Question reference: S6W-20660
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 15 August 2023
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Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 September 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations of the Scottish Wildlife Trust publication, Saving an icon: Final report from the Developing Community Action Phase of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, published in April 2023, and whether it will consider reconvening the Scottish Squirrel Group to revise the national strategy for red squirrel conservation.
Answer
The Scottish Government fully appreciates the work being undertaken and the progress made through the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project to protect and expand populations. It is particularly encouraging to see the partnership approach that has been undertaken by a number of individuals, communities and landowners who have volunteered their time to make a significant contribution to help protect Scotland’s red squirrels. This project has demonstrated that a mix of voluntary and funded action can provide a sustainable long term future for this much-loved species.
NatureScot remains committed to ensuring the important work undertaken by Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels continues, and has provided funding for a two-year transition since the Developing Community Action Phase of the project ended in April 2022.
The Scottish Squirrel Group will be reconvened this autumn to begin revising the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation, which was last updated in 2015.