Deer In and Around Towns FES Background Forest Enterprise Scotland - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Scottish Lowlands Forest District -Deer Management Deer In and Around Towns

FES Background • Forest Enterprise Scotland is an agency of Forestry Commission Scotland charged with managing the National Forest Estate. • 650,000ha Very Rural to Urban. 2/3 woodland • Multi- Functional – economic, environment, social • 10 Forest Districts • 1 of 3 DMOs covering FES. • Deer Management but linked to Land management

Scottish Lowlands Forest District Map

Scottish Lowlands FD Background • Number of people – over 3.6 million • Local authorities – 22 • MSP Constituencies – 53 • National Forest Estate Woodland area ( approx 26000 hectares. • Timber production >150,000m3 p/a • Restocking area (approx 400 hectares p/a) • SG – increase in tree planting to 15000 hectares pa.

Resources for SLFD Deer Management • Annual Cull > 1500 deer per year. • 1 x Wildlife Ranger Manager • 2 x Wildlife Rangers • 4 x Deer Culling Contractors • 8 x Permissions equalling 29 Recreational deer stalkers. • Always under review and changes depending on forest operations.

Urban Sites - Callender Wood 94 ha in size Average TI Count = 19 deer/100 ha Average annual cull = 12 deer/100ha

Link to YouTube video presentation https://youtu.be/wWb-M4KVJxw

Urban Site - Cuningar Loop Approx 30 ha in size Count using stealth cameras – 12 Cull in 3 months = 9 (30/100ha)

Urban Site – Green Oak Hill Size = 43 ha TI count = 27 ( 67 deer /100ha) Cull = 27. ( 67 deer /100 ha Still known present = 5 deer.

A few points on about moving forward • Culling will continue on the NFE with the aim of lower background deer populations . • Where we can, we will work collaboratively with neighbours and local land owners. • Planting in the lowlands will continue to increase inline with SG objectives and CSGN. • Knowledge and methods for urban deer management will continue to progress