A landmark decision has been made to enforce deer control measures on a remote Highland estate for the first time in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has approved a compulsory scheme targeting overgrazing deer on the Loch Choire Estate in Sutherland.
This follows years of failed attempts to reach a voluntary agreement with estate managers to prevent widespread habitat damage.
NatureScot, the national nature agency, activated powers under Section 8 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 after ongoing concerns about ecological harm.
The Loch Choire area contains significant areas of peatland and woodland, much of it protected under national conservation designations.
Four Sites of Special Scientific Interest are partially or entirely within the estate boundaries, heightening the urgency of intervention.
NatureScot stressed the decision was not taken lightly, but necessary to avoid long-term degradation of sensitive habitats.
Peatlands in particular are vital carbon stores and play a critical role in climate regulation.
Increased deer numbers have led to excessive grazing and trampling, preventing woodland regeneration and damaging the integrity of peatlands.
Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, gave the green light to the control scheme after a full consultation period.
This marks the first time a compulsory control scheme has been deployed under Scotland’s deer legislation.
Robbie Kernahan, Director of Green Economy at NatureScot, said the agency always prioritises working together with landowners to achieve sustainable solutions.
He said high deer populations can be detrimental to biodiversity and tackling their impact is crucial to the country’s climate and nature targets.
Kernahan emphasised that intervention powers are a last resort when voluntary cooperation breaks down.
He said securing healthy ecosystems requires keeping deer numbers in balance with nature’s capacity.
The move sends a strong message that the protection of Scotland’s natural environment must come ahead of landowner resistance.
Environmental groups have welcomed the decision as a turning point in Scotland’s approach to deer management.
The control scheme will likely include planned culls and monitoring to bring deer numbers in line with conservation goals.
Critics of compulsory control fear it may set a precedent for wider use across other estates, but supporters argue the evidence of damage is clear.
The situation at Loch Choire highlights the challenges facing conservationists in balancing rural land use with environmental protection.
NatureScot will oversee the implementation of the scheme and monitor its impact on key habitats in the coming years.
With climate change and biodiversity loss now front and centre, this decision reflects a new era of proactive land stewardship.
The success or failure of this first control scheme could shape how Scotland tackles similar issues in the future.
