New National Park Authority Collaborative Plan Launched for Sustainable Deer and Livestock Management

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has announced an ambitious new Herbivore Management Delivery Plan (2025-2030), alongside practical measures already underway to support land managers, strengthen rural economies and local food production and help restore nature across the National Park.

Simon Jones, Director of Environment and Visitor Services at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority said: “Our Herbivore Management Delivery Plan strongly demonstrates that Scotland isn’t facing a choice between people and nature, or between farming and the environment. Strong rural communities and healthy ecosystems can only truly thrive together, and the work already underway across the National Park provides real evidence of how this can be illustrated.

“This plan isn’t simply about reducing deer numbers or adopting a one-size-fits-all approach to herbivore management. Some areas need more grazing, others less. It’s about achieving the right balance across the National Park’s unique landscape through evidence-led approaches developed with the experience and stewardship of land managers and local communities.”

Wild and domesticated herbivores, including deer, sheep and cattle, play a key role in the rural economy and ecosystems and are an important part of the National Park’s cultural and natural heritage. However, of the sixty-five designated sites for nature in the National Park, twenty-two are currently in unfavourable condition due to overgrazing. This highlights the clear and urgent need for a revised, better coordinated and more sustainable approach to herbivore management to strengthen the rural economy at the same time as protecting and restoring special places for nature.

Alongside the new plan, the National Park Authority is investing in new infrastructure and market development to support local communities and create economic opportunities, including a range of practical support initiatives already in place:

• Training and Incentives: A new Deer Management Incentive Scheme, developed with NatureScot, and a Deer Managers Training Grant provide funding and targeted support for sustainable deer management practices.
• Venison Infrastructure: Investment in a network of new and upgraded community-based processing and larder facilities across the National Park, improving access to affordable local deer processing and supporting Scottish Quality Wild Venison accreditation.
• Market Development: Plans to explore a Loch Lomond Venison brand, strengthening local economic opportunities through healthy food supply while supporting sustainable land management.

Early uptake of support schemes has been strong, with thirty-three deer managers accessing training grants and twenty-six landholdings enrolled in the new Deer Management Incentive Scheme – demonstrating growing engagement from land managers across the National Park. This early uptake demonstrates the willingness and ability of local land managers to embrace more sustainable practices when the right support and facilities are in place.

Shona Duncan, of Duncan Family Farms in East Loch Lomond is hosting a newly funded community-based chiller trailer on her land and has also received funding from the Deer Managers Training Grant to secure a Deer Stalking Certificate and Wild Meat Game Hygiene qualification. Commenting, Shona said:  “Through the East Loch Lomond Land Management Forum, it became clear there was a real issue with deer management locally, and one of the biggest constraints was the lack of a local larder that everyone could use. Because we had a deer problem on the farm, it made sense for us to support having one here.

“For us, it’s about reducing grazing pressure so we can protect our land and produce food more sustainably. Last year, we set aside land for an Agri-Environment scheme, but instead we had 70 or 80 red deer grazing it – probably the equivalent of 40 or 50 cattle. We’ve also had fences broken, dykes knocked down and crops damaged, which can make farming very difficult.

“As a landowner, it’s important to leave the land in good condition for the next generation. The new larder and support available should open up real opportunities for people to manage deer responsibly, while also benefiting the local community.”

The new Delivery Plan represents a significant step forward in sustainable and regenerative land management. Without coordinated action to address unsustainable grazing pressures from the combined impact of deer and domestic livestock in some areas, the National Park faces the very real prospect of failing in its commitment to long-term ecological restoration, undermining years of conservation investment and significantly impacting Scotland’s ability to tackle the joint nature and climate crises.

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “Venison is a healthy and tasty meat and this is a really exciting opportunity to show how a community can benefit from responsible land management. This plan shows that when we prevent damage from overgrazing with good planning we can also ensure that the local food production chain, tourism and wider rural economy can benefit alongside nature.

“We know that those who work on our land have been the custodians of it, often for generations, and the support being provided will mean that preserving the biodiversity will work hand in hand with sustaining the community.”

At the heart of the plan is a commitment to evidence-based decision-making that combines scientific data with the expertise of those who work and manage the land. Rather than imposing top-down solutions, the National Park Authority is fostering constructive dialogue through a Working Group of statutory agencies and local stakeholder representatives, with plans to establish a Land Use Forum including representatives from every Deer Management Group in the National Park.

Achieving sustainable herbivore management is vital to meeting climate and biodiversity goals, while supporting sustainable food production and resilient rural economies. Without it, efforts to restore native woodlands, protect peatlands and enhance biodiversity will be undermined.

Healthier landscapes will provide improved opportunities for recreation, wellbeing and connecting with nature. Diversified land use will support resilient rural economies and local jobs. Protected watersheds will help safeguard clean drinking water supplies and support natural flood management. Sustainable grazing levels will also help farmers produce higher-quality, locally sourced food, strengthening local agriculture, reducing food miles and supporting the tourism economy that many communities depend upon. Better managed deer and livestock will also see benefits for productive forests and forest managers, with improvements to timber and other forest products.

Informed by consultation and lessons learned from previous projects, the plan sets out three core outcomes by 2030: collaborative engagement between agencies and land managers; improved ecological condition including woodland recovery; and sustainable land management supporting local communities.

The Herbivore Management Delivery Plan has been developed in partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland, NatureScot, Scottish Forestry and the Association of Deer Management Groups, with the National Park Authority responsible for overseeing implementation. The plan will be reviewed annually with partners and stakeholders to incorporate new evidence and ensure continued collaboration and shared learning.

The full Herbivore Management Delivery Plan is available here.