Collective deer management effort under risk from proposed nature restoration orders

Press Release

Land managers have urged the Scottish Government to work with them rather than against them over the future of deer management.

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, made the comments after responding to the government’s ‘Managing Deer for Climate and Nature’ consultation which closes today.

The consultation has sought views on a range of proposals – the most contentious being plans for Deer Management Nature Restoration Orders (DMNROs).

DMNROs would give NatureScot legally enforceable powers to order reductions in deer numbers, place fencing or instruct habitat assessments, more detailed cull plans, and cull reporting on a landholding.

Failure to comply by a landowner could result in a £40,000 fine and/or three months imprisonment.

SLE said this heavy-handed approach risked alienating the substantial existing effort of private landowners who are already responsible for enabling some 80% of the deer management effort underway across Scotland.

Nadia Flaherty, Policy Advisor (Wildlife Management) at Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“Deer management is hugely important for Scotland – for nature and the environment, for the economy and for rural communities.

“There is much to be positive about within many of the proposals in the consultation. However, the imposition of Deer Management Nature Restoration Orders risks undermining that.

“Land managers, who are already facilitating around 80% of deer management in Scotland, feel as if they are being targeted for punishment by government rather than being seen as partners in what should be a collective modernisation effort.

“On a practical level, it is often extremely challenging to identify whether grazing or erosion has taken place by deer or by other herbivores. The criterion for DMNROs is extremely vague and subjective and Scottish Ministers must be clear how they would impose such orders which would lead to substantial interference in an individual’s property rights.

“An opportunity still exists for Ministers to acknowledge the considerable and vital contribution of existing deer management by private landowners and we would urge the Scottish Government to engage with us on that.”