metal. Tragic, isn't it? Plus, lead poisoning kills up to 100,000 waterbirds every winter in the UK, according to WWT estimates.
Meta Lead Matters:
Lead ammunition is already prohibited in wetlands across the European Union, and the European Chemical Agency proposed extending the ban to all habitats. But since Brexit, the UK has diverged from the EU on numerous environmental protection issues.
Hoping for a Healthy Sustainable Shot:
On the matter, Lord Browne of Ladyton, one of the signatories, said that a ban on lead ammunition was "not merely desirable, but essential," and that this was "a real opportunity for the government to show leadership by ending years of delay and indecision." Indeed, the ball is now in the government's court! A spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs stated they were "assessing the proposals before making a final decision in due course." Let's hope they strike a balance for healthier wildlife and a healthier planet!
We hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to leave a comment below if you want to engage in the discussion.
If you want to read more like this, make sure to check out our Blog and follow us on Instagram. If you are interested in truly sustainable products, check out our Shop.
Check out the original source here.
