A recent article by the excellent investigative operation at The Ferret detailed concerns that Red Squirrels had been killed during a specific felling operation in the Highlands (see here). We should make it clear that Forestry & Land Scotland emphatically deny any wrongdoing although they have promised to improve their “processes and procedures”. Presumably they might be seeking to improve record keeping of surveys that they say were carried out but that they were unable to produce when asked.

However others who monitor Scotland’s wildlife report concerns with felling operations in both the public and private forestry estate affecting numerous supposedly protected species including pine marten, otter and badger as well as red squirrels. Supposedly surveys should be carried out prior to felling but there seems to be no standard policy for this, no system of effective record keeping and no checks to see if it is actually happening. A number of wildlife groups have told us that they are aware of felling operations causing damage or disturbance to ‘protected’ wildlife on numerous occasions. Given the extensive levels of forestry in Scotland and the sparsity of population using many of the forests it seems likely that these incidents are merely the tip of the iceberg and that many will go undiscovered.

There seems to be little point in encouraging volunteers to set up groups to protect various species and devote enormous amounts of effort, time and money to preserving them when forests are being felled without proper precautions being taken. The current system for licensing clearly needs to be reviewed and clarified so that everyone involved knows what is expected of them and is equipped to carry it out. Scotland’s wildlife is seriously depleted and the little that remains needs to be properly protected.

We are often told by the Scottish Government that we should be proud of our iconic wildlife. Perhaps they should show some pride in it themselves.