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22 December, 2016

SNH response to RSPB news release about General Licence consultation

We conducted a public consultation on the use of General Licences for 2017. Our response considered the wide range of opinions expressed, and we believe our response presents a balanced and considered approach to licensing. Our aim is to have General Licences which are enabling, clear, proportionate, flexible and legally compliant. They also need to balance species conservation with the wide range of other legitimate activities, interests and concerns from land-management to public health and safety. 

Issuing general licences avoids the need for individual licences and is a light-touch approach to regulation based on the following key principles:
 
-  They cover relatively common activities addressing well-established issues or situations where people may otherwise inadvertently be at risk of committing an offence.
-  The actions permitted follow relatively standardised practices.
-  They cover situations where we accept that there may be no other satisfactory solution.
-  Their use will not compromise the conservation status of the species affected.
-  Their conditions, including reporting requirements and other responsibilities placed upon users, will be proportionate to the potential risks of what is permitted.
 
Robbie Kernahan, SNH’s Head of National Operations, said:

 

“We’re confident that our General Licences don’t contribute to wildlife crimes in any way. The most recent Wildlife Crime in Scotland report lists 18 cases of recorded bird of prey crimes in Scotland in 2014-15, none of which are related to misuse of a General Licence. We have a very firm stance on wildlife crime and are key members of Partners Against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAW Scotland). We certainly wouldn’t take forward actions that we felt would help people undertake wildlife crimes.

 

“General Licences are a legitimate tool to manage certain species for specific purposes, such as to protect crops. We’re confident that their use is not detrimental to the conservation status of any of the birds listed on them. The licences are subject to specific terms and conditions and failing to comply with them may constitute a crime, as is using them for purposes other than how they are intended.  We conducted a public consultation on the use of General Licences for 2017 and our response considered the wide range of opinions expressed, and we believe our response presents a proportionate and considered approach to licensing.”

Contact information

Name
SNH Media
Email
snhmedia@snh.gov.uk

NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. Responding to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, we work to protect and restore nature by inspiring everyone to value our natural world. Our goal is a nature-rich, net-zero future for Scotland. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot

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