Written Question · S5W-24453 · Session 5
What assessment it has made or is aware of of the ecological impact of the unregulated release of common pheasant and red-legged partridge,…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made or is aware of of the ecological impact of the unregulated release of common pheasant and red-legged partridge, permitted by S.14(2A) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended in Scotland, and whether any assessment has been made of the effect of such releases on conservation objectives for sites classified as (a) Special Protection Areas under the EU Birds Directive and (b) Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive.
The answer
The majority of terrestrial Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in Scotland are co-designated with and underpinned by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Where the release of game birds on an SSSI is potentially damaging, it is listed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) as an operation requiring consent, in considering any application for such consent, SNH must fulfil the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations as regards the assessment of the implications of plans or projects for European sites.
SNH has advised that to date, two applications for consent to release game birds on an SPA or SAC have been received. The assessments concluded that there would be no adverse effect on the sites’ integrity .
There are offences of intentional or reckless damage to SSSIs, SPAs and SACs. Scottish Ministers can also make Nature Conservation Orders to prohibit the carrying out of operations on or near these sites for the purposes of conserving any natural feature for which such land is designated, or is otherwise considered by the Scottish Ministers to be of special interest.
SNH has advised that to date, two applications for consent to release game birds on an SPA or SAC have been received. The assessments concluded that there would be no adverse effect on the sites’ integrity .
There are offences of intentional or reckless damage to SSSIs, SPAs and SACs. Scottish Ministers can also make Nature Conservation Orders to prohibit the carrying out of operations on or near these sites for the purposes of conserving any natural feature for which such land is designated, or is otherwise considered by the Scottish Ministers to be of special interest.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-24453 by reference.