answer text |
<p>In June 2018 Natural England published ‘A Review of the Population and Conservation
Status of British Mammals’, which assessed the reasons for population decline in water
voles, and identified and confirmed areas of work where resources should continue
to be targeted to conserve and enhance water vole populations.</p><p>The review identified
that a combination of intensification of agriculture, wetland drainage, the encroachment
of cultivated land into riparian and wetland habitats, overgrazing, degradation of
banks and predation by the American mink have had significant impacts on water vole
populations.</p><p>The Government is committed to providing opportunities for species
recovery as part of the 25 Year Environment Plan. Since 2010 the Environment Agency
has delivered 328 projects that included habitat creation or improvement for the benefit
of water voles, restoring 6,725 hectares and creating 6,330 hectares of priority habitat
in rivers, lakes and coastal waters.</p><p>In addition, the Forestry Commission is
currently undertaking a flagship project with a number of Trusts to restore water
vole populations and habitats in the North Tyne catchment, and has already released
hundreds of water voles in the area.</p><p> </p>
|
|