Report calls for bigger role for shooting in nature recovery

- Latest news

August 20, 2025

A newly commissioned BASC report highlights the pivotal role the shooting sector plays in supporting the UK Government’s nature recovery targets and sets out an ambitious plan to further maximise this contribution.

The report, Shooting and national nature recovery goals, refers to previous work undertaken by BASC which indicates that land managed for shooting typically sees higher levels of tree planting.

It states that shooting can incentivise practices such as hedgerow restoration that help birds, insects and mammals to thrive. In addition, game cover crops also provide a boost to farmland ecosystems.

The report highlights the role of deer management in woodland regeneration and reducing emissions from degraded land, and the potential role of shooting in the management of other habitats such as wetlands.

It further notes that many shooting estates are responsible for managing extensive areas of peatland – ecosystems that are vital for carbon storage and biodiversity. These estates are already contributing meaningfully to the Government’s commitment to restore 240,000 hectares of peatland by 2050, supporting both climate change mitigation and species recovery.

£1.1 billion in environmental benefits – and room to grow

The report points to the current relationship between shooting and the Natural Capital framework. With shooting currently delivering more than £1.1 billion annually in environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration valued at over £380 million per year, it is already a key contributor to sustainable land management.

To expand on this contribution, the report outlines a clear set of proposals:

Investment in research to better quantify and demonstrate shooting’s environmental value;
Stronger collaboration between the shooting sector, government agencies, and conservation bodies;
Closer integration with environmental land management schemes.

Sarah Pinnell, BASC’s head of land management, said: “As policymakers push forward with ambitious environmental goals, BASC is committed to ensuring that shooting’s positive role in conservation is recognised, promoted, and further developed. By working with government agencies and local communities, the shooting sector can continue to be a driving force in the UK’s nature recovery efforts.”