"The Time Is Right" said the new Minister
for the Environment
On Sunday 10th June 07 the Sunday Herald's
environment reporter Rob Edwards wrote that Michael Russell,
the new environment minister, had asked SNH to draw up new
plans to reintroduce the beaver. Two weeks later the Minister
spoke on BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors programme of
his wish to see this project completed as soon as possible.
Since then things have moved swiftly and a Steering Group
was assembled to begin compiling the application and to
conduct a local consultation. The group comprises:
Allan Bantick (chairman) - SWT Trustee
Simon Milne - SWT Chief Executive
David Windmill - RZSS Chief Executive
Roy Dennis - Highland Foundation For Wildlife
Jill Nelson - Mammals Trust UK
Iain Valentine - RZSS Conservation Manager
Simon Jones - SWT Reserves Manager
Nick Purdy - Forestry Commission District Manager
Other groups will be established once the
project gets fully under way. There will be the Project
Management Group who will carry out the work, a Stakeholders
Liaison Group to represent other land users and to provide
a channel for their input into the project and a Beaver
Supporters Group made up of local people who would like
to get involved with the project.
In short - anyone with anything to contribute
to the trial will be made welcome.
