Rural Community Gateway

The plans are part of Scottish Natural Heritage’s commitment to enhancing and preserving the biodiversity of Rum, which they manage as a National Nature Reserve (NNR).

A 10-year reserve management plan is due for renewal in 2008. SNH’s priority is to restore internationally important open habitats to favourable condition, which can only be achieved through a reduction in grazing pressure.

Responsible approach

SNH area manager for Rum, David Maclennan said, "This will be a working deer management scheme in line with the previous 50 years. We understand the strong sentiment that the issue of the cull has raised but SNH has to take a responsible approach to managing the red deer herd on Rum."

"SNH manages the island on behalf of Scottish Ministers and the people of Scotland – and as such we must take account of many issues including biodiversity, landscape, access, enjoyment and community development as well as opportunities for research. We have made this perfectly clear for the past seven years."

Autumnwatch and research

BBC’s Autumnwatch programme followed the red deer of Rum, with stags Percy and Ivan becoming firm viewer favourites. Rum has been used as an outdoor laboratory for red deer research for almost fifty years with the Kilmory Red Deer research project currently monitoring the herd. The project has information on over 3,500 individually recognised red deer, observed since 1971.

Damage to habitats

However, the artificially high population of red deer has led to overgrazing. SNH have reported that red deer on the island are responsible for the loss of 400 hectares of native woodland and habitats of international importance have been degraded. To allow conditions that ensure trees establish, without the use of fences, a reduction in density to four per 100 hectares is desired.

A Habitat Restoration Programme will see 750,000 trees planted in the ‘East Block’ of the island, south of Loch Scresort, where there are low deer numbers. The first 65,000 trees will be planted in spring of this year.

Why not use fences?

Traditionally, woodlands have been established in fenced off areas, however, SNH have said that problems could arise if this approach was adopted on Rum. Apart from looking unsightly, fencing restricts the freedom to roam and does not sit well with access legislation. There are also concerns that fencing would lead to intense grazing pressure in unfenced areas.

What next?

SNH say they will now work with partners to bring these habitats back to suitable conditions.

SNH's North Areas Director, Susan Davies said, "The current NNR plan expires in 2008, when a new plan for the next 10 years will be introduced. The process for drawing up the new plan, the involvement of the community, key stakeholders and a full public consultation process, is currently being developed by SNH.

"The review of the Plan presents the right opportunity to reflect on what the key public objectives for this important NNR are over the next 10 year period, and in this context where the balance lies between deer research interests and the wider public benefits."

Image courtesy of Draphsor at flickr.com

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