Yet again we have one of the environmental NGOs calling for more regulation for deer management in the knowledge that the recently passed Land Reform (Scotland) Act has given SNH additional powers to intervene. Those last resort measures were implemented only last month and ADMG did not oppose them. The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is also well aware that a further Parliamentary review of deer management is due later this year and that the new Act provides for three yearly reviews going forward.
All 44 Deer Management Groups (DMGs) have risen to the challenge of creating new deer management plans that take account of the public interest. Those plans have been created and offered for consultation in little more than a year. It is not helpful for the sniping to continue without recognising the efforts made across the board to develop a new approach. The step change requested by the Environment Minister last year is being delivered and will continue. SNH is currently carrying out an assessment of progress by each DMG and setting it against the 2014 baseline assessment and this will be the basis of the SNH report to Ministers this autumn.
SWT also has other recommendations in relation to deer in this paper – moving more towards a Scandinavian model of management, and changes to the seasons. One of these has already been the subject of extensive consultation and review in the Parliament; the other would require a further shake-up of management systems when, right now, we are at pains to prove that the one we have, one that is largely paid for by the private sector, works and can work well. Now is not the time to be considering any of these proposals.
This new paper from SWT, commendable in many other respects, will not influence the outcome of this year’s review. If the review finds that the voluntary approach to deer management, which pumps £140 million per annum into local economies and supports 2500 full time jobs – is up to standard, then all future lobbying for a full-blown regulated management system must stop. DMGs should be allowed to get on with their job and SWT should play its part in supporting those DMGs of which it is a member. ADMG has suggested collaboration with SWT and other NGOs but to date the offer has not been taken up.