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21 May 2003
SNH hedgehog farce degenerates into expensive grotesque
(Filed 21st May 03)
www.land-care.org.uk
Craig Brown, writing in the Scotsman 20th May
(1), describes the latest sad state of affairs
with SNH’s attempts to rid North Uist of its hedgehogs in order
to preserve certain birds, such as waders.
Not only has the whole project been grossly mismanaged
over a period of years (2, 3),
but the costs have mounted to the ridiculous. Attempts by SNH to
justify these costs, as described in the Scotsman article, are absurd.
Perhaps it would not matter too much if this
were but a one off - but it is not. Indeed, there is mounting evidence
that the hedgehog debacle is symptomatic of poor land management
(4), poor use of financial resources and poor integration
with the local communities (5, 6)that
have become characteristic of an overstaffed and undertrained SNH.
On a much bigger scale SNH provided the Scottish
Parliament with seriously flawed advice concerning the Land Reform
(Scotland) Bill - which is now an Act. The same seriously flawed
advice is set to continue to flow from SNH with regard to the draft
Scottish Outdoor Access Code (7).
Jack McConnell, on his recent reinstatement as
First Minister for the second Scottish Parliament, emphasised the
necessity to restore the public trust in government. He could do
worse than start with one of his Parliament’s agencies, SNH.
www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Brown, Craig and Merrit, Mike
(2003). Island's hedgehog cull an expensive failure. The Scotsman,
20 May 2003.
http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=568812003.
2. Irvine, James (2003). SNH Hedgehog
Saga. Update 30th April 2003.
(Filed 30 April 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
3. Gamekeepers’ Association
Official Joins Growing Row over Hedgehogs. Oban Times, 9th January
2003.
(Filed 13 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
4. Is SNH a Good Land Manager?
Duich Moss, Islay.
(Filed 9 May 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here to
view).
5. Mitchell, Ian (2003). Crofters
ignored. The Scotsman, 15 April 2003.
(Filed 15 April 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
6. SNH seen as Barrier to Rural
Development.
(Filed 12 May 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
7. Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
SNH Publishes Consultation Document - 27 March 2003.
(Filed 27 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
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