Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 2 March 2011.

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Photo of Robin Harper Robin Harper Green

Red deer numbers are a major factor determining the nature, quality and extent of many of Scotland’s most important habitats and iconic species and the economic benefits, such as tourism, that they support. In the absence of natural predators, red deer numbers are determined by the management measures that we deploy. It is widely recognised that, in the past, such measures were not in the best interests of the natural environment. Formerly the Deer Commission for Scotland and now SNH have begun to address the issue. The measures that are already in the bill deliver a large number of the Deer Commission’s recommendations.

However, one of the Deer Commission’s key recommendations, which the Government supported in its first consultation, is missing: a general duty to manage deer sustainably. Amendment 28 seeks to rectify that omission. The amendment might not make a huge legal difference but placing sustainability at the forefront for the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 sends a strong message to deer managers and to those who will draft and agree the code of practice that the Parliament expects them to act with sustainability in the front of their minds and not just as a desirable afterthought.