The Scottish Wildlife Trust has today considered the publication of the report of the Mar Lodge Independent Review Panel.

The report, commissioned by the National Trust for Scotland to review and make recommendations for the management of the Mar Lodge Estate’s deer population. The 20,000-hectare Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms National Park is one of the most highly designated areas of land in Scotland, recognised for internationally important fauna and flora, geology, wild landscapes, built heritage and archaeology. The Scottish Wildlife Trust believes that Scotland currently has unsustainably high deer populations which results in damage to habitats, ecosystems and the welfare of the deer themselves.

Jonathan Hughes, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Director of Conservation said:

“In our view NTS has made a real difference to conservation in the Cairngorms since taking on Mar Lodge Estate. It is fantastic to see such a big area within the Cairngorms National Park being managed for nature, heritage and public access so well. The estate is effectively now a valuable public asset and that is to be celebrated.

“On the issue of deer management, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s view is clear; in the absence of large predators, red and roe deer densities have risen to unsustainable levels in many parts of Scotland and there is compelling evidence this is having profound impacts on woodland habitats and broader ecosystem health. We support a continued reduction in deer numbers at Mar Lodge and believe NTS's approach to date has been both proportionate and effective.”