Wildlife in question

I have three questions for Alex Hogg Letters, 12 January):

1, What evidence is there that "stock and other wildlife is declining at an alarming rate" due to predation by protected predators? 2, Is he aware of a recent paper showing that the presence of top predators helps biodiversity conservation? and 3, Is it plausible that the interpretation of the European Birds Directive would do anything "to allow Scotland's economic and wider biodiversity interests to be served"? The reverse is likely to be the case.

PATRICK STIRLING-AIRD

Secretary

Scottish Raptor Study Groups

Old Kippenross

Dunblane, Perthshire