The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13

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2 Bad press Promoting country sports can sometimes be a difficult business as the industry quite often attracts bad press. The control of predators can be emotive, and when it involves shooting, trapping or poisoning of protected species, it’s illegal and indefensible. Unfortunately, it darkens the image of an industry about which a general audience often hears little more. To many people, intensive management for game shooting is often associated with these sorts of wildlife crimes. But many country sports – including wildfowling, stalking, fishing and the less formal ‘rough shooting’ (where individuals or small groups work with dogs along hedgerows and small woodlands to flush birds from cover) – take place without such intensive management. The Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group formed some years ago to help improve public perceptions and to promote Scotland as a country sports destination. It’s a partnership of groups representing salmon fishers, deer managers and shooting interests, as well as public bodies including SNH, Scottish Enterprise and Visit Scotland. The involvement of these Scottish Government bodies emphasises just how important country sports are to the Scottish economy, with an estimated value thought to be in the region of £400 million per year. In the past, SNH have more often been associated with the care and conservation of habitats and species, but these traditional areas of our work are increasingly being strengthened with greater focus on the sustainable use of our natural resources. This work delivers a wide range of benefits – from increasing the value and interest in healthy, local food production to broadening tourism markets and connecting people with the countryside. “Some may find it surprising, but conservation, hunting and fishing interests have many of the same goals,” remarked Ian Jardine, chief executive of SNH. “After all, when wildlife flourishes in Scotland, it helps nurture our country’s environment and supports our rural communities and the economy.” 34 The Nature of Scotland
Healthy wildlife At the heart of a strong country sports industry lies a healthy wildlife resource. The right management of this resource is crucial to ensure that it delivers the full range of local benefits (environmental as well as socio-economic), which contribute to wider benefits for people across Scotland, from the high street to the high hills. SNH are now working in partnership with private land managers and country sports enthusiasts to help ensure the widest possible benefits from these activities. We’re supporting initiatives in a number of areas, including promoting best practice in the country sports industry, helping to raise skill levels through practical demonstration workshops, and supporting parts of the sector to ensure that all practitioners operate humanely and in a way from which both the species and their habitats can benefit. There are important traditional and cultural links to our country sports, but that’s not to say that the old ways are always the best. Novel techniques for managing species conflicts, innovative developments that make the industry more efficient, and new regulations to support food traceability are all areas on which we’re actively working. Country sports are one way of achieving sustainable land management, one way of ‘using’ the wildlife resource – one way among many. Whether it’s watching, filming, eating or simply being with wildlife, our aim is to help as many people as possible to enjoy Scotland’s varied wildlife resource. 2 Rough shooting on the Western Isles. Challenging sport in spectacular settings also brings much needed income, out of season, to these remote locations. 3 Fishing is a popular leisure activity in Scotland and a major contributor to the rural economy of some areas. “At the heart of a strong country sports industry lies a healthy wildlife resource.” 3 www.snh.gov.uk 35
Page 1: Scottish Natural Heritage Autumn 20
Page 4 and 5: Credits The Nature of Scotland The
Page 6 and 7: Autumn 4 The Nature of Scotland
Page 8 and 9: 2 The art of love In autumn, it's n
Page 10 and 11: 1 The power of natural play 8 The N
Page 12 and 13: value of smaller scale, loose, natu
Page 14 and 15: 7 8 If you go down to the woods Nat
Page 16 and 17: People of all backgrounds and circu
Page 18 and 19: Personal stories On the edge of Dun
Page 20 and 21: NEWS Dolly scientist working on clo
Page 22 and 23: NEWS Greater protection for shark,
Page 24 and 25: NEWS Extra rangers help capercailli
Page 26 and 27: Inspired by nature 1 As usual, we r
Page 28 and 29: In our third article to mark the 20
Page 30 and 31: 3 Floating homes Office workers wel
Page 32 and 33: Dualchas coitcheann Common heritage
Page 34 and 35: Supporting sporting interests 32 Th
Page 38 and 39: Reserve focus Visit the Clyde Valle
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Page 42 and 43: 7 7 There are good numbers of badge
Page 44 and 45: SNH Area News Northern Isles and No
Page 46 and 47: SNH Area News Strathclyde and Ayrsh
Page 48 and 49: Events diary 2011 October Friday 7
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Page 52 and 53: Bruce Percy 1 Coming from an arts b
Page 54 and 55: Lorne Gill Lorne is the full-time p
Page 56: Sandra Bartocha Sandra is a German
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Page 61 and 62: 1 Red kites are good for business.
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The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13

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The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13