Raise target for capercaillies
The capercaillie is a wonderful bird, and it is now rapidly retreating to a core population on Speyside. They may hang on there for another 30 to 50 years, maybe even 100 years, but they will always be vulnerable when their numbers are so low. We should not be accepting of this as, sadly, many seem to be. We need a conservation plan designed to generate numbers again, and targets require to be ones which are delivered, not aspirational. We need someone to take a lead on this, but I can’t see it happening at present. We need this to change otherwise the capercaillie will eventually die out while we have been sitting around discussing what is best for them. The paralysis by analysis must somehow be brought to an end. We can’t leave it until the last minute.
Victor Clements, Native Woodland Advice, Aberfeldy