Freedom of Information Request - Sitka/Capercaillie
Date: 17 February 2025
Our ref: SIR178713/A5004884
Information Request – Sitka/Capercaillie
Your Request
Please can you provide:
Any reports or other held materials from the last five years which relate to the impacts that Sitka spruce has found to have on the numbers of Capercaillie.
This may include a resulting increase of predators of the bird, a reduction in the bird's food sources, breeding or roaming habitats, or impacts to breeding behaviour.
Please include all communications channels used, including Whatsapp, and please include any attachments, including images.
Our Response
The information you requested is attached separately.
We have redacted information about capercaillie locations. As release of information under the EIRs is a release into the public domain, we do not believe that it is in the public interest to release information that might enable disturbance to these species. We are therefore applying EIRs Regulation 10(5)(g) – Protection of the environment.
We have also redacted personal data from the documents because releasing personal data into the public domain in response to an access to information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding the information under 11(2) (Personal Data) of the EIRs.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
