4 minute read
Conservation Matters
SLE has consistently raised strong concerns that the draft licensing order had been shaped with mainly urban businesses in mind and failed to take into account the important role short-term lets play across rural Scotland by providing housing for communities and workers, as well as bringing in vital tourism.
Following thousands of consultation responses expressing concern at the proposed plans, the Scottish Government revised its draft order last autumn to make a number of changes including removing overprovision powers and reducing public liability insurance requirements. However, SLE has consistently highlighted that while such amendments were welcome, they fell far short of meeting needs of rural businesses.
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SLE argues that there are a number of outstanding issues that the licensing order does not address including a one size fits all approach that fails to reflect the diversity of rural businesses as well as being based on a flawed Business & Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) that excludes previous Scottish Government work on the value of short-term lets in rural communities. Further issues include no differentiation between well-managed and reputable businesses who already comply with existing health and safety legislation, and more casual, informal hosts, alongside potentially disproportionate license fees and threats that up to threeyear licenses could be withdrawn in the future
Scottish Land & Estates Policy Adviser, Simon Ovenden, said: “We’re extremely disappointed that these proposals have been passed by the Scottish Parliament, albeit with some welcome opposition that recognised the damage that this legislation will have on rural businesses.
“While we understand the need for action in some localised situations, we have constantly warned of the dangers of a one size fits all approach. This urbanfocused licensing order being imposed on rural Scotland, with evidence suggesting that the excessive bureaucracy and spiraling costs could now lead to many businesses closing with a knock-on impact to the local communities they serve.
Dr Louise de Raad joins Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust as Head of Research Scotland and Director of the Scottish Research and Demonstration Farm
Dr Louise de Raad has joined the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust as Head of Research Scotland and also Director of the Scottish Research and Demonstration Farm at Auchnerran, near Aboyne on Deeside.
Her work for GWCT in Scotland will include developing and overseeing all research projects and all research and demonstration farm staff. Currently Scottish research staff include four post-doctoral scientists, two research assistants and four placement students.
She will also take on responsibility for managing all aspects of operations at the Game and Wildlife Demonstration Farm at Auchnerran, Aberdeenshire (GWSDF), including the farming, research, and the demonstration and outreach activity.
Louise joins GWCT from the University of the Highland and Islands (Inverness College UHI) where she was a Research Fellow specialising in behavioural and spatial ecology and wildlife management, and where she was leading the Forestry and Conservation research group. Her main research area investigates the impact of human disturbance on protected species and balancing human-wildlife interests.
Earlier she completed her BSc in Tropical Land Use and MSc in Tropical Nature Conservation at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and, as part of her post graduate degree, worked on the Zoological Society of London’s Tsaobis Leopard Project in Namibia, which laid the foundation for her PhD at Durham University where she investigated the cognitive abilities of chacma baboons in South Africa.
With a strong track record in initiating and leading collaborative, multi-stakeholder research that directly influences management guidance and practices and contributes to regional policies, Louise’s experience gives her a breadth of perspective that will be of huge value in her new role.
Rory Kennedy, Director Scotland, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, says:
“Louise will be leading our research and demonstration activities in Scotland and will significantly enhance our scientific capabilities. This is research that informs and directs practical conservation and land management outcomes throughout the country.
“In addition to overseeing our wider research activities, her new role represents an opportunity to develop and lead a programme of research at our Auchnerran demonstration farm that will influence the management of upland livestock farms. This facility seeks to demonstrate profitable farming that supports biodiversity, while embracing the progression towards low carbon farming.” Dr Louise de Raad said:
“I am absolutely delighted to be working for the GWCT and to lead the research team in Scotland. I am very fortunate to have worked at Inverness College UHI where I was given the opportunity to expand my knowledge of land management in Scotland and work on a variety of species whilst turning my science into policy and management practice.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I am getting to know my new team better and I am looking forward to working with everyone to ensure we deliver the robust science that is needed to inform and guide our conservation work and farming and land management practices and policy in Scotland.
“I am committed to undertaking research to enhance the ability of farms and estates to contribute effectively to national efforts to mitigate climate change and enhance biodiversity through nature-based solutions and am dedicated to collaborative research and building a strong network of external contacts to help us do that.”
Dr Louise de Raad
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust can provide farm and shoot biodiversity assessments and advise how to achieve biodiversity net gain. Talk to the GWCT
