Foxhunting and shooting help preserve 10 times more woodland than farms not involved in field sports, according to an academic study published today.

The report by the University of Kent's Durrell Institute of conservation and ecology used aerial photographs to survey sites in central England.

A spokesman for DEFRA told ePolitix.com: "The bill is designed to aid pest control and is based on the two principles of utility and cruelty.

"The minister, Alun Michael, was charged with giving parliament an opportunity to settle this issue once and for all and that is what he has done. The bill will stand the test of time."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, director of the Campaign for Hunting, said: "This research supports what land managers have always argued - that country sports are beneficial to landscapes, wildlife and biodiversity. Now it is time for the government to accept that hunting is about far more than its narrow definition of pest control.

"The Minister gave an assurance that the conservation role of hunting would be included in any licensing criteria but since the publication of the Bill he has repeatedly refused to explain why it has been excluded, even though he knew this research was happening.

"We are ready to accept a workable system for regulating hunting but the minister's continuing failure to recognise the real utility of hunting, despite the evidence from his own public hearings and the Burn's report, casts doubt on his commitment to finding a principled and rational solution to this issue".

Forum Response: The Woodland Trust

A Woodland Trust spokesman told ePolitix.com: "The study seems to confirm that where woods are recognised by their owners and managers as delivering benefits then they will be conserved.

"Unfortunately the problem we face in this country is that there are others who see them as an inconvenience and the necessary protection is lacking.

"For example, we believe that at least 2000 hectares of irreplaceable ancient woodland are threatened by development pressures.

"This is a highly fragmented resource and what is needed is stronger protection for our ancient woodland heritage accompanied by a targeted programme of woodland expansion which fully recognises the very wide range of benefits to society that woods deliver.

"These range from biodiversity and recreation to landscape enhancement and the improvement of air quality."