Scottish Government
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Wildlife laws to be modernised
A consultation on options to reform outdated wildlife and natural environment laws, some dating back over 200 years, was unveiled today.
Current legislation contains anomalies and weaknesses which need to be addressed to ensure Scotland has suitable structures in place to manage and sustain its wildlife and the natural environment.
A consultation paper issuing today sets out a number of potential areas of reform, including:
- Stronger action to address problems created by invasive non-native species such as Japanese knotweed and the American signal crayfish
- The reform of game laws, some dating back to the 18th century
- More robust and sustainable deer management practices, including raising the standards of those involved in shooting deer
Launching the consultation, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"Our natural environment is one of our most valuable assets, worth around £17 billion to the Scottish economy. It is therefore vital that we ensure we do all we can to protect and enhance it.
"We need to ensure that an appropriate legislative framework is in place which enables us react to changing circumstances and new challenges, and which will continue to deliver public benefit from the sustainable management of our wildlife and natural environment.
"We therefore intend to update and streamline existing wildlife and natural environment legislation where it is appropriate to do so.
"Any legislation of this kind must take into account the views of those living and working in our countryside which is why I am seeking the views of experts from both land-owning and conservation organisations during this consultation process."
Duncan Orr Ewing, RSPB Scotland Head of Species and Land Management said:
"We welcome this proposal to reform Scotland's outdated wildlife legislation. The management of deer populations and game species ought to be as modern and sustainable as possible, to protect and enhance the countryside of the 21st century and the wildlife and rural businesses that rely on it."
Douglas McAdam, Chief Executive, SRPBA, said:
"We have been told by the Scottish Government that the stated aim of this Bill is to modernize the statute where required and to provide systems that operate in a straight forward way for the managers and users of the countryside.
"This aim the SRPBA would support and we will want to ensure that this aim is indeed reflected in both the Consultation document and ultimately in the Bill. Our countryside is a changing environment and we need to be sure that the law that relates to it is proportionate, workable and effective."
The consultation runs until September 4, 2009.
Those involved in stakeholder meetings so far include the Deer Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB Scotland. Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA), Scottish SPCA, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), National Trust for Scotland (NTS) among others.
