BASC has responded to the consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill which includes proposals that may affect shooting and stalking on national forest estate.
BASC’s main concerns relate to Forestry Commission Scotland’s proposals to enter into joint ventures (with the intention of participating in renewable energy programmes) and the possible leasing of part of the national forest estate to private forestry interests. BASC has already experienced one of its own stalking schemes being lost due to a lease being given to a renewable developer.
BASC’s director for Scotland, Dr Colin Shedden, said: “The proposals state that new leases to private forestry interests would spell out such safeguards as the need to observe the UK Forestry Standard and to protect the interests of existing stakeholders. We are broadly supportive of this proposal as long as the presumption is made that existing sporting leases continue to operate alongside joint ventures, whenever possible.”
ENDS