Additional Funding for Goose Culling in Uist
The Scottish government has allocated an extra £20,000 to support the culling of greylag geese in North and South Uist, located in the Western Isles.
These greylag geese number in the thousands and feed on machair, which are coastal meadows utilized for both crop cultivation and livestock grazing.
Concerns Raised by Scottish Crofting Federation
Last month, the Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) expressed concerns regarding the excessive population of geese and requested increased funding to facilitate culls, aiming to achieve a balance between crofters and the bird population.
Government Response and Budget Increase
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie announced that the additional funding raises the annual budget for control measures in Uist to £30,000.
"Machair is one of Scotland's most remarkable living landscapes,"Fairlie stated.
"We have a responsibility to protect its existence and maintain internationally important biodiversity benefits, iconic species of wildflowers, waders, corncrake and bumblebees.
Traditional crofting on the machair is about sustaining people and nature."
Impact of Greylag Geese on Crofting and Wildlife
The minister highlighted that the rising numbers of greylag geese have been causing considerable damage to crops. Consequently, crofters are compelled to harvest silage earlier in the year to ensure winter feed availability for their cattle.
This adjustment has a cascading effect on rare bird species such as the corncrake, as well as on wildflowers.
Calls for Increased Funding and Historical Context
The cross-party group on crofting at Holyrood has also petitioned the Scottish government for enhanced funding to support shooting schemes aimed at controlling the goose population.
Crofters have long warned about the threat that greylag geese pose to their traditional way of life. Four years ago, the SCF described the situation as an "explosion" in the number of these birds.
Greylag geese are the largest breed of wild goose native to the British Isles. Their preferred habitats include farmland, wetlands, and grasslands.
