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<p>This is devolved matter and the below information relates to England only.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government is committed to protecting and expanding red squirrel populations
and tackling the threats that grey squirrels pose to them. The Forestry Commission
works with Natural England and other conservation organisations and projects to help
protect red squirrel enclaves and to allow the populations to expand.</p><p> </p><p>The
Forestry Commission also undertakes a number of actions to protect red squirrels from
the impact of grey squirrels as outlined in the grey squirrel action plan for England.
These actions include Countryside Stewardship funding for landowners who choose to
help protect red squirrels within designated reserves.</p><p> </p><p>Defra, in partnership
with the United Kingdom Squirrel Accord, has also provided funding for work by the
Animal and Plant Health Agency for the development of a fertility control method for
grey squirrels. This research continues to show promise as one potentially effective
and humane method to control grey squirrel numbers in the longer term.</p>
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