In 2018 The UK Government published a policy document called ‘A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment.’ As part of the UK response to biodiversity loss, the report highlights that in the UK we ‘have lost many formerly native species…and their reintroduction, when carefully planned and managed, can enrich our natural environment and provide wider benefits for people’.
The Lifescape Project, Cumbria Wildlife Trust & the University of Cumbria have produced an information booklet on species which at some point in the past would have been found in the UK, and which we may wish to consider reintroducing at some point in the future. We would like to get your views on species reintroductions in general, and also on some of the species in the booklet. This will help us to plan future conservation research and projects. In addition, given the current COVID-19 situation, it likely that we will be engaging more with wildlife and natural spaces on our doorsteps in the UK, this is an opportunity to imagine what could return to those landscapes to enrich our experiences with our local natural heritage!
What we are asking you to do:
On the following pages you will be presented with a number of themed questions that relate to species reintroductions, and with the first 3 questions, COVID-19 and nature. Please select the option that best reflects the extent to which you support or oppose the views expressed, and add your comments where possible."
The survey should take you 5-10 minutes to complete. Your responses are anonymous; we will not collect any information that could be used to identify you, and whilst we do ask a few questions about you, we are only collecting general demographic to help interpret responses. We will use the information you provide to help us better understand public attitudes and preferences towards reintroduced species. We will publish a report and/or a scientific paper based on the results of this study, and this will be made available via the websites of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Lifescape Project, and University of Cumbria.
Your participation is voluntary:
Your participation in the study is entirely voluntary. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without having to provide a reason for doing so. Data provided up to that point with be disregarded. Below we ask for your consent to participate in the survey and by giving your consent you are stating that you:
have read and understood the information presented above about this study
have been provided with contact details to ask further questions if needed and have been given sufficient information
understand that you are free to withdraw from this study at any time, and without having to give a reason for withdrawal
give permission for members of the research team to analyse and quote your anonymous responses
If you would like any further information on the study or this survey, please contact Professor Ian Convery (ian.convery@cumbria.ac.uk), and if you would like to complain about any aspect of this survey, please contact Professor Diane Cox, Director of Research, University of Cumbria (diane.cox@cumbria.ac.uk)