Imbalance on bird crime

Published on Tuesday 29 April 2008 21:29

The Scottish Countryside Alliance is one of a number of rural organisations which have made clear their condemnation of any wildlife crimes which have been proven in court. However, it has grave concerns about the report published this week by the RSPB, which takes a very small number of bird of prey incidents and implies a massive landowner conspiracy (your report, 22 April).

Rural organisations offered to help the RSPB write a joint report which was measured and accurate, but were turned down. This would have helped all sides to move forward constructively on what is a difficult ecological issue.

RSPB statistics do not help to give a balanced view of this issue. In 2006, the RSPB received 1,109 reports of potential offences against birds of prey in the UK, and this headline figure is used prominently in its publicity, but only 13 per cent of these were confirmed and a much smaller number actually resulted in any formal investigation or conviction.

There is a real danger that this type of publicity will obscure the good conservation work being done by shooting estates and undermine Scotland's 250 million-a-year game shooting industry and the employment and security it provides for rural communities.

GEVA BLACKETT

Chief executive, Scottish Countryside Alliance

Ingliston, Edinburgh