Skip to main content

Extra Measures To Protect Scotland's Golden Eagles

By
Almost a third of golden eagles being tracked by satellite died in suspicious circumstance, scientists have found. 



The Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) research identified that the majority of cases were found where land is intensively managed for driven grouse shooting. 

Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, confirmed to the Scottish Parliament she will now set up an expert group to look at managing grouse moors sustainably and within the law.  Following a request by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee the group will also advise on the option of licensing grouse shooting businesses. 

The report studied the movements of 131 young golden eagles over a 12 year period, and found more than 40 had disappeared in suspicious circumstances. It also found there was no link between fitting satellite tags and the disappearance of the birds of prey and ruled out any connection with the position of wind turbines. 

In response Ms Cunningham outlined a package of new measures designed to protect birds of prey, the wider Scottish environment and the reputation of those who abide by the law.  

Ms Cunningham, said; "The findings of this research are deeply concerning and will give rise to legitimate concerns that high numbers of golden eagles, and other birds of prey, continue to be killed in Scotland each year. There is every reason to believe that similar levels of persecution affect untagged golden eagles, as well as those we are able to track via satellite tags. 

"We have already targeted wildlife criminals, and those who sanction such crimes, by introducing measures such as vicarious liability and restrictions on the use of general licences. But Scottish Ministers has always said they would go further if required, and that is what I am doing today, 

"The continued killing of protected species of birds of prey damages the reputation of law-abiding gamekeepers, landowners and indeed the country as a whole. Those who carry out these crimes do so in defiance of the will of Parliament, the people, and their own peers. That must end.

"This report identifies specific problem areas which will allow Police Scotland to adopt a targeted approach and I would also encourage members of the public to report any suspicious activity to the police. 

"The range of measures we will introduce over the longer-term will build on the progress that we have made to-date and tackle outdated practices and attitudes. By looking at ways of strengthening the legal protection for birds or prey we are sending out a strong message that Scotland's wildlife is for everyone to enjoy, not for criminals to destroy for their own ends."  

The Scottish Government will set up an independently-led group to look at the environmental impact of grouse moor management practices, immediately review all available legal measures, Increase resources for the detection and investigation of wildlife crime and work with Police Scotland to pilot the use of special constables in the Cairngorms National Park, examine how best to protect the valuable role of gamekeepers in rural Scotland and commission research into the costs and benefits of large shooting estates to Scotland's economy and biodiversity. 

Labels

Labels:
Location: Scotland, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BBC Three's 'I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse' just the new Big Brother?

By
Basing any prior knowledge on the flashy, awe grabbing advert for the new reality T.V. show on BBC Three, I survived a Zombie Apocalypse, one had hoped that the show would be just as existing as the advert was. Hope thrived on the idea that putting regular people into such a scenario would bring out the best and worst qualities in an amusing, secretly recorded non-scripted way. Seeing the show finally pop up on BBC IPlayer gave cause to drop everything else just to watch it. The opening credits infused the idea, based on the long growing suspicion that radio waves are bad for our brains in some as of yet unknown way, the possibility that heightening these waves to far could cause serious neurological damage, and in this case cause the feared 'Zombies' It was all very flashy, clever and almost believable, well that is until the people started pulling in. There clips bringing you back to the sad reality that is British society, the fact that these people would be instructed...
Post a Comment
Read more

Roads Opening On M8, M73 and M74

By
Keith Brown has announced the opening of the M8, M73 and M74 as part of the £500 million M8, M73 and M74 Motorway Improvements Project. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair work said all daytime lane restrictions on the M8, M73 and M74 will be removed progressively over the coming days, freeing up capacity on the key part of Central Scotland's motorway network. This will allow road users to experience the benefit of the widened motorways and help deliver the full journey time savings of the new M8 motorway opened in April and the M74 Raith Underpass opened in February. As part of the Motorway Improvements Project, a range of improvements have been built over the last three years, including a new M8 motorway, significant improvements to Raith and Shawhead junctions as well as widening of the M8 M73 and M74, with new lanes providing an increase in motorway capacity. Mr Brown, said; £We are just a few days away from seeing the last of the lane restrictions bein...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reforms To Child Education

By
Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, has set out his vision of empowerment and devolution for Scottish education, putting children at the heart of the system. At the School Leaders Scotland summer conference, the deputy First Minister reiterated his pledge to make teachers and parents the key decision makers in schools. It comes ahead of a statement of Parliament by Mr Swinney next week, subject to Parliamentary approval, when he will set out the next steps for education reform. Mr Swinney, said; "As part of the relentless drive to improve Scottish education, we must embrace the need to reform and reshape our education system. To close the attainment gap and raise the bar for all, decisions about a child's learning should be made as close to that child as possible. "That is why I have pledged to make teachers and parents the key decision makers in the life of a school. Reforms already introduced, such as Pupil Equity Funding, put the power to change lives dire...
Post a Comment
Read more