BASC responds to Scottish Parliament report on Natural Environment Bill

BASC – Scotland’s largest representative organisation of deer managers – gave evidence at the Rural Affairs and Islands (RAI) Committee back in May stating the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill had ‘significant flaws’. These centred around, in particular, the introduction of mandatory training and the vague powers over intervention in deer management linked to an unclear definition of ‘nature restoration’.

BASC strongly opposes plans to impose mandatory training on all deer stalkers, a point raised in the report. The association argues that self-regulation has already upheld high standards, and new requirements could block entry at a time when more stalkers are needed to meet rising cull targets.

The committee’s report also recommended that NatureScot be given additional intervention powers in deer management, a proposal that concerns BASC, given the definition of ‘nature restoration’ remains unclear.

However, BASC welcomed the Committee’s recognition that new measures must not come at the expense of voluntary deer management, which the report says has ‘built trust and consensus across the sector in recent years.’

BASC’s Scotland director Peter Clark said: “The RAI Committee’s report highlights the many significant flaws with the Natural Environment Bill. “The legislation risks placing heavy burdens on deer managers without clear measures of success or proper financial support.

“Mandatory training is contentious and, if rushed, could halve the number of stalkers available to manage Scotland’s deer population. There is no empirical evidence that it is needed. BASC has long championed community-led deer management using local recreational stalkers – an approach ignored in the Bill that could reduce costs for taxpayers.

“The Scottish Government also needs to invest in the venison supply chain, including community larders, to avoid bottlenecks and ensure demand for the increased volume of venison from higher cull levels. BASC will be bringing forward amendments at Stage 2 of the Bill with MSPs, in order to make improvements that our members have been calling for.”