THE Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) has stated that the Scotland’s political system “marginalises” land managers by favouring scientific knowledge.
A parliamentary petition has been launched on behalf of the SGA that calls on the Scottish Government to “formally recognise local knowledge and ensure it is given full consideration alongside scientific knowledge”.
The SGA said that incorporating local knowledge into policy decisions could “help achieve targets and prevent mistakes which prove costly for species – and taxpayers”.
The petitioner, Helen Ferguson, said equal weight needs to be given to the two knowledge systems when drafting policy.
“We are missing a whole dimension of knowledge in conservation by only seeing things through one lens”, she said.
She added: “A privilege is given to the scientific method in Scotland yet people on the ground have acute observational knowledge.
"They see changes in local environments quicker than anyone else but the respect for that knowledge is presently lacking and gets dismissed as anecdotal. That is wrong.
“Rural workers are often asked to fill in multi-page consultations on important environmental policies. The language used is mumbo jumbo to them.
“It favours NGOs who have time, support, resources and are already engaged with the policy terminology.
"Land managers acquire deep knowledge differently at local level by working daily in these environments but this resource remains untapped because they can’t put their language into the dominant policy framework being used. It is not set up to cater for them.
“That increases their sense of alienation. The decisions feel as if they are imposed rather than it being an equal process beneficial to all.”
The SGA stated that land managers were warning of declining capercaillie populations more than a decade ago but that millions spent on conservation solutions failed to arrest the decline.
They also claim that they issued a warning about the impact hedgehogs were having on wading birds on the Uists years before an emergency rescue trapping plan was implemented, which cost over £5 million.
“These are just some examples but the petition will strike a chord with all land managers who have sat in meetings for decades knowing their views will not make the final cut in policy papers.
“Change is needed, with local knowledge officially recognised”, said SGA Chairman Alex Hogg.
It comes in the wake of the RSPB calling for a ban on the release of millions of gamebirds into the countryside.
Bird flu was recently found in pheasants in Cornwall, Cheshire, and Norfolk, causing concern about the impact the mass release of gamebirds could have on wild populations.
Max Wiszniewski, campaign manager of REVIVE – a coalition of groups calling for the reform of grouse moors – said: "This is a curious step by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association and slightly insulting to the Scottish Government suggesting it doesn't engage widely with stakeholders when making policy decisions.
"If the SGA is serious about influencing the Scottish Government to, in their own words, 'help achieve targets and prevent mistakes which can prove costly for species- and taxpayers' we would encourage them to work with us at REVIVE.
"Our coalition campaigns to reverse the damage which has been carried out over hundreds of years of intensive management of grouse moors to ensure huge swathes of Scotland bring positive benefits to local communities and the economy rather than this land being left barren and devoid of biodiversity simply to satisfy the pleasure of those wishing to shoot grouse purely for entertainment."
