Single lane track verged by scots pine and heather

Supporting Sustainable Deer Management

This priority for action focuses on delivering sustainable deer management throughout the Cairngorms by reducing conflict between socio-economic and natural heritage objectives. It will develop a high quality deer management planning process, involving a range of relevant stakeholders and seeks agreement on a large-scale patchwork of densities to meet a range of objectives appropriate to different parts of the Park and will manage populations at levels which conserve and enhance the special natural heritage qualities of the Park. The Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group has been set up to provide advice for this priority for action.

Outcomes for 2012 – what does this priority for action seek to achieve in five years?

  1. There will be a large-scale patchwork of deer densities across the National Park underpinned by an inclusive deer management planning process.
  2. Designated sites will be protected and enhanced and the deer range throughout the Park will be managed to a good environmental standard appropriate to the management unit. This standard will be agreed as an integral part of the deer management planning process.
  3. There will be good communication and understanding between all sectors involved in deer management including public agencies, local communities and other interest groups. Better understanding of objectives, requirements and deer management activities should reduce conflict between different sectors.
  4. The economic value of the deer resource will be enhanced.
  5. There will be more opportunities and fewer perceived barriers for a wider range of people to enjoy deer stalking.

The Cairngorms National Park Plan Progress Report and the Park Plan four-monthly updates update how this priority for action is progressing and what actions have been achieved.