New scheme will support the control of deer numbers across parts of Stirling
dailyrecord.co.ukScotland’s nature agency has this week launched an innovative pilot scheme to financially support deer managers to control deer in response to the climate and nature emergencies.In recognition that the majority of Scotland’s deer cull is carried out by private landowners and individuals at their own expense, applications have now opened for two incentive schemes that aim to support this essential management in specific areas of the central belt and Highlands.One of the pilot schemes by NatureScot covers an area of 959 km2 to the north of Glasgow and west of Stirling, where the focus will be on lowland and urban roe deer management, as well as expanding red deer populations.The Central Scotland pilot scheme is located between Glasgow in the south and Thornhill in the north, and bounded in the west by Drymen and Aberfoyle and in the east by Stirling and Denny.
In this area the focus will be on lowland and urban roe deer management, as well as expanding red deer populations.The second pilot scheme is located in the Highlands.The pilots will see qualified and eligible deer stalkers receive a payment for additional deer culled over and above the level currently controlled in the area.
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area. Deer populations have increased in number and spread in range over the past 50 years.
While they are an important part of Scotland’s biodiversity, in high numbers their trampling and browsing has a negative impact on habitats, particularly woodlands.Expanding woodlands is vital to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, but it is not possible to do this in the presence of high densities of deer.It is estimated that an increase in the national cull of 25 per cent or 50,000 deer each
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