Scotland’s Wild Deer
A National Approach (wDNA)

In 20 years time there will be:

'Widespread understanding and achievement of ‘sustainable deer management’ – the conservation, control and use of all species of deer’

First wDNA Action Plan is Published

The first wDNA Action Plan covering the period from 2009/10 to 2010/2011 has been published. It represents a co-ordinated approach to sustainable deer management showing how agencies and people across the deer sector will be working together to support and value wild deer. The Action Plan includes:

Deer in and around our towns and cities - working with local authorities to better understand how roe are behaving in and around our towns and what we should or should not be doing with them.

Economic benefits of the venison industry - promoting these benefits as well as encouraging more people to eat this healthy meat.

Protecting special habitats and biodiversity - working in partnership to help ensure balanced deer grazing impacts on important national and international sites and to increase the biodiversity of our countryside while still retaining healthy and viable populations of deer.

Aims of the wDNA

Scotland's wDNA sets out ways to make the most of the wild deer asset, managing deer for the benefit of the nation, and at the same time ensuring that deer welfare is safeguarded. It aims to achieve this through managing deer in a way that secures a high quality, robust & adaptable environment, sustainable economic development and social well-being.

‘wDNA’ sets out principles to guide and balance different interests to help bring about a more inclusive approach to the management of all the deer species of Scotland.

Key Messages

‘wDNA’ will achieve its vision by:

• Providing a Scottish framework to guide local decision making to enhance delivery of deer management
• Developing  inclusive and representative decision making process
• Maximising the wild deer asset to contribute to the local and national economy
• Managing deer as an integral and essential part of biodiversity
• Broadening participation and enjoyment associated with Scotland’s wild deer

Development of Scotland's Wild Deer: A National Approach

Agency Support

The Deer Commission led a partnership approach to developing Scotland’s Wild Deer: A National Approach through a Strategy Steering Group (SNH/FCS/Scottish Government). The Steering Group provided input into the National Approach and oversaw its content and presentation.

Stakeholder Support

An Advisory Group, representative of industry and related interests, provided input into the ‘National Approach’ from its inception through to the final document.  Furthermore they will play an important role in delivering the actions on the ground.

Wider Support

The public consultation elicited 90 responses which have been presented in an Analysis Report. The key themes from these responses have been incorporated into the final ‘National Approach’.

Strategic Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessments

The wDNA was developed in parallel with an assessment of its potential effects on both the environment and socio economics. The results of these assessments are contained within the Environment and Socio-Economic Report.

Questions & Answers

When will the wDNA actions be delivered?

The objectives and actions within the wDNA will be delivered through a series of Implementation Plans. The first action plan been finalised. This plan will co-ordinate activity from 2009 to 2011. Subsequent Implementation Plans will co-ordinate activity over three year periods. Together these implementation plans will help deliver the 20 year vision. 

Who will deliver the actions?

The actions within the wDNA will be carried out by a wide range of organisations including businesses and individuals from the private, voluntary, public and community sectors. Successful delivery of the actions will rely on collaborative effort and in some instances a partnership approach.

How will the proposed merger of DCS/SNH affect the delivery of the wDNA?

SNH are members of the wDNA Steering Group and have been closely involved with the development of the wDNA from inception through to final publication. Synergies between SNH’s corporate plan and the wDNA have already been identified and will help to shape the detail of SNH’s forthcoming annual planning. The role of co-ordinating the wDNA will pass over to SNH as part of the merger.

How will we know if we are achieving the wDNA’s vision?

We will produce annual performance updates on delivery of the wDNA, and measure key performance indicators. Collectively these will demonstrate the extent to which the objectives and actions of the wDNA are being achieved. In addition to this we will review the wDNA on a rolling 5 year timetable to respond to changes over time and ensure that it remains relevant and up to date.

Where will the costs to deliver the wDNA come from?

Deer management is supported from a range of public and private sources. These sources of funding include SRDP (currently available until 2013), other public incentive schemes and private investment. The exact source of funding will depend on the nature of the action and may pull on multiple sources.  Agencies’ work programmes will also play a major role in delivering the wDNA actions.

How does this wDNA fit with other strategies and policies and how will duplication be avoided?

This strategy compliments and builds upon a number of existing rural policies and other wider Scottish Government policies.  Many of the links with other strategies and policies have been identified and more will become apparent as the first implementation plan is finalised.

Delivering the wDNA actions will contribute to the delivery of other related strategies and policies and the delivery of other strategies will contribute to the wild deer strategy. This symbiotic relationship will be captured in the annual progress reports. Related strategies include the top level Scottish Government national priorities as well as specific policy areas e.g. National Transport Strategy, Climate Change Action Plan, Scottish Forest Strategy.

Why will this wDNA last longer than the previous one?

Unlike the first strategy (2001) and long term vision (2000), this new wDNA sets deer in their wider context. This is particularly important in the increasingly integrated approach to land management. This wider context has established a strategy which is more robust and outward looking.

Downloads
wDNA Action Plan	[101KB]
Consultation Draft	[901KB]
Wild Deer in Scotland: - Analysis of Consultation Responses
Environment and Socio-Economic Report	[409KB]
Socio-Economic Report appendices	[339KB]
Environment Report appendices	[2075KB]
Wild Deer Strategy – Monitoring Framework
Post Adoption Statement
wDNA Indicators - June 2009	[46KB]