Home / Environment / Scotland Funds Goose Cull Amid Machair Crisis
Scotland Funds Goose Cull Amid Machair Crisis
3 Mar
Summary
- Scottish government allocates additional £20,000 for goose culling.
- Greylag geese damage crops and threaten biodiversity on coastal meadows.
- Increased funding aims to balance crofting needs with nature conservation.
The Scottish government has allocated an additional £20,000 to support the culling of greylag geese in North and South Uist, located in the Western Isles. This funding brings the total annual budget for goose control in Uist to £30,000.
These geese feed on machair, which are coastal meadows vital for agriculture and grazing. Their increasing numbers have caused significant damage to crops, forcing crofters to harvest silage earlier for livestock feed. This, in turn, negatively impacts rare bird species like the corncrake and native wildflowers.
The Scottish Crofting Federation requested increased support for culling to ensure a balance between crofters and wildlife. The government acknowledges the responsibility to protect the machair's unique living landscape and its internationally important biodiversity, including wildflowers, waders, corncrake, and bumblebees, while sustaining traditional crofting practices.
