Campaign launched to encourage more responsible behaviour in Scotland’s wilder places

AN estimated 69 per cent of Scots users of the ‘Great Outdoors’ admit to not leaving an area they have visited exactly as they had found it, including putting wildlife at risk with littering.

According to a media announcement, here, about research conducted on behalf of Forestry & Land Scotland, some 59 per cent of Scots are estimated also to know little or nothing about the bird nesting and breeding seasons operating in the places they visit.

The activities looked at by the survey include mountain biking, water sports, angling and wild camping.

And the survey results have been revealed, to coincide with a Forestry & Land Scotland campaign, Protect Scotland’s Wildlife, to encourage more responsible behaviour.

Among other survey findings:

• Around four in ten (38 per cent) respondents said they don’t stick to designated paths and tracks;

• Two in five (41 per cent) “hadn’t considered the impact of lighting fires”;

• Nearly half (46 per cent) “don’t think about how much noise they’re making so that they don’t disturb wildlife”, “nor how close they get to wildlife when taking photos” (49 per cent); and

• Almost four in ten people (36 per cent) have “witnessed or taken part in behaviour that looking back on it, might have been harmful to wildlife”.

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland

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