George Monbiot (Britain’s surging deer inhabitants is inflicting an ecological catastrophe. I’ve an answer: wolves, 11 August) proposes the reintroduction of wolves to regulate escalating numbers of deer, that are degrading pure habitats by overgrazing. This strategy has been dramatically profitable in Yellowstone nationwide park within the US.
I’m, nonetheless, puzzled that he doesn’t point out that different nice degrader of upland habitats – sheep. Clearly, wolves and sheep don’t combine nicely. Nevertheless, if we’re severe about rewilding, and in addition about switching to plant-based diets, as I imagine we should, sheep must go from upland Britain. This may save a fortune in subsidy and I for one wouldn’t mourn their passing. It was the introduction of sheep that led to the horrors of the Scottish Highland clearances.
Christian Murray-Leslie
Melbourne, Derbyshire
George Monbiot rightly notes that British venison may sensibly be supplied, however vested pursuits, greed and low cost imports would mess issues up. In an analogous vein, Eire is planning to pay dairy farmers to cull 200,000 cows to fulfill local weather targets. The hazard is that the ensuing beef, offal, leather-based and blood-and-bone fertiliser will likely be wasted, whereas imports flood in. There’s a widespread lesson right here, though it received’t be common. Consumption must be based mostly on various manufacturing, not vice versa. Consuming fewer fish whereas shares are restored is an extra instance.
Iain Climie
Whitchurch, Hampshire