RELU People and the Rural Environment Forum 23 October 2006

1. RELU People and the Rural Environment Forum 23 October 2006 Collaborative frameworks in land management: a case study on integrated deer management A joint Research Councils programme co-sponsored by Defra and SEERAD

2. THE ROLE of COLLABORATION in DEER MANAGEMENT • Deer are an important rural resource: • income for landowners • jobs for stalkers • enjoyment for hunters/tourists • BUT also a source of conflict : • damage to forest/farm crops • road traffic accidents • browsing of native woodlands Different landowners and stakeholder groups have different, frequently conflicting, deer management objectives Where objectives between neighbours are conflicting, both landowners lose as a result of following individually ‘optimal’ management strategies

3. THE ROLE of COLLABORATION in DEER MANAGEMENT Collaborative frameworks in land management: a case study on integrated deer management Key questions: • What are the potential benefits of collaboration in deer management? • What are the principal barriers to collaboration? • What methods are effective at promoting collaboration?

4. THE ROLE of COLLABORATION in DEER MANAGEMENT Methods • National, regional & local focus • Stakeholder analysis, social surveys, interviews, focus groups/workshops, economic & ecological survey, participatory GIS and modelling. • Six case study sites have been selected for detailed study: 3 in Scotland, 3 in England. • Emphasis on integrated approaches

5. THE ROLE of COLLABORATION in DEER MANAGEMENT Issues that the project will address: • the role of venison markets in meeting public objectives • legislative & infrastructure barriers to deer management • impacts on recognised indicators of biodiversity • cost of managing deer to achieve public objectives • impact of localised culling on neighbouring properties • value of deer for tourism and recreation • public perceptions of deer & deer management

6. THE ROLE of COLLABORATION in DEER MANAGEMENT WIDER APPLICATION FOR RURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • identify breadth of stakeholders at national, regional and local levels for rural resources • identify barriers and gaps in knowledge that affect the sustainable management of rural resources • identifying new ways to raise awareness and improve understanding between stakeholders • identify the most effective communication options within and between stakeholder groups and the public • improve information exchange

7. THE ROLE of COLLABORATION in DEER MANAGEMENT Principal and co-investigators Justin Irvine Macaulay Institute René van der Wal Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Brenda Mayle Forest Research, Alice Holt Liz O’Brien Forest Research, Alice Holt Robin Gill Forest Research, Alice Holt Helen Armstrong Forest Research, NRS Douglas MacMillan DICE University of Kent Piran White University of York Jim Smart University of York Rehema White University of St Andrews Steve Yearley University of Edinburgh CONTACT: Justin Irvine, Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH. Tel. 01224 498200, Fax: 01224 311556, E-mail: j.irvine@macaulay.ac.uk www.macaulay.ac.uk/deergrant/