Deer are a central component of Scotland’s ecosystems, contributing vital natural processes through grazing, browsing, trampling, nutrient cycling and seed dispersal. Additionally, in many Scottish communities, deer stalking plays a significant role – providing jobs, food, and for some people, a sense of place and cultural identity.
Nobody contests the value of deer, or the affection these animals inspire. However, in the absence of natural predators and with strong ties to traditional sport shooting, excessive deer numbers in many areas have become a barrier to the recovery of native woodlands and peatlands, reducing biodiversity and impairing climate resilience.
THE CHALLENGE
Shaped by a cocktail of social, cultural and economic influences, discussions around deer management are often characterised by entrenched and impassioned opinions, low trust and siloed thinking. Red deer in particular have become a totem for tensions around wider changes in land management: How can ecological restoration and rural traditions coexist? What should Scotland's landscape look like in the future? Who should it serve and who should have a say? And how do we reach a compromise that everyone can sign up to?
Deer forests – a phenomenon peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland – are large areas of land managed primarily to maintain a resident population of red deer for sport shooting. In many parts of Scotland, these 'forests’ are characterised by an almost total absence of trees.
FINDING THE COMMON GROUND
Throughout The Fiadh Project we will work closely with The Common Ground Forum, a network of stakeholders from across Scotland’s upland deer sector, committed to diffusing the tensions that have stifled conversations around deer management. SCOTLAND: The Big Picture is a signatory to the Common Ground Accord, which sets a new standard for respectful, progressive conversations across this traditionally contested area.
Watch our short film to discover the founding principles of the Forum.
When deer densities are in keeping with the carrying capacity of the landscape, a more dynamic mosaic of habitats can emerge, supporting a greater diversity and abundance of species.
THE FIADH PROJECT
Inspired by the Gaelic word ‘fiadh’ (pronounced FEE-ugh), which refers to both ‘deer’ and ‘the wild’ – this project will produce and share a range of creative resources to catalyse fresh conversations and shift perspectives.
The Fiadh project seeks to encourage a new measure for successful deer management, which places greater emphasis on the recovery of ecological systems, leading to a more diverse, more productive and more resilient landscape, within which the vital role of professional land managers is maintained and valued.
