GM A Threat to Britain's Mammals

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Tuesday, 27 April 2004

A new audit of Britain's mammals says the possible introduction of genetically modified crops threatens bio-diversity by reducing the numbers of insects around such food crops. This could have "potentially serious consequences" for the hedgehogs, wood mice and bats that rely upon them for food. Organic farms, it says, provide better environments.

The study, The State of Britain's Mammals 2004, was prepared for the Mammals Trust UK by Professor David Macdonald, the head of the Wildlife Conservation Unit at Oxford University and one of Britain's leading mammal experts, and Dr Fran Tattersall, his colleague.

The report warns that tighter legislation may be needed to protect some animals and says that conservation must be landscape as well as site-based and pay attention to wider issues in society.