lowland deer conference robbie kernahan wildlife operations unit snh 14 th november 2011

Scottish Natural Heritage

LOWLAND DEER CONFERENCE

Robbie KernahanWildlife Operations Unit

SNH

14th November 2011


Deer Management in Scotland• BACKGROUND

• CONTEXT

• CURRENT ISSUES

• CHALLENGES


Background• A History of Hunting

• Economic Resource

• Social Significance

• Cultural Connection

• Shape the Landscape

• Habitat Health


Legislative Context• Deer (Scotland) Act

1959

• Deer (Scotland) Act 1996

• Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011


Wildlife and Natural Environment Act 2011• Code of practice • Competence• General License and

controls • Night Shooting for Public

Safety• Regulation in a wider

range of circumstances • Control schemes within 6

months


• How is Deer Management best delivered locally?

• Resource Management and Decision Making

• What is the Role Of Government?

Resource Management?


Where does the responsibility lie…• Safeguarding deer

welfare?

• Managing deer sustainably as a resource?

• Minimising negative deer impacts on the public interest?


SNH Role• Develop a clearer understanding of deer populations in and around

towns (scale, productivity and densities)

• Raise awareness with key decision makers & stakeholders on the impacts of wild deer

• Develop a shared understanding of the practical constraints of implementing management in and around towns

• Obtain a better understanding of who, how and where our lowland deer populations are being managed or not as the case may be.

• Develop and circulate hard copy guidance on planning, design and prescriptive deer management


New Challenges• Low Ground Collaboration?• Every man for himself

approach?• Vocational stalkers protective

of their interests / land• Requirement to promote BPG,

training and competence • What is the role of the new

deer groups? • Can they deal with the

challenge of increasing deer populations and subsequent impacts?


• Providing a narrative and framework for decision makers and practitioners

• Being proactive now rather than reactive later

• Considering deer management in the following contexts:

1) Management to safeguard public safety

2) Management to protect trees, crops, private property

3) Management to protect deer welfare


The Future• Where to after this event?

•How do we promote deer and understand them better in the context of lowland Scotland?

• Given increasing financial pressures being places on government agencies, how should we prioritise our resources to give the most benefit?

• What do the deer groups and stalkers want from us?

lowland deer conference robbie kernahan wildlife operations unit snh 14 th november 2011

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