Key facts
- Natural England and MPs are advocating for changes to government livestock rules to prevent the culling of Dartmoor ponies.
- Current Defra policies do not distinguish between sheep and ponies when requiring livestock reductions on Dartmoor.
- Dartmoor ponies are crucial for controlling invasive molinia grass, which harms biodiversity.
- The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association warns that proposed grazing contracts could decimate the pony population.
- MPs are scheduled to meet with Defra ministers to discuss creating an exemption for the ponies.
Natural England and several Members of Parliament are urging the UK government to revise its livestock regulations to prevent a potential cull of Dartmoor ponies. The semi-wild ponies, which have inhabited the Dartmoor landscape for over 4,500 years, are facing a significant population reduction under current policies aimed at addressing overgrazing and biodiversity loss.
Reports indicated that Natural England might cause a cull of up to 90% of the ponies. However, sources within Natural England attribute the issue to policies from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which do not differentiate between various livestock types. The current agri-environment schemes require commoners to reduce livestock numbers to access stewardship funds, a measure that could lead to the culling of ponies, which are less commercially viable for farmers than sheep or cattle.
Natural England stated that the aim is to destock the moors by 76% due to overgrazing, primarily by sheep, which has impacted wildflowers, rare birds, and butterflies. While sheep consume nutritious plants, Dartmoor ponies are crucial for consuming invasive vegetation like molinia grass and gorse, which are swamping the moor's peat bogs and heather, thereby reducing biodiversity.
Sources at Natural England expressed frustration with the policy, noting that it prevents them from making agreements that differentiate between livestock. The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association has also voiced strong opposition, stating that the plans disregard scientific evidence and could decimate an endangered species. They highlighted that fewer than 1,000 Dartmoor hill ponies remain, down from approximately 7,000 in 1999.
Local MPs, including Labour MP Steve Race and Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden, are actively engaging with Defra ministers to secure an exemption, or 'carve-out', for the ponies. They argue that the ponies are an integral part of the ecosystem and not merely livestock. Defence minister Luke Pollard has also written to Defra expressing concern that the proposed contracts could create a financial incentive to prioritise commercially viable livestock over ponies.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative party, criticized the situation as 'madness' and called for the government to overrule Natural England. A spokesperson for the prime minister affirmed that the government would not permit a cull of Dartmoor ponies.