New legislation to help protect birds of prey and peatland welcomed by Highlands Green MSP
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Scottish Green Highlands MSP Ariane Burgess has hailed new laws to protect birds of prey and peatland as a 'significant step towards ending the nature emergency'.
The Scottish Government's Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill will be debated in the chamber at Holyrood later today as the final part of its passage through parliament.
It is a key part of the co-operation agreement which took Scottish Greens into government.
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Scottish Greens rural affairs spokesperson Ariane Burgess MSP said: “This is an important Bill that was a key commitment in the co-operation agreement that brought the Scottish Greens into Government.
"It is one piece of a new approach to land management which could reverse species loss and ecological decline, while creating rural jobs in stewarding our greatest asset: our natural world.
“It will be a significant step forward in terms of protecting our landscapes and tackling the scourge of wildlife crime, in particular the killing of Scotland’s golden eagles and other birds of prey.
"I welcome the new powers being given to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“These are the bold, practical actions and protections that the Scottish Greens and wildlife campaigners have long called for.”
The Bill will also regulate and restrict muirburn in the Scottish uplands.
Ms Burgess said: “The burning of Scotland's uplands to increase the number of grouse in shooting estates is bad for nature and bad for our climate.
"I am proud that this Bill will finally end this damaging practice on peatlands and regulate it elsewhere.”
