Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Parliament has circulated a consultation at Stage 1 of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. In its circulation, the Parliament states;
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee is seeking your views on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced by the Scottish Government on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
What does the Bill do?
The Bill aims to support the protection and restoration of Scotland’s natural environment, and to assist the delivery of the Scottish Government’s net zero and biodiversity objectives. The Policy Memorandum for the Bill defines the ‘natural environment’ as:
“all naturally occurring living things, which we call biodiversity. Biodiversity is the web of life. It is the variety of all living things and the ecosystems where they live (on land or in water). It comprises the living organisms in a particular space, whether in a window-box, garden, park, meadow, peatland, river, loch, estuary, ocean, beach or mountain top”.
You can submit your views via the following link.
It is fair to say that there are several concerns about the deer management provisions in the Bill. It will increase the bureaucratic burden on those involved in deer management, and the objectives of the Bill are not specific in respect of deer management and nature restoration.
The Bill also proposes mandatory training for those involved in stalking and increased enforcement powers for Nature Scot.
The Consultation closes on 9 May 2025. Whilst we are working on a response to the Bill and will keep you updated on progress, we are also seeking your views, especially if you have been involved in local deer management groups.
As background, the following link takes you to the Scottish Parliament's first meetings of the Bill committee and the views of officials. It helps formulate a response to hear or read those views.
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
Should you wish to contribute to our response, please don’t hesitate to contact the office at info@scas.org.uk or alternatively, 01350 724 228.