6. Memorandum submitted by
the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS
IN CATTLE
AND BADGERS
I write on behalf of the Institute of Ecology
and Environmental Management (IEEM) in response to the paper produced
by Sir David King.
The IEEM is the body that represents professional
ecologists, both in the UK and abroad. It has over 3,000 members
spanning the public, private and voluntary sectors. It is a constituent
body of The Society for the Environment and many IEEM members
have Chartered status. Several of its members are also actively
involved in farming.
The IEEM Memorandum of Association has a number
of objects, which include:
— to advance the science and practice
of ecology and environmental management for the public benefit
in the United Kingdom and internationally;
— to further the conservation
and enhancement of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological
processes and life support systems essential to a fully functional
biosphere;
— to further environmentally sustainable
management and development;
— to promote and encourage education,
training, study and research in the science and practice of ecology,
environmental management and sustainable development; and
— to establish, uphold and advance
the standards of education, qualification, competence and conduct
of those who practice ecology and environmental management as
a profession and for the benefit of the public.
The Institute recognises fully that disaggregating
the scientific evidence surrounding the issue of TB, badgers and
cattle is no easy task, and that the paper put forward may go
some way in achieving this.
However, it remains starkly clear that insufficient
consideration has been given to the broader ecological impact
of large-scale eradication of a native mammal from our ecological
system. Such an approach could not be condoned by the Institute
since it is in clear conflict with several of our objectives,
listed above. It is standard practice for an environmental impact
assessment to be undertaken in similar situations, especially
involving protected species and even on a far smaller scale. The
IEEM objectives stress the need for an evidence-based approach
in reaching conclusions on such matters. Only when the consequences
and residual effects are fully understood should any consideration
be given to undertaking such action.
Indeed, there would also need to be far greater
consideration of the practicalities and cost-benefit of such an
operation, as well as the likelihood of it achieving the desired
end result. The Institute believes that a more appropriate approach
would involve undertaking further research on the control of TB
within both cattle and badgers by means other than an attempt
at wholesale eradication.
Consequently, without such an assessment in
place and consideration of available research options, the Institute
strongly objects to any large-scale cull of badgers in the UK.
We trust that these observations are of assistance
and would, of course, be happy to advise further if required.
December 2007
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