Further to WQ86701, what assessment has the Welsh Government made of how the natural level of curlew has changed over the past 40 years?
Although the natural level of Curlew has not been defined, considerable and detailed information on the plight of the curlew has been provided by the Welsh Ornithological Society in their publication “The Birds of Wales/Adar Cymru” (2021 edition). Copies have been provided to Welsh Government and it includes data from NRW, RSPB and other sources. The lack of breeding success remains the main concern as all evidence suggests it has declined in the last 40 years.
We are addressing factors we understand to be contributing to that decline through our Nature Networks Programme and the NRW led Natur am Byth which aims to help many endangered species reach more sustainable levels including Curlew.
Assessing ecological resilience is an ongoing process which needs to respond to change over time and we will be engaging with key partners to work through these complex questions.