Chris Packham has suggested that the New Forest is in danger of becoming degraded by burgeoning numbers of free ranging ponies (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/15/new-forest-being-destroyed-by-growing-number-of-ponies-says-chris-packham). Ponies (and other grazing animals with different eating styles) are useful in reducing scrub and helping to maintain biodiversity but the amount of such activity has to be regulated. The trouble seems to be that there are financial inducements for 'commoners' to keep more and more horses. Mr Packham is quite right that the ponies will eventually stop the forest from maintaining itself (they eat seedlings). The trouble is that the local arrangements do not seem to have effective oversight. It is, of course, difficult to know how to reduce the number ponies (who's ponies get removed and what happens to them?).
This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Monday 15 August 2016
Horsing About
Chris Packham has suggested that the New Forest is in danger of becoming degraded by burgeoning numbers of free ranging ponies (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/15/new-forest-being-destroyed-by-growing-number-of-ponies-says-chris-packham). Ponies (and other grazing animals with different eating styles) are useful in reducing scrub and helping to maintain biodiversity but the amount of such activity has to be regulated. The trouble seems to be that there are financial inducements for 'commoners' to keep more and more horses. Mr Packham is quite right that the ponies will eventually stop the forest from maintaining itself (they eat seedlings). The trouble is that the local arrangements do not seem to have effective oversight. It is, of course, difficult to know how to reduce the number ponies (who's ponies get removed and what happens to them?).
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