Deer management discussion at the SNP conference

At the SNP conference fringe, the Trust chaired discussions with policymakers and environmental experts on how collaboration can help meet Scotland’s nature and climate targets.

We joined MSPs and fellow E-NGOs at the Scottish National Party (SNP) conference fringe event on Monday, where we explored the current state of deer management in Scotland (one of our three key manifesto asks for the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections) and what a sustainable future with thriving wild places would look like.

The Trust's Head of Campaigns Thomas Widrow chaired the panel, posing the question of how to tackle the unsustainable number of deer in Scotland and their affect on nature. He was joined by Duncan Orr-Ewing of RSPB and Environment LINK, Deirdre Stewart from Association of Deer Management Groups and Dr Alasdair Allan MSP.

This first question was answered by Duncan Orr-Ewing, who responded by saying that all landowners need to play their part to manage deer to more sustainable levels.

Deirdre Stewart followed, speaking about the importance of retaining skills, understanding what new deer management jobs will look like and the need to resource communities and their needs. She said: ‘We need a route map in how that can be delivered.’

When the panel was asked how we can achieve that future vision and what the main barriers are to progress, Dr Alasdair Allan MSP acknowledged that the variety of views and interests involved are challenging, while Duncan Orr-Ewing called on NatureScot to use their powers to the full.

The panel looked at the opportunities sustainable deer management can bring to wild places and audience questions and discussion explored the link between deer management and land reform.

This highlighted that land in Scotland has been used for many purposes over thousands of years, with what we see as traditional deer stalking being relatively recent as a land use.

Discussion rounded off by looking at whether and how we can learn from practice in other countries, particularly in Scandinavia.  

Many thanks to our panel and to our audience for engaging in a critical issue that must be gripped if Scotland is to tackle nature restoration and meet its climate targets in a meaningful way. 

Chair and the Trust's Head of Campaigns Thomas Widrow (pictured above) said: "It was encouraging to see such a strong turnout and level of engagement on Monday as we discussed issues central to Scotland’s nature and climate ambitions.

"The panel session highlighted the shared recognition that restoring wild places will take collaboration and practical action from across sectors."