Deer Work Programme
In response to the Deer Working Group recommendations and the climate and biodiversity crises, we have developed a work programme to help guide delivery of key projects.
Deer Work Programme
Wild deer are an important part of Scotland's natural heritage, but sustainable management of them is vital to enhancing biodiversity and achieving a net zero future. The twin climate and biodiversity crises require urgency in our efforts to realising ambitious targets on forest regeneration, woodland creation, peatland restoration and habitat improvement.
The way we manage deer in the future will continue to contribute to the rural economy with a sustained need for deer management-related jobs, skills and infrastructure to effectively manage Scotland's wild deer population.
Ongoing wild deer management is fundamental to several areas of Scottish Government policy.
We have developed a work programme action plan with which to chart progress on the delivery of key projects. This spreadsheet identifies those key projects against strategic themes and highlights the actions necessary to deliver the stated outcome. It identifies which of the Deer Working Group recommendations are being delivered through each project and provides an update on progress.
Deer Working Group
The Deer Working Group was established by the Scottish Government in 2017 as an independent working group to review the existing statutory and non-statutory arrangements for the management of wild deer in Scotland. Their report, published in 2020, made 99 recommendations in line with its remit to “…make recommendations for changes to ensure effective deer management in Scotland that safeguards public interests and promotes the sustainable management of wild deer.”
The Scottish Government accepted most of the 99 Deer Working Group recommendations and we have produced a spreadsheet which charts progress against each of them.
