This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Sporting estate pioneers conservation initiative
17/08/2005
An inter-agency package of support to allow a Highland
estate to pioneer a collaborative management approach in
balancing conservation and commercial activities was
announced today.
Kinveachy Estate on Speyside will gradually reduce deer
numbers whilst balancing its sporting interests with
increasing conservation activities. The agreement,
negotiated by Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry
Commission Scotland and Deer Commission Scotland jointly,
will be underpinned by formal monitoring.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Rhona
Brankin said:
"This agreement, backed by approximately £450,000 in
Executive funding, will support the development of the
traditional sporting estate into a more sustainable and
diverse enterprise providing important public benefits. It
marks a major step forward in working with such issues
through a joint Inter-Agency approach.
"Seafield and Strathspey Estates are to be commended for
their foresight and initiative in seeking to pioneer this
approach. It will do much to improve this internationally
important natural habitat over the next ten years and to
help inform estate management decision making around the
country. "
Sandy Lewis, Chief Executive of Seafield and Strathspey
Estates added:
"We believe that this initiative will demonstrate how
estates can work in partnership with Government agencies to
deliver increased sustainability in terms of both nature
conservation and economic stability."
Under the Natura 2000 programme 2,849ha of Kinveachy
Moor has been designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA)
for Capercaillie and the Scottish crossbill. The area is
also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for its
Caledonian Pine woodland and bog woodland habitats. It is
one of the largest tracts of Caledonian pine woodland in
Strathspey. Kinveachy Forest was designated as a Site of
Special Scientific Interest in 1986 for its native pine
woodland, juniper scrub habitats and breeding grounds for
birds.
A key element of the proposals is a ten-year Deer
Management Plan. The Deer Commission for Scotland will be
supporting the monitoring of successful outcomes from this
Plan under a statutory Section 7 Control Agreement under
the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996.
Estate staff will carry out the terms of the agreement,
reducing deer numbers gradually so that by 2008 the number
of deer will have dropped from around 18 per square
kilometre to about four deer per square kilometre. The
staff will then follow the Deer Management Plan to ensure
the impact of deer is maintained in the future at a level
in keeping with habitat enhancement.
Forestry Commission Scotland is providing assistance
through its Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme to assist in
bringing deer numbers to sustainable levels and with
ongoing management. Up to £250,000 has been committed
through this Scheme over 10 years.
Scottish Natural Heritage has approved a ten year
management agreement, to the value of £190,000, in support
of the initiative again over 10 years. The agency will
continue to be actively involved in monitoring and
reviewing progress on habitat improvement.