FLS RESPONSE- WE NEED TO STOP OPERATIONS
Hi All
Thanks to each and every one of you who wrote to Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS). We saw many of your submissions and they asked sensible questions and requested scientifically supported actions. You did not submit a standard letter. However as you can see your well thought out emails were met with a standard letter from Graeme Prest, who is the Director of Land management. We know that his less than acceptable response has been met with disgust. It is a classic corporate and evasive response which you have all seen through.
Although the logging may have stopped, according to Graeme, operational work will continue. Timber haulage may sound benign but it is far from it. It creates extensive and forest wide disturbance. Huge logging trucks will be making multiple trips throughout the forest to load logs. Heavy machinery will be used to load the logs and then of course, there is a significant human presence with more associated vehicles. The disturbance is very serious. Loading and haulage is clearly operational work and so the FLS will be breaking their own guidance which states ‘Where this is not appropriate, avoiding operations during the breeding season of the wildcat (February to July) is another way of avoiding damage to possible den sites and disturbance of breeding animals’. Just look at the picture above. This is the reality of haulage. You can imaging the disturbance impact such machinery will have. A wildcat's nightmare.
Also the guidance is fundamentally flawed as it incorrectly identifies the breeding season as Feb to July. However this totally contradicts the scientific knowledge that the mating season occurs in January. A govt commissioned report produced by the IUCN Cat Specialist group states that ‘ Wildcats usually mate and conceive in January to March’ and government published data shows that females are fertile from mid to late December, so mating is also possible then. The FLS guidance is simply ignoring the scientific facts to suit their own purposes.
Detailed surveys are also mentioned my Graeme Prest. However the guidance only requires a ‘walk over’ of the site to find possible den sites. Seriously, this is farcical. Wildcat dens are almost impossible to find. A simple walk over will not find any. Indeed through FOI’s we have found evidence that the FLS ecologists have no idea where den sites are. This extract relates to a previous logging occasion and gives an insight into the reality behind the corporate messaging. An FLS Ecologist said, ’ We all know that we have wild cats present in the Clash - yet we still have no idea where their den sites are and we have not even started looking for resting places which are protected too!’. It is all truly shocking.
So, Graeme’s response highlights 4 major concerns:
That the FLS will be continuing operational work into the breeding season which breaches their own guidance and risks further extensive disturbance across the forest.
He ignores the scientific evidence produce by the same government he works for that January forms part of the breeding season.
He refers to detailed surveys, when all that is actually required is a walk over of the site to look for den sites. We know from previous experience that we that FLS ecologists have no idea where dens sites are.
He states they work closely with Saving wildcats who apparently have over 20 partners. Total and utter garbage. They have 8 partners listed. However 2 are just government departments and 2 are zoos. This is seriously misleading from Graeme.
So, as you know and have seen here, the response you have received is pure greenwashing. The question is what to do next. Well let’s go back to them on the 4 points raised ( and any others you pick out). As Graeme Prest is the person who has replied, please send emails with the subject line FAO GRAEME PREST to this address:corporate@forestryandland.gov.scot
Also, the FLS is a government organisation that is subject to Freedom of Information requests. As part of your emails, you can ask them for any information you want. They are duty bound to reply, otherwise they will be investigated by the Information Commissioner. You may want to ask for the information such as:A copy of the survey that was carried out prior to the current logging episode.
What is the area of forest that has been cleared in the past 18 months?
You can ask for a map of the logging sites.
You can ask for correspondence between FLS staff and Vattenfall staff.
Basically, if you have a question that you want answered or a document you want to see, then ask for it. Be specific, use date periods and state that you are making a Freedom of Information request. The FLS should not be allowed to conduct themselves in such a manner and the further planned operational work needs to be stopped as a matter of urgency.
So, as we always do, let’s hold to account those who pose a risk to the wildcats, and let’s continue to give a voice to the precious Clashindarroch wildcats.
We have now formally request a meeting with Graeme Prest and the Chief Executive, Kevin Quinlan
We will keep you updated on any developments and any contact we have with FLS.
Many thanks as always and yo can find out more at:
Emily and the Wildcat Haven Team.