The Government has stepped in to protect Dartmoor pony populations at their current levels, reversing a policy that could have led to a drastic cull. The Environment Department (Defra) announced that ponies will be removed from stocking rate calculations, meaning farmers will no longer face a choice between keeping ponies and maintaining sheep or cattle.
Campaigners Warned of 90% Reduction
Campaigners had warned that new contracts from Natural England, the Government's conservation agency, could require cuts in grazing on the moor’s commons, potentially leading to the removal of up to 90% of hill ponies. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled the situation as “total madness”.
Ponies Essential for Biodiversity
The loss of ponies would have been damaging for the biodiversity of the landscape, as they are the best grazer of the “monoculture” Molinia grass that has come to dominate the moor, according to campaigners. Dartmoor hill ponies have been on the landscape for 4,500 years, although numbers have dwindled from 6,000 25 years ago to fewer than a thousand today, owing to historical policy changes, and they have been declared an endangered breed.
New Framework and Monitoring
Pony numbers will be monitored across the moor to ensure they remain stable. Additionally, a pony supplement will be introduced into farming schemes to remove any financial incentive to reduce populations, Defra said.
Natural England and Local Groups Respond
Marian Spain, Natural England chief executive, said: “Natural England has always been clear that Dartmoor’s ponies play a central role in shaping the landscape and supporting nature, and we want to see them continue to do so. The Government policy changes announced today will enable us to work with farmers to secure the agreements we need to recover nature on Dartmoor. We will continue to work with Dartmoor Land Use Managers Group and other local groups on the new framework to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for Dartmoor.”
Phil Stocker, chairman of the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group, said: “This announcement gives pony keepers the reassurance they need that Dartmoor’s native pony populations are a valued and essential part of the ecology and culture of Dartmoor. It aligns fully with the DLUMG’s work, where we are running trials to build the evidence that well-managed ponies, cattle and sheep can improve habitat condition and benefit nature more widely.”
