Question reference: S5W-33496
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 24 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 10 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the duty to promote sustainable forest management is being applied in Scotland in relation to sustainable deer management.
Answer
The Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 places a duty on Scottish Ministers (and Scottish public authorities so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of their functions) to promote sustainable forest management and Scottish Ministers are also under a duty to prepare a forestry strategy and in doing so to have regard to the code of practice on deer management (drawn up under section 5A of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996).
The Scottish Government has been clear that land managers, whether they be private, public, community or Non-Government Organisation (NGO), have a responsibility to manage deer. The code of practice on deer management (drawn up under section 5A of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996) describes the public interests land managers should seek to deliver alongside their private objectives. NatureScot and Scottish Forestry work closely with those who manage deer across Scotland to assist in the delivery of sustainable deer management.