I could pick from any number of examples but I’ll use one that came to light (for me anyway) on here last week. It involves the Twite, a small finch and a close relative of the more familiar Linnet. 6/21

This bird is in deep trouble in England. Numbers have dwindled and it is clinging on in only a few small upland areas in the north. It may not last much longer. But here’s the thing with Twite... 7/21

It is absent from places that are no longer able to support it. And it is declining even where it survives. This may be the result of changes to its habitat, but climate change is probably the biggest factor. Further north, in Scotland, it is faring better. 8/21

Releasing captive-bred birds into areas where Twite have already been lost, or places where they are in steep decline will be futile, for what I hope are obvious reasons. Yet that is exactly what is being proposed. 9/21

I’ll spare you a list, but proposals like this are increasingly seen as the way forward. As I’ve said, they attract attention and funding, they make great PR, and the public, and many environmental journalists and conservationists seem to love them. 10/21

Why might this be a problem for conservation? Firstly, there are the welfare issues in releasing birds that have little chance of surviving. We can’t prevent the demise of wild birds but, I believe, we have a responsibility for the welfare of those in captivity. 11/21

Then there’s the issue of resources. These are hard to come by. Time, funding and media attention allocated to inappropriate captive-rearing projects, could instead go towards conservation work that will make a difference. Work to restore habitats for example. 12/21

This leads on to a related point. We risk taking our eye off the ball if we start to think that we can breed and release our way out of the holes we have dug. Release proposals can give the impression that all is now well. There is no need to worry… 13/21

… about Twite or [insert relevant threatened species name here] because we are on the case and we are sorting things out. This risks distracting attention away from the real problems that the species faces – usually problems relating to habitat quality. 14/21

This point about distraction is subtle and impossible to quantity, but it’s a real concern. If one of our most admired conservationists thinks Twite (and other species) might be saved by a ‘breed and release’ project then almost everyone else is going to believe it too. 15/21

Restore good habitat and, at a stroke, you’ll improve conditions for COUNTLESS THOUSANDS of different species. Ultimately, all our wildlife depends upon habitat protection and restoration. But this is difficult, expensive and often thankless work… 16/21