Use licences to curb wildlife crime

EVERYONE condemns the illegal killing of birds of prey, but still it keeps happening.

Evidence repeatedly emerges that eagles, red kites and other wild birds are disappearing on moorlands that host red grouse shooting.

Across upland Scotland there are black holes that swallow up raptors so they can’t prey on the grouse.

Conservationists cry foul, but gamekeepers insist it wasn’t them – the same old arguments have been bitterly rehearsed year in, year out.

The Scottish Government has been trying to bring all sides together under a Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Scotland (PAWS). But, as today’s report from the Scottish Parliament’s Environment Committee makes clear, this has been riven with distrust and division.

That doesn’t mean ministers should give up on PAWS – there is always value in trying to get sworn antagonists to talk to each other.

But Scotland now needs a new, tough and reasoned approach.

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham MSP has promised to consider calls for game bird shooting to be licensed, so landowners wanting to profit from shooting parties would have to apply for government permission. If they were suspected of persecuting birds of prey, licences could be refused or withdrawn.

That seems an eminently sensible plan and might actually be effective in curbing wildlife crime.