ADMG encouraged by Minister’s response to RACCE Committee regarding ongoing deer management and future funding support
Richard Cooke, Chairman, The Association of Deer Management Groups, says:
“ADMG is very encouraged by the constructive tone of the letter from Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, to Rob Gibson, Convener of the Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee in response to the Committee’s recommendations following its inquiry into deer management and the environment last year. In particular, ADMG welcomes the provision of grant funding for the next two years to support the deer sector.
“It has long been stated that there is a strong public interest element to deer management and the provision of funding support for DMGs marks a breakthrough in terms of recognition of this by the Scottish Government.
“In terms of improving their performance, many DMGs have made good progress to date with limited resources. Now, following the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act, the implementation of the Deer Code and the inquiry by the RACCE Committee, considerable pressure has been placed on DMGs to raise their game. This includes the production and implementation of deer management plans, greater transparency and public accountability. Many of our members are already achieving this in all or part, but others are less well advanced – and we have until end 2016 to bring those up to speed.
“To this end we are currently undertaking a consultation among our membership to produce a DMG Benchmark to be launched in July. Now, this extra funding to be administered by SNH and which DMGs will be required to match-fund, will allow DMGs to increase capacity, and to further enhance deer management planning. It also bridges the funding gap until the new SRDP comes on stream in 2016 when we hope that provision will be made for more formalised and ongoing support for DMGs.”