Deer managers, community organisations and other interested groups are coming together this week to share information and opinion on the future of deer management in the Cairngorms National Park.
Organised by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS), the event in Tomintoul on Thursday (28 July) is primarily aimed at helping the Park Authority to develop its approach to deer issues within the National Park Plan.
The Cairngorms National Park Plan will spell out the policies and strategies for the Park over the next five years on everything from land management and conservation to affordable housing. The Park Plan, which is due for publication in 2006, is a guide for all agencies and groups operating in the Park and not just for the CNPA.
Speaking ahead of the seminar, Eric Baird, CNPA Vice-Convener said: “In developing the National Park Plan we need to consult widely and gain a great deal of information and knowledge about all of the issues affecting the Park.
“An event like this deer seminar is a great opportunity for all those involved in deer management, public bodies, community groups and other interested organisations and individuals to get together and discuss how deer management can be developed in the future and thus contribute to the Park Plan.
“We plan to spend a great deal of time on the day looking at the good work that is already being done in the Park and hope to build on that. For example, one of the deer management groups in the Cairngorms is already consulting widely in developing its deer management plan. By consulting others, such as public bodies and community groups, a consensus approach which is good for deer, good for our natural heritage and beneficial to tourism can be achieved.”
There will be an introduction to the Park Plan process at the event as well as a discussion on the setting up of a Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group. The proposal is to establish a group that brings together a range of organisations and individuals with appropriate experience in this sector. The group’s remit would be to act as a sounding board and source of advice to the deer industry and public agencies on deer management and related issues.
Director of the Deer Commission for Scotland, Nick Reiter, said: “This is a useful and welcome opportunity to listen to the various views on deer management in the Cairngorms National Park area. The Deer Commission for Scotland is attending the event very much in listening mode with the aim of gathering valuable information from the individuals and organisations who are taking part.”