Government could force landowners to kill nature’s invaders or face jail
I know I sometimes have a bit of a laugh about how imported mega-fauna has changed rural England. This article suggests that Defra don’t see the funny side. It tells us:
People who try to stop officials exterminating “invasive species” such as parakeets, ruddy ducks and Japanese knotweed on their property should face a prison sentence, under proposals drawn up by the Law Commission.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and other bodies would be given the power to force landowners or occupiers to either control or destroy the animals themselves or allow the authorities to step in.
The Law Commission proposed people breaking a “species control order” could be jailed for as long as six months or fined up to £40,000.
Nicholas Paines QC, the Law Commissioner leading on the project, said: “Invasive non-native species are a threat to biodiversity. Early detection and eradication are essential to protect native species and minimise damage to the environment.
“There is also an economic price to pay, with some invasive plants and animals capable of causing significant damage to property and costing a great deal to control and remove.