Scottish Countryside Alliance - The year ahead
Our ongoing campaign work over the last year will continue to develop over the...
View DetailsOur ongoing campaign work over the last year will continue to develop over the coming months in 2025, and our team will keep an eye on any rural legislation that will directly impact our members and supporters.
The Scottish National Party are responsible for passing devolved legislation through the Scottish parliament and the influence of the Scottish Greens is still a threat to our rural way of life. There is a real danger that legislation, such as the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act, may be heavily influenced by the green agenda, and anti-fieldsports organisations.
NatureScot and the Scottish Government are developing new ways of regulating activities, such as deer management, and full cost recovery for all wildlife management licences, as well as firearms licensing. We continue to work with MSP's and Ministers to help shape new legislation so that it is proportionate and fair.
The Scottish Countryside Alliance has been successful in campaigning for a Hunting with Dogs Act that is fit for purpose for our members. Licensable activities have taken place across all regions of Scotland, and it is the continual campaigning from the Scottish Countryside Alliance and our members that has enabled NatureScot to review their licensing guidance with a fresh perspective so as to provide an improved service for all licence applicants. We will continue to hold both NatureScot and The Scottish Government to account until what was passed in the Act is delivered.
We are currently engaging with the Scottish Government about proposed deer management legislation being pushed through Parliament relating to deer culling figures, incentivising land managers and licensing of deer stalkers to carry out the necessary culling activities. We will continue to push for proper incentivisation and legislation to ensure these deer management operations are recognised as an important activity as part of the government net zero plans.
Our team will be speaking to MSPs across all parties over the next 12 months to push the rural agenda into the forefront of the parliamentary agenda. We are pushing back on adverse legislation, ensuring that rural policies are on an equal footing with central belt politics.
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Our ongoing campaign work over the last year will continue to develop over the...
View DetailsOver the last year, we have engaged with MSP's, Ministers and government...
View DetailsIn this article, first published in My Countryside magazine, Jake Swindells...
View DetailsWe are the most effective campaigning organisation in the countryside.