Gamekeepers And Hawk Control

[just ask me]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/7971788/Gamekeepers-attack-ministers-over-raptor-control.html

 

just seen this

[sapper756]

http://www.telegraph...or-control.html

 

just seen this

 

Be interesting to see if they take any noticehttp://forum.pigeonbasics.org/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif

[Guest IB]

Be interesting to see if they take any notice

 

The Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill has reached the end of stage1 of the Committee process in the Scottish Parliament. Part 2 of this Bill proposes to change the licensing system to allow the licensed removal of birds of prey when a clear social, economic or environmental case is demonstrated (85, 86 & 87). Within the Committee’s final Stage 1 Report to Parliament is a condemnation of the illegal killing of birds of prey and recommendations that the police should be instructed by Parliament to investigate wildlife crime more vigorously, and the Law in Scotland changed to make prosecution of offenders more likely, including a presumption of illegal intent if found in possession of a regulated substance. (42 to 53).

 

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/rae/reports-10/rur10-08-00.htm#3

 

Species licensing and protection

 

Background

 

502. Generally speaking, a species licence is granted to allow a practice that would otherwise be prohibited – often when a protected bird or animal is required to be killed, or a protected plant to be removed. Although four different Acts currently govern species licensing in Scotland, the 1981 Act is the primary Act being amended by the Bill. Section 16 of the 1981 Bill allows most activities prohibited by the Act to be licensed for certain purposes. Administration of the licences is split between Scottish Ministers (public safety and land management) and SNH (scientific, research or education purposes).

 

503. This raises questions such as:

• at what point, if at all, should humans intervene in the population of any species? What is an ideal population of any one species and what criteria should be used to determine that?

• under what circumstances, if at all, should protected species be controlled? For example, is it acceptable for licences to be given to protect game species from birds of prey?

 

504. Alex Hogg, of the SGA, posed the question, “at what point do the numbers of any species need to be managed?â€

“You have to stop protecting species and start managing them. If we do not manage the species we will end up with one protected species eating another protected species. At some point, we have to decide which one needs more protection.â€

 

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/rae/reports-10/rur10-08-00.htm#22