Deer Framework for the Cairngorms National Park Published by The Cairngorms National Park Authority 14 The Square Grantown-on-Spey Moray PH26 3HG Tel: 01479 873535 Fax: 01479 873527 Email: [email protected] www.cairngorms.co.uk © CNPA. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-906071-13-4 For a large print version of this publication, please contact the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Tel: 01479 873535. It can also be viewed at www.cairngorms.co.uk and is available in other formats on request. Photos: David Gowans, Neil McIntyre, Will Boyd Wallis, www.cairngormlandscapes.co.uk Illustrations: Justin Prigmore Foreword 03 Facal-toisich The Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group (CDAG) I would like to congratulate all those who have is a body with members drawn from many contributed to this Framework for their hard different backgrounds, working together to find work and sharing their expertise. This common ground in the debate about deer. At the Framework is not an end in itself, but rather part heart of this is the recognition that there is scope of a process, ensuring deer are viewed positively for a diversity of deer densities within the Park. in the Cairngorms National Park. Deer are a The Framework is a result of much debate and fantastic asset, appreciated by residents and discussion to set that image into words. It has not visitors alike, as well as being an important part been an easy process. Some may feel that of our cultural heritage. Of course, being an points/issues have been missed, and they are important part of the special qualities of the Park welcome to raise this through CDAG. Our hope brings with it responsibilities for careful is that, guided by the Deer Framework, policies management, to ensure that the special habitats will be set by careful consideration of multiple in the National Park are cared for. views. This will help multiple land uses to flourish David Green, Convener, within the Park, with scope for all of these to Cairngorms National Park Authority support this iconic mammalian species long into the future. Bu mhath leam meal-an-naidheachd a chur air a Michael Hone, Chairman, h-uile duine airson an obair chruaidh agus an Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group eòlas a chuir iad seachad air an Fhrèam seo. Chan eil am Frèam seo a’ tighinn gu crìch ged-tà, Tha Buidheann Comhairleachaidh air Fèidh a’ ach tha e mar phàirt de phròiseas, a’ dèanamh Mhonaidh Ruaidh (CDAG) na buidheann le buill cinnteach gun tèid fèidh fhaicinn mar rud bho mòran diofar shuidheachaidhean, ag obair buannachdail do Phàirc Nàiseanta A’ Mhonaidh còmhla air deasbaid nam fèidh. ’S e cnag na cùise Ruaidh. Ann an da-rìribh, ’s e deagh bhuannachd gun tèid aithneachadh gu bheil cothrom ann a th’ ann am fèidh. Tha iad a’ còrdadh ri muinntir airson diofar dhlùiths de fhèidh a bhith air taobh an àite agus luchd-tadhail agus tha iad mar phàirt a-staigh na Pàirce. chudromach de ar dualchas cultural. Gun teagamh, air sgath gur iad nam pàirt chudromach Tha am Frèam seo na thoradh de gu leòr de chomharraidhean shònraichte na Pàirce, tha deasbaireachd agus beachdachadh gus an dealbh uallach ann a bhith gan stiùireadh gu faiceallach sin a chur ann am faclan. Chan eil e air a bhith gus a bhith cinnteach gun tèid cùram a ghabhail furasta. Dh’fhaodadh gum bi cuid den bheachd gu air àrainnean sònraichte na Pàirce Nàiseanta. bheil puingean/ceistean a dhìth, agus faodaidh iad seo a thogail le CDAG. Tha sinn an dòchas, le David Green, Neach-gairm, stiùireadh bho Fhrèam nam Fèidh, gum bi Ùghdarras Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh poileasaidhean air an steidheachadh air cnuasachadh cùramach bho tòrr diofar bheachdan. Cuidichidh seo gus diofar dhòighean- cleachdaidh fearainn a shoirbheachadh taobh a- staigh na Pàirce, le cothrom airson na dòighean-cleachdaidh seo uile taic a chur ris an gnè sònraichte seo airson an àm ri teachd. Michael Hone, Cathraiche, Buidheann Comhairleachaidh air Fèidh a’ Michael Hone David Green Mhonaidh Ruaidh DEER FRAMEWORK FOR THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK • Contents 05 Foreword 03 ■ 1. Introduction 07 ■ 2. Vision 11 ■ 3. Deer Species in the Cairngorms National Park 12 ■ 4. Deer and their Habitats 13 ■ 5. The Economic Value of Deer 14 ■ 6. The Social Significance of Deer 17 ■ 7. Deer Management 19 ■ 8. Awareness and Understanding 21 ■ 9. Sustaining the Deer Resource 23 ■ 10. Delivery 25 DEER FRAMEWORK FOR THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK • 1. Introduction 07 The significance of deer to the Cairngorms National Park Although red and roe deer are native1 to In law, free-living, wild deer belong to no-one, Britain as a whole, there is perhaps no place but are managed as a shared resource. more fitting for seeing them than in the native Ensuring that deer populations are managed Caledonian forests, the open heather effectively can be