Jim Fairlie MSP, the Holyrood Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, toured the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) main exhibit at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair, last weekend.
Despite clocking up 27 sleepless hours due to the General Election, he later joined a policy lunch to engage in meaningful discussions, leaving the event only in the late afternoon.
The Scottish Game Fair, which is more than a celebration of rural life and community activities, provided GWCT with a valuable platform for discussions with the Scottish Government, its agencies and key stakeholders.
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It said it was delighted to host Mr Fairlie; Professor Colin Galbraith, chair of NatureScot; Donald Fraser, head of licensing at NatureScot; Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life; and Rachael Hamilton MSP, the Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for rural affairs and islands.
The tour of GWCT Scotland’s central exhibit and discussions highlighted the necessity of enhanced collaboration to address climate change and biodiversity loss.
Participants also explored ways to trial various options and adapt practices to balance productive land management with biodiversity conservation.
These themes were echoed in panel discussions where NFUS president Martin Kennedy spoke about farmers’ contributions to nature and the mutual benefits of game management, predator control and agriculture.
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