The Scottish Greens are doing a fantastic amount to hold the Scottish Government to account on wildlife conservation issues.
Yesterday, Alison Johnstone MSP put Nicola Sturgeon on the spot during First Minister’s Questions. Click on this link to hear Alison ask Nicola Sturgeon “When she will finally act to end raptor persecution in Scotland?”
https://twitter.com/AlisonJohnstone/status/1293601009659510788
The First Minister’s response went as follows (as published in the Official Report of the Scottish Parliament, 12th August 2020):
Remember, this is the first response anyone has heard from the First Minister, despite an avalanche of angry emails following the recent discovery of the poisoned white-tailed eagle on a grouse moor in the Cairngorms National Park (see here), and the news earlier this week about the suspicious disappearance of yet another golden eagle (Tom) on a grouse moor in Strathbraan, a well-known raptor persecution hotspot in Perthshire (see here).
The Scotsman has run a piece today about Alison’s question to the First Minister (see here) and includes commentary about the poisoned sea eagle and the missing golden eagle.
The Scotsman article includes further comment from Alison Johnstone:
“The First Minister described wildlife crime as a priority for the police, but it’s clear that greater action is required by her government if we are to bring an end raptor persecution in Scotland once and for all“.
Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment has just issued a statement about what the Scottish Government intends to do. More on that shortly….
TAKE ACTION
Meanwhile, if you’re sick to the back teeth of illegal raptor persecution on driven grouse moors, please consider participating in this quick and easy e-action to send a letter to your local Parliamentary representative (MSP/MP/MS) urging action. Launched on Saturday by Wild Justice, RSPB and Hen Harrier Action, over 36,000 people have signed up so far.
This means that over 36,000 pre-written letters complaining about illegal raptor persecution and the environmental damage caused by intensive grouse moor management, are winging their way to politicians of all parties across the country. If you want your local politician to receive one, Please join in HERE
Thank you
Raptor Persecution UK 
So, basically, it’s oh yes something must be done and I will get someone to write to you when they can, when time allows and once you write back, I will write back and acknowledge your reply and by that time we will be in a recess then matters will be held over because of the Hollyrood Elections are coming up with a cabinet reshuffle someone else will be responsible, and you can ask the same question and the new person will write to you once they have taken advice, read reports, commissioned a new enquiry and then they will write to you explaining that they are taking the matter seriously and will acknowledge your reply,and…………….
I am always astonished at how protection of birds of prey and the ending of wildlife crime is such a high priority for governments and police forces – yet nothing has changed – except the frustration of everybody involved with and supportive of wildlife protection.
I bet that if conservationists started carrying out criminal acts against shooting estates there would be banner headlines about criminal conservationists and how the RSPB et al should sort that out before pointing the finger at the real criminals.
I have been begging the SNP to implement the recommendations of the Werrity review immediately and licence Grouse Moors. Holyrood passed legislation to end the cull of mountain hares, killed because they MAY carry ticks which infect grouse, but the ban on their uncontrolled slaughter has yet to be implemented. “We need more time to consult” is the cry. Why????? Isn’t it just a case of adding mountain hares to the list of protected species? I am depressed that we are still waiting for action.
It’s proving criminality by the individual that’s the issue – that’s the stumbling block. No-matter how much effort the police put into an investigation, it’s well nigh impossible to come up with incriminating evidence. It’s common knowledge a crime has been committed – the attached tag has stopped signalling at a known time and location and the evidence disposed of, almost immediately. Where, quite clearly, vicarious liability isn’t an option when there is no proof of crime by an employee, persistent wildlife crime, on any estate, should require that estate in question to be subject to a supervision order – in other words, an automatic licensing regime.
“This means that over 36,000 pre-written letters complaining about illegal raptor persecution and the environmental damage caused by intensive grouse moor management, are winging their way to politicians of all parties across the country. If you want your local politician to receive one” …. [CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE END OF RP’s OPENING POST]
This is a quick and easy way to get a large number of protests into circulation.
We all know how these ostriches in Holyrood react to public complaints and they have been trying hard to rubber ear the outcry over the recent wildlife crimes. Nevertheless there comes a point where the number of protests reach a critical mass whereby those that ignore them will sustain political damage.
Don’t be put off by the (understandable) thought that your complaint will be ignored. Small numbers can be (and are) ignored. Ignoring large numbers invites political suicide.
GO FOR IT FOLKS AND GET OTHERS INVOLVED IF YOU CAN.
The Independence for Scotland Party https://www.isp.scot/ will be developing our policy platform and manifesto over the coming months.
I hope to contribute to this and would appreciate information, policy suggestions and/or contacts both re wildlife crime and more general conservation/rural issues. Thank you
If only the Scottish Gov had acted so expeditiously!
At what point does Sturgeon and the SNPs deliberate inaction make them complicit in these crimes?