The news that the Scottish Government has cut £8000 of European farming grants from an employer of a gamekeeper convicted of poisoning birds of prey has to be warmly welcomed. Millions of pounds of taxpayers' money are handed out in subsidies to farmers and landowners who continue to condone wildlife crime, in particular the persecution of raptors. Landowners and shooting estates need to be directly penalised if their gamekeepers are persecuting birds of prey or other wildlife on their behalf.
Statistics from the past few years from a government-designated SPA (supposedly special protection area) covering parts of east Ayrshire and south Lanarkshire show that the number of fledged hen harriers has dropped from 44 in 2004 to six in 2007. While fluctuations in fledged birds can be due to natural causes, this dramatic reduction is almost entirely due to human persecution. These SPAs are proving to be neither special nor protected. Scottish Natural Heritage has a statutory duty to offer protection to these birds yet it continues to bury its head in the sand, despite repeated calls for action to prevent the demise of these most persecuted of raptors.
Raptor persecution has been rife for a long time and is endemic in most estates. These birds are treated in the same manner as foxes and crows and despatched accordingly, through poisoning, trapping and shooting. Recently produced figures show that income to local economies in Scotland from activities such as bird-watching, nature trips, nature reserves, etc is higher than any other leisure pursuits.
Mike Russell, the Environment Minster, has initiated a review of wildlife crime in Scotland, looking at all aspects of these offences. Now is the time for the police and the judiciary to apply punishment that fits the crime, such as firearm withdrawal and prison sentences, as well as subsidy removal. Maybe then we will have a natural heritage that reflects the biodiversity and ecology of our country and not one that is dominated by the commercial interests and the greed of subsidised farmers and absentee landowners.
Kenny Sludden, Castleview, Colonels Entry, Douglas, South Lanarkshire.
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