It was lovely and still out there. And not another soul in sight. All to myself. Bliss.

I often recall something an ecologist said to me on a training course: everything is an indicator or something. All species are an indicator for what they need!

They can if sufficiently charismatic or linked to culture. Eels is an example I can think of. But I do agree it is difficult.

Which? The habitat creation one? I agree if so. I also find it difficult. I'd prefer more definite habitat creation plans first!

I didn't say it shouldn't be done. But to make the choice should require evidence and a range of factors to be taken into account.

I agree. But we have a lot of responsibilities and not enough resources. So we do have to make choices.

Yes I agree. If you make claims then expect scrutiny of them.

No but we need them to. And some claim they do. Which I challenge. Although we can just introduce for the sake of it. That is valid. We do need to engage people, but how we turn that engagement into restoration?

Perhaps. But it depends on what it is being spent on. Resources are to some extent finite. There are trade offs.

Yes I am too. I want people to make the right claims when giving reasons to introduce.

This is an interesting debate. I often think about lines used to support White Stork at Knepp. Which were that it would help drive landscape restoration. I wonder how much new habitat has come as a result. Same for Pelicans? Of course other reasons to introduce than that. Difficult to prioritise.

Whilst I love the Cranes in Somerset and am glad they are back, not sure they have driven large scale habitat restoration. Beavers a big yes, they will do that themselves. Ospreys not sure if they are resulting in large scale habitat creation.

What is the money there for? To do what specifically?

Which examples are you referring to Alick?

Interesting. What was the result of the motion? Can I read anything on this somewhere?

Thanks for sharing that Pete.

Where did this statistic come from?