The Fiadh Project
DEER PEOPLE
THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE:
Greater appreciation for the vital work of Scotland's deer stalkers.
The Scottish Government wants to reduce the negative impacts that high deer numbers can have on the environment, to promote woodland restoration, allow peatland recovery, lock up carbon and enhance biodiversity.
Working in challenging conditions, Scotland's deer stalkers have been tasked with delivering these goals and their efforts are already bearing fruit. But this small group of conservation heroes remains largely unrecognised.
AIMING HIGH
Across Corrour Estate and beyond, a profound transformation is underway. Deer numbers are being carefully reduced, rare montane woodlands are returning to once bare hillsides and biodiversity is increasing.
None of this would be possible without Scotland's dedicated deer stalkers. For they are more than deer managers - they are naturalists and botanists with unrivalled local knowledge gleaned from years on the hill. And their unique expertise is proving crucial to achieving Scotland's nature restoration targets.
NATURE'S KEEPERS
Professional deer stalkers are a vital part of Scotland's ambitions for nature recovery. Poorly understood and not always appreciated, their work is critical to restoring habitats, and essential for reversing Scotland's legacy of wildlife declines. As the climate and biodiversity crises escalate, the role of deer managers is evolving, but the need for their knowledge and skills has never been greater. Indeed, Scotland will not meet its nature restoration targets without their help.
