Home / Environment / Conservationist Hails Crucial Lead Ammunition Ban
Conservationist Hails Crucial Lead Ammunition Ban
2 Nov
Summary
- Lead ammunition sales will be banned from April 2029.
- Up to 100,000 water birds in the UK die annually from lead poisoning.
- The Lead Ammunition Collective successfully campaigned for the ban.
New legislation banning the sale and use of lead ammunition in England, Wales, and Scotland is slated to take effect in April 2029. Conservationist Sacha Dench, a prominent member of the Lead Ammunition Collective, has lauded this development, highlighting the severe threat lead poisoning poses to wildlife.
Dench estimates that up to 100,000 water birds perish annually in the UK due to lead poisoning, with figures reaching a million across Europe. This toxic substance, dispersed in nature via shotgun pellets, is often ingested by birds mistaking it for food or grit, leading to fatal poisoning and pushing some species towards extinction.
The successful campaign for this ban was recognized with the RSPB Medal, awarded to the Lead Ammunition Collective. Deer manager Sharif Adams also supports the transition to non-toxic ammunition, noting its importance for conservation efforts and increasingly strict requirements from game dealers for venison intended for the human food chain.
