Concerns grow that new environment bill could threaten £17m deer sector

Groups involved in managing Scotland’s deer population are voicing concerns over the upcoming Natural Environment Bill, as MSPs prepare to debate it later this week.

The bill aims to boost biodiversity and would introduce mandatory training for gamekeepers responsible for controlling deer numbers.

However, figures in Scotland’s rural sector warn the proposals could undermine existing conservation work.

Peter Clark, director of Scotland for the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC), said: “Deer management is being framed around restoring Scotland’s landscape, and it’s unclear what that will look like.

“Restoring Scotland’s landscape isn’t always a one-size-fits-all approach, so the definition is important.

“Secondly, the mandatory training that will be required for anyone who shoots deer and that will act as a huge barrier at a time when they’re asking more people to get involved with deer management, there will be a lack of people to carry that out.”

The government says the bill will help legally protect and restore Scotland’s natural landscape. A key part of the plan involves reforming deer management, but that proposal is drawing resistance from gamekeepers who fear new rules will add unnecessary hurdles.

Ministers want to reduce deer numbers due to their lack of natural predators and the damage they cause to habitats such as young forests. But those working on the ground say too few deer can also harm the ecosystem.

Garry Maclennan, head gamekeeper at Dalhousie Estates in Angus, said: “Deer management does take in an income for the estate, and it does keep people employed and living in this area where there would be no viable alternative.

“Too many deer do have an effect on grazing, but too few can also mean dead vegetation could continue to build up because it’s not being eaten by deer and that then causes a fire risk, they do also form a key part of land management.”

The Scottish Government estimates deer management generates over £17m a year, while BASC says shooting in Scotland contributes more than £700m to the UK economy.

According to BASC, only about half of current deer managers hold the necessary qualifications that would be required under the new rules.

Garry added: “This is coming at a time when we’re struggling to recruit youngsters into the sector, and this bill will make it harder.”

The Scottish Government insists the training requirement won’t make management more difficult, but instead “level the playing field.”

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said: “We know that the vast majority of deer managers in Scotland are highly experienced and sometimes already qualified.

“This register isn’t intended to make it more difficult to manage deer, in the long run we hope it will make it easier for deer managers to carry out authorised activities.”

The finer details of how the legislation would be implemented are expected to be a key focus of Thursday’s parliamentary debate.