Monarch of the Glen should be respected says Highlands MSP
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor has said that red deer should be seen as a major part of Scotland’s heritage.
He was giving his reaction to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee’s (RACCE) recommendations on deer management groups which were published earlier today.
Mr McGrigor, the Scottish Conservative Environment Spokesman, said: "I read with relief the recommendations from the Parliament’s RACCE Committee on the subject of deer management.
"It seems as though common sense is prevailing on issue which is of great importance to the Highlands and some of the islands.
"The report suggests that it is the impact of deer rather than their number which should be monitored and also that the voluntary deer management system is becoming more effective and is a low cost alternative to any state-run management system.
"It also has the benefit of being run by locals who will know about their own areas.
"It is important that deer management groups who are not fully effective put their houses in order as quickly as possible.
"The red deer herds of Scotland should be seen as a major part of Scotland’s heritage and, as such, as an asset rather than a nuisance. "Rather than have blanket management it is important that the local impacts of deer are dealt with as undoubtedly in some areas there are perhaps too many whilst in other areas numbers have dropped dramatically.
"The red deer provides a good income and employment on land which is severely disadvantaged in agricultural terms and red deer produce a source of excellent, low fat, high protein red meat which is considered a very healthy option.
"The herds of red deer are also important to tourism as the popularity of programmes such as Springwatch on the isle of Rum have highlighted. "The red deer stag is indeed the Monarch of the Glen and should be respected as such."
