Buzzard (photo: ahisghett)
Funding under the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland have been used for new and innovative schemes based on prevention, intelligence, and enforcement to tackle wildlife crime throughout Scotland
Three of the successful projects are set to be discussed at the Scottish police wildlife crime conference at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, Perthshire, today (Wed 23 February).
Examples under the £169,924 committed so far include:
● The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland received £20,000 towards a wildlife DNA forensic testing laboratory to ‘establish a world class DNA forensic laboratory’ to provide services across the UK and beyond. Work included testing of samples for Scottish wildlife crime investigations in its first year;
● The University of Strathclyde used £5,000 for its work in linking the recovery of human DNA from animal parts to provide evidence of contact – i.e. linking poison baits with vehicles, guns, containers and suspects or deer grallochs and remains with meat in butchers’ shops and restaurants;
● The Morvern deer poaching initiative, an £8,083 trial and development of a model to appoint and support a seasonal deer watcher to tackle locally intense deer poaching issues. No poaching incidents were recorded over last winter following the high profile employment of a ‘watcher’.
Minister for the environment Roseanna Cunningham said: “It is clear that wildlife crime has a range of repercussions in our communities and this fund has helped us maintain our vigilance in relation to wildlife crime, its causes, and effects. Wildlife crime takes many forms: from badger persecution and illegal poisoning of wild birds, to illegal fishing of freshwater pearl mussels and bat persecution.
“This funding signals the Scottish Government’s clear and continuing intention to tackle the root causes of wildlife crime and address the often harrowing suffering caused by wildlife crime to Scotland’s native wild animals.”
The initial £200,000 PAW fund was launched in 2009 and is administered by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Other projects included:
● The PAW Scotland funding contributed to the national wildlife crime unit which received £42,000 for its Scottish investigations support officer. The post has been key to reinforcing police forces throughout Scotland. Direct assistance was given in 17 cases as well as wildlife crime investigations and training;
● Grampian Police’s tactical and co-ordination group was awarded £36,461 for additional support to police forces for covert operations across Scotland. A total of six operations were agreed or funded;
● The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) received £18,971 for a Cairngorms raptor track project to fit six satellite tags to three raptor species in the park as a deterrent to persecution by poisoning and shooting;
● The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust ran ‘snare and trap’ training courses for wildlife crime specialists following a £3,498 award to mount the awareness raising course for wildlife crime professionals – police and procurators fiscal – in the legal setting and use of traps and snares;
● The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) received £2,438 for two courses schooling individuals to provide training in the use of snares compliant with best practice. The course has resulted in four full-time trainers providing courses;
● Scottish Badgers Group received £12,660 toward badger crime training available to police, and public information;
● The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland (RSPB) was awarded £10,000 towards the ‘eyes to the skies’ project – a scheme to fit satellite tags to 14 kites in 2009 and a further seven last year to deter persecution;
● The Bat Conservation Trust was awarded £5,463 towards the cost of providing impact statements to support prosecutions, the trial use of UV lights in identifying bat roosts and the production of producing information and awareness materials for wildlife crime officers;
● The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) was given £4,720 for a poaching and hare wildlife crime priority action plan.
Ron Macdonald, SNH’s head of policy and advice said: “The aim of the fund was to provide support to increased efforts by the private and public sector to combat the damage to our natural and cultural heritage. We are delighted that the grant scheme is having such a positive effect, particularly through supporting greater detection and enforcement of wildlife crime.
“We must not forget that wildlife crime impacts on everyone who enjoys and relies on Scotland’s countryside from our farmers, land managers and stalkers, to hill walkers and ramblers. We are committed to tackling wildlife crime and will work with others in stamping it out.”