Hello and thank you for discussing Naturepark UK on this forum. Whilst I just don’t have the time at present to engage in detailed online discussions let me please reply of some of the points raised:
There was no discussion with Paul Lister from Alladale. Alladale is envisioning an African Game Park style approach, which is great but will collapse should Mr Lister’s own money run out.
Naturepark UK has the central idea to try a different approach to conservation where the yardstick changes from “the right thing to do” to “increased species diversity” whilst, on a broad base, utilising recourses profitably.
The necessary fencing would be no different, possibly even less sophisticated, than what is already in use in many African game parks. Precedence is set manifold and at least nobody would be trying to keep elephants or rhinos locked in.
Naturally the sponsor list is different, after all e.g. the "Vasectomy Clinic" is my own business hence allowing me to channel funds into the project as advertising costs without being taxed twice! The “usual sponsors” would hardly be interested at this point where the project is in its kinder shoes, barely one month up and running on the net. After all if one million people ring “phone to donate £1” there would be £720000 revenue for the project. Nobody is hurt by the £1 but the sum of things looks rather different. Similarly so with small scale sponsors; initially people and businesses who feel they want to spare £100 purely because they like the idea, not because they have a specific business activity that would automatically drive them into the project’s direction. Just think if there is a list of 100 £100 sponsors! At this point the “usual” supporters from industry will obviously be far keener to be associated with the project than now.
I fully accept the criticism regarding use of logos and hence have duly removed them until I can achieve formal approval for their use by the relevant organisations.
By no means do you need a 400 year plan if considering the reintroduction of wisent and elk. The wisent reintroduction project in Germany is scaled for a herd of about 25 animals for an area of around 10000 acres of mainly mixed woodland (
http://www.wisente-rothaargebirge.de/). Having grown up in the area myself this definitely does not all consist of mature forest. Experience from Germany in the 1930ies as well as a comparison of growth rates of “native to Britain” soft and hard wood trees indicate that looking at a time span of 30 years if starting on barren land is still realistic. Obviously incorporating already existing forests would shorten the time span considerably. Alladale has already re-introduced elks!
Having looked at options like “charitable status” it quickly became apparent that a charity can not be the way forward for the presented project. The inherent legislative restrictions would be prohibitive. Indemnifying against the misappropriation of funds even in the event of project failure is all I can offer, and even so I have no riches of my own to pour into the idea I should still have enough personal life span to give the idea a go.
Please remember that constructive feedback is certainly most welcome.
Jens