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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Severin Carrell Scotland editor

Scottish conservation agency accused of undermining law to protect birds of prey

A gamekeeper with his dog on a grouse moor in Scotland
New licences were introduced to prevent gamekeepers persecuting protected birds on estates in Scotland. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters

Wildlife charities have condemned a decision by Scotland’s nature conservation agency to dilute a new law designed to combat the illegal killing of birds of prey.

NatureScot, a government agency, has decided to greatly reduce the area of land affected by a new licensing regime for grouse moors after legal threats from shooting estates and land owners.

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