IN reply to the letter from Karen Woolley (March 7) I am sure that TOE2 would not want to be associated with schemes that compromise biodiversity. However the problem with much ‘conservation’ work these days is that insufficient effort goes into ensuring that the work would be of genuine benefit to the habitats and their species.

Work is commonly presented, without qualification or evidence, as being good for biodiversity and is executed only in the hope, or self-assurance, that it will be.

At Shotover, the 14 years of survey work and research by Shotover Wildlife places the organisation in a particularly informed position to know the impact of conservation work, and it is on this basis that we are able to comment on where biodiversity is being badly compromised. For example, we can say with confidence that vulnerable species are now lost from the nature reserve due to the excessive removal of dead wood. There are currently no circumstances under which the burning or removal of dead wood can be beneficial to the biodiversity of Shotover Park.

Concerns for local biodiversity are due to be debated at the forthcoming Shotover Conference on Saturday, May 17, 2014 (www.shotover-wildlife.org.

uk/conference) and we extend an invitation to Karen Woolley to contribute to the debate. The conference is open to all and registration is free.

IVAN WRIGHT, chairman – Shotover Wildlife, Blenheim Way, Horspath