Natural England press release (2 April 2019)
Natural England issues licence to release white-tailed eagles
Natural England has issued a licence to allow the release of white-tailed eagles on the Isle of Wight.
The release is part of a project, led by the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England, to establish a breeding population of white-tailed eagles in southern England.
White-tailed eagles became extinct as a breeding species in England in the eighteenth century. Releases over the past 40 years have successfully re-established breeding populations in Scotland and Ireland.
Natural England has very carefully considered all aspects of the licence application. I would like to personally thank the expert working group of local staff and national specialists who have carefully tested the application against our licensing criteria and the IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations.
We have paid particular attention to:
- the impacts on other wildlife and socio-economic interests, including livestock
- the risk of disease transmission
- the feasibility of the proposal and likely success
- any risk to the donor population
- the contribution to the conservation of white-tailed eagles
- the adequacy of the applicant’s consultation, the evidence of support and how issues raised will be addressed
- the applicant’s experience
- the applicant’s monitoring plan
- evidence of sufficient finances to support the project
- the applicant’s communications plan and exit strategy
We have very thoroughly assessed the potential impacts on protected site features and existing wildlife. We have discounted any adverse impacts through direct predation and disturbance by the eagles or indirectly through increased visitor pressure from ‘eagle tourists’.
We have carefully examined the potential risk of lamb predation. There is no evidence of this becoming a problem where the eagles live alongside lowland sheep farming in Europe. However, we will ensure that the applicant puts in place clear routes to identify and manage any unexpected issues that might arise.
The licence permits the release of up to 60 eagles (12 per year) over the next five years. Young eagles will be sourced under licence from nests in Scotland and raised through to release on the Isle of Wight. The first release is planned for summer 2019.
In response to queries raised through public consultation and our assessment, conditions attached to the licence ensure that no releases can occur until the applicants have:
- established a project steering group and a monitoring and management group with representation from key stakeholders and sectors
- developed a detailed monitoring strategy with clear evaluation and research objectives
- produced a communications strategy that clearly outlines mechanisms for escalating concerns and accessing advice and support to resolve them
Natural England is pleased to be able to license this application. As described in the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, bringing back lost species in a well-planned and supported way not only helps wildlife populations recover, but can also help more people connect with nature and open up new business opportunities.
ENDS
Excellent news!
For more detail about the project, see the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation website here
Raptor Persecution UK 
This is excellent news. It does illustrate the NE can do the right thing, if it is prepared to set its mind to it. I’m sure that any concerns raised will be able to be handled in a correct manner by the group set up.
I look forward to hearing if the young birds visit other populations.
This is testament to the thorough approach and professionalism shown by the Roy Dennis team (Roy and Tim Mackrill), and folks from Forestry England. They’ve managed to build a lot of support here on the island. A powerful model already.
We’ll embrace this project and make sure it’s a huge success.
Eagles will be safe with us!
Very welcome news.
Much needed good news! Very well done to everyone who made this possible. I hope the people on the IoW get involved in this (by the sounds of it they’re pretty much behind it already), and there’s enough momentum to marginalise the inevitable nay sayers. With four existing or planned beaver reintroduction schemes in England that are purely to test their capacity for reducing floods and at least one pine marten translocation planned things are slowly going our way even with tremendous resistance from the field sports lobby. Without it imagine how much faster and further we’d go?
Fantastic, Osprey and WTE on the south coast, where WTE are away from any risks associated with the curse of Grouse !
Joining the saturated [ unmolested ! ] Peregrine population, exponentially growing Goshawk population, not to mention growing nuclei of Honey Buzzard, Red Kite and Marsh Harrier.
Amazing what can thrive in the absence of the criminality of intensive game shooting estate owners and their slaves, the keepers.
Keep up the pressure !
Congratulations Roy from all of us at the World Owl Trust. Brilliant – and very welcome news for a change.
Great news. Will be amazing to see these magnificent birds soaring around the IoW.
C’mon NE, if you can do right by WTE, you can stop messing about with the hen harriers!
Excellent news. Just a little concern that the birds are coming from Scotland rather than , say. Norway where there are many more to spare. Perhaps we can now look to a golden or sea eagle reintroduction in Cumbria, once the only place in the UK and Ireland apart from Scotland, of course, where you could see an Eagle.
John Cook