Question reference: S6W-02664
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 6 September 2021 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 September 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support red squirrel conservation, following the conclusion of the five-year Developing Community Action phase of the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels project.
Answer
The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrel project has been running since 2008. The Developing Community Action phase of the project is due to run until April 2022.
Partners have agreed that that essential elements of the community action phase will need to continue and hence partners have also agreed to develop an interim phase to bridge the gap to develop a longer term model for continuing to support these activities. NatureScot is working with partners to assess the key outcomes and costs for this interim phase, and will look to provide a funding contribution once these costs and priorities are clear.
NatureScott considers that securing the legacy of this project is a priority given the importance of red squirrels in Scotland’s native wildlife.