complex, especially when moorland and montane plateau of the neighbouring landholdings have different land Cairngorms National Park. management objectives which require different Red and roe deer are the largest and arguably densities of deer. The grazing impacts of other the most popular of all species of land species: sheep and cattle, rabbits and hares and mammal in the Cairngorms National Park. In even small rodents, can also be significant the absence of any natural predators, it is when considering the management of deer. down to man to ensure their populations are From a purely ecological point of view this can managed. Ensuring deer numbers are be complicated. Add on social and economic maintained at levels whereby the habitat upon objectives to maintain local employment, which they depend is not depleted and they tourism income, cultural heritage, food have sufficient food and shelter, requires production, timber and wood fuel, carbon careful planning and sensitive negotiation, in sequestration, water management, moorland particular between neighbouring landowners. and sporting management, and you have a subject that has an impact on many people living, working or visiting the National Park. 1 Naturally occurring in the UK DEER FRAMEWORK FOR THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK • 08 Introduction The purpose of the Deer Framework National and local policy combined How do we ensure that deer and their The Cairngorms National Park Plan 2007-2012 habitats are sustained into the future in one (CNPA, 2007) contains seven priorities for of the nation’s most prized landscapes? We action, one of which is ‘Supporting Sustainable must determine that future generations of Deer Management’. This is a priority because deer, or the habitat upon which they depend, it is recognised that there are strongly held are not disadvantaged by current day-to-day views about deer and their management, decisions in relation to deer management. which have been particularly prominent in The Deer Framework for the Cairngorms the Cairngorms National Park. The Deer National Park seeks to acknowledge the many Framework seeks to address the controversial different values that people attribute to deer. issues that surround deer. It aims to bring together those with an The Scottish Government’s strategy interest in their management and promote document, Scotland’s Wild Deer – A National respect for a range of different management Approach (2008), provides a national policy objectives and encourage a spirit of framework aimed at ensuring deer and their co-operation and compromise. management contribute to ‘a high quality, robust and adaptable environment, sustainable economic development and social well being’. The Deer Framework for the Cairngorms National Park provides a locally based and locally led focus for delivering national policy. The recently passed Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill seeks to help deliver legislation that will support deer management appropriate to the times. The Bill stipulates that a Code for Deer Management is to be drafted by Scottish Natural Heritage. The Code will clarify the requirements for responsible deer management. The Deer Framework will work alongside the Code in guiding deer management practice in the Cairngorms National Park. • DEER FRAMEWORK FOR THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK 09 Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group Membership of CDAG: The Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group • Access and Recreation representative (CDAG) has worked in partnership with the • Association of Cairngorms Community Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) Councils (2 members) to prepare the Deer Framework. CDAG was • Association of Deer Management Groups set up in 2006 to: • British Association of Shooting and • promote better communication and Conservation understanding between all organisations with • British Deer Society an interest in deer and their management in the National Park; • Cairngorms National Park Authority • Cairngorms Speyside Deer Management • advise the CNPA on deer and their Group management. • East Grampian Deer Management Group Deer management groups (DMGs) and the Association of Cairngorms Communities are • East Loch Ericht Deer Management Group represented on this group to give both a land • Forestry Commission Scotland management and a local perspective. Public • Midwest Association of Deer Management agencies and other voluntary organisations and Groups interest groups help to provide a national • Monadhliath Deer Management Group perspective. • Scottish Environment LINK (2 members) • Scottish Gamekeepers Association • Scottish Natural Heritage • West Grampian Deer Management Group DEER FRAMEWORK FOR THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK • 2. Vision 11 A Vision for deer in the Cairngorms National Park The following