Reinstate funding for Skomer Island's Guillemot monitoring

Long-term studies of animal population have previously been, and will indeed continue to prove, valuable resources in decision making processes for conservation and wildlife management. Specifically, with the recent storms in the UK causing the wash-up of thousands of auks, long-term studies such as those on Skomer Island's guillemot population will become even more important and necessary if we are to understand the long-term impacts of such events on seabird colonies. To see the funding cuts for this research is tragic and, as others suggest, terribly short-sighted. We owe it to the seabirds, who provide endless amazement and joy for people from all walks of life, the time to understand how they function as a population, and, in doing so, hopefully gain valuable understanding that may very well help protect these majestic animals.

Small gaps in data make a big difference to usefulness of this data.

Long-term monitoring is a relatively cheap but vital tool for understanding how our wildlife responds to environmental change. It would be a dangerous mistake to underestimate the importance of this kind of information. These funding cuts are painfully short-sighted.

I am focusing on Skomer Island for one of my university assignments, looking at habitat management and how species are monitored, seeing how much research is done on Skomer and how important the island is for wildlife, I can not believe that funding it being cut on such an important project, especially in these time when it is becoming increasingly important to understand species so we can help protect them in the future, which is something I hope to do when I graduate

a small amount of money that has a HUGE impact!!

Essential work that needs funding!

Bastards

A place for Nature lovers, Bird Watchers, Tourists, Locals and for Education, loss of funding would see the huge effort to raise the population numbers go to waste. Huge shame.

Revenue from tourism due to the seabird colonies on Skomer by far exceeds the total cost of funding, so cutting funding is a bad decision

Very important that this study keeps on running.

We need our wildlife.

don't let nature down. The future of these birds depends on this funding.

WR14 1LZ

I cannot believe that with the rapid declines in guillemot populations in northern UK that in Wales, where we have the most healthy populations, that funding for basic scientific monitoring could be cut at such a crucial time.

Long running data sets are few and far between, would be a huge loss to cut it.

Seabird monitoring is crucial to continue particularly as we learn more about climate change and in light of the recent storms.

To turn our backs on further understanding our natural environment is shortsighted to say the least.

many of our seabirds winter over in the western approaches and thats where the huge eath toll is! it may take several years to see what these storms have done to the populations of guillemots and other seabirds - its valuable science dont stop the funding now its sooo short sighted.

It is vandalism to stop work on an important long running project like this.

To end this work now would be a waste of all the work that`s gone before. Please reverse this decision.