LOGGING IN THE BREEDING SEASON- WE NEED YOUR HELP

Hi All 

We are both upset and appalled at what we are about to tell you. 

Our fieldworker in the Clashindarroch Forest has found an active Logging site. The logging is being carried out by Forestry Land Scotland (formerly the Forestry Commission Scotland). You can see how fresh it is as the brash in the foreground is still green. It is right in the middle of the breeding season and females will currently be pregnant and preparing den sites. It is an absolutely crucial time and stress can easily cause females to abort or reabsorb foetuses. Is it really too much to ask for these beautiful animals to have the chance to live and breed in peace? The Scottish government are putting out endless PR about a so called breed and release programme that will supposedly save the wildcat (more on this ill conceived plan later), whilst another government department is busy logging habitat containing the most important population of wildcats in Scotland. It’s absurd. 

We have previously alerted you about Forestry Land Scotland logging during the breeding season last year. Many of your wrote to them. You received responses claiming that no active logging had occurred during the breeding season. The responses had links to how they avoid disturbance. However the reality is that they did have active sites then and they have active sites now. Whilst they portray an image of understanding where wildcats and their dens sites are, one of their own ecologists has revealed the true situation. In emails obtained under FOI it states, ‘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!’. 

That hardly inspires confidence does it. Once again the wildcat is betrayed because of it’s elusiveness.  

From our observations, the current operations look significant and will create disturbance in a zone far greater than just the logging site. Such disturbance is simply not acceptable and risks the productivity of the breeding season for this year. 

We need all operations to stop at this critical time. 

Can you all please email the CEO, Simon Hodgson to request that current activities are stopped as a matter of urgency. Hopefully he will listen to your concerns and act swiftly. His email address is: 

simon.hodgson@forestryandland.gov.scot

We will continue to monitor the site and indeed the whole of the Clashindarroch Forest. Once again, collectively, we can and need to give a voice to the voiceless.  

Many thanks 

Emily (Director) and Finlay