Licensing news

Get the latest news about NatureScot licensing – from details of new application requirements to seasonal updates on species licensing.

Schedule 1 Disturbance Licences - New Condition and Explanatory Notes - March 2025

Background

NatureScot has introduced a new condition to Schedule 1 Bird Disturbance licences. This condition has been developed in support of our Shared Approach to Wildlife Management, the primary focus of which is openness and transparency by ensuring landowners/managers are aware of licensed Schedule 1 Bird Disturbance activity on land they own or manage. This will include the level of activity and a general timeframe of when it will take place. 

This formalises existing good practice for notifying landowners of licensed activity, relating to the disturbance of Schedule 1 species, which is already undertaken by many licence holders permit holders or agents working under organisational licences. It will allow NatureScot to support the development of better relationships between landowners/managers and those undertaking the licenced activity where this does not currently exist.

The condition reads as follows: 

• The licence holder (or permit holder or agent, as appropriate) should notify the relevant landowner(s) or land manager(s), of planned licensed activity each year, including the expected timeframe of the activity and the likely number of visits planned.
• Where there is explicit agreement between the licence holder, permit holder, or agent and the landowner/ manager the notification can be extended unless there is a material change, such as change of ownership or licence holder.
• The notification must be in advance of any licensed activity.
• Where it is not reasonably practicable to notify the Landowner(s) or Land manager(s) of planned activity, the licence holder, permit holder, or agent must notify NatureScot and include the reason for not being able to contact the landowner/ land manager directly.
• Evidence of the notification to the landowner(s) or land manager(s) is to be made in a manner which can be provided to NatureScot if requested. 

How does NatureScot define “should” in the condition?

NatureScot considers that the licence holder, permit holder, or agent is required to carry out this action to avoid the risk of breaching their licence conditions, unless the action is deemed to not be “reasonably practicable” in which case the licence holder must notify NatureScot. 

General Monitoring not involving disturbance of Sch 1 species. 

No notification is required for general monitoring, notification is only for licensed Schedule 1 disturbance activities. 

How do I notify?

Notification can be verbal or in writing, evidence of notification must be recorded.  The following information must be provided within the notification to meet the terms of the condition: 

• That activity under a Schedule 1 disturbance licence may take place on the relevant land;
• The licence number the activity is operating under;
• The timeframe within which the activity will be taking place;
• The estimated number of visits throughout that timeframe;

Where a licence holder, permit holder, or agent has concerns about sending advance notification of their presence, they must notify NatureScot, at Licensing@nature.scot, and state the reason for this and provide details.

Am I asking for access permission or just notifying the landowner?

This condition relates to licence holders, permit holders, or agents notifying landowners/managers prior to carrying out their licensed activity; it is not a request and there is no requirement to secure access permission. In accordance with the Land Reform Scotland Act 2003, access to land to carry out non-commercial monitoring work under licence does not require access permission. 

What does NatureScot consider as being reasonably practicable to identify landowners/managers?

In many cases contact details will already be known by licence holders, permit holders, or agents and existing relations and contacts will have been made.

 Where details are not already known, NatureScot will accept that where contact details for the Landowner or Land Manager (or another publicly designated representative, or general contact details for the relevant estate) are not published online, as a reason as to why contact cannot be made. If this is the case, then NatureScot must be notified. 

We consider that if the licence holder, permit holder, or agent has made the above reasonable efforts to identify the correct landowner or manager and they cannot be identified, or there are other legitimate reasons why the licence holder, permit holder, or agent deems it not reasonable to notify the land owner or manager, then they must provide a detailed explanation to the NatureScot licensing team (Licensing@nature.scot). 

It is in the best interest of landowners/managers to make their details available to enable the workability of this condition. Scottish Land and Estates and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association have offered to assist with providing details of their members on request. However, licence holders, permit holders, or agents are not obligated to undertake this.

Will I have to provide personal information?

In line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) the licence holder, permit holder, or agent is not required to share any personal data with the landowner/manager. Licence holders, permit holders, or agents can use generic, organisational email addresses or withhold telephone numbers to prevent this. Recorded delivery postal notification can also be used. 

Will I have to share sensitive environmental data?

There is no requirement to share with the landowner/ manager any data collected during monitoring’ this includes the location of any nest or roost sites, or the species being monitored. The notification is purely to advise the landowner/manager that licenced disturbance to Schedule 1 species may occur on their land. We would however encourage the fostering of good working relationships and the sharing of appropriate levels of information which supports conservation management for Schedule 1 species.

Where the licence holder, permit holder, or agent is comfortable doing so, release of data should be in accordance with the spatial resolutions set out in NatureScot’s Sensitive Species Policy.

Do I have to notify each time I want to visit?

There is no need to notify every time you will be visiting. The notification should strike a balance between informing landowners/managers that licenced disturbance activity may be occurring on their land, without creating an unreasonable administrative burden for licence holders, permit holders, or agents. By providing details of a time frame over which the visits are likely to take place (i.e. intending to visit 3 or 4 times between month X and month Y) will allow for multiple visits and take account of the need for flexibility due to weather conditions etc. 

Does the new condition apply to everyone?

The condition only applies to all activity carried out under a licence to disturb species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The requirement to notify landowners/managers does not apply to licences issued for any other purpose or for general monitoring. 

How will NatureScot investigate complaints against Licence Holders?

Any reports of breaches of licence conditions or complaints against licence holders, permit holders, or agents will be considered by our Compliance Monitoring Team.  The approach taken is as follows:

• Details of the complaint including evidence logged by NatureScot Compliance Team.
• Compliance Team notify Licence Holder, Permit Holder, or Agent in writing, providing a summary of the evidence submitted.
• Licence Holder, Permit Holder, or Agent has 14 days to provide a response to the complaint, including providing any evidence they have.
• Compliance Team notify Licensing Manager of complaint and the response and a recommended course of action.
• The Licensing Manager will consider all evidence and decide what action is required.
• Appeals to licensing decisions will be handled through the organisational complaint’s procedure. 

Vexations complaints against individual licence holders, permit holders, or agents will be treated seriously.

What should I do if I suspect a Wildlife Crime?

We acknowledge that monitoring of Schedule 1 species can and has resulted in detection of potential wildlife crime. Where the licence holder, permit holder, or agent has concerns about a possible wildlife crime incident, they should notify Police Scotland at the earliest opportunity. There is no requirement to notify the landowner/manager.

Changes to GL-NNS – March 2025

In March 2025 NatureScot introduced a change to the General Licence GL-NNS - To release certain non-native species out with their native range for use in the control of crop pests and diseases. 

What changes have we made?

We have modified the GL-NNS to make the following key change. The removal of Annex II containing approved Products. 

This change has also brought another change in the type of return that is required while using this General Licence.  It is now required that returns including:

• The product name and formulation
• The species from Annex 1 contained in the product
• The number of units, and quantity and volume of each unit of the approved product sold or supplied;
• Whether there are any changes to the product name and formulation.
• Whether there are any changes in the information provided in your application form and if so, what these changes are. If there are no changes to the information supplied in your application, please confirm this.

Why have we made these changes?

Previously, both the individual species and a product containing said species were listed in two sperate Annexed tables on the General Licence (Annex I – Approved Species and Annex II Approved Products).  In practice it was determined this resulted in duplicate records. After consult with advisors, in order to make the process more efficient and avoid delays it was decided that there was no need to register an approved product if that product contains a species already listed in Annex I.  Therefore, bringing on the removal of Annex II. Meaning now, if a new product is developed, only the species will need registering, and if that species is already registered the product is already approved.

Looking ahead 

As with all our licences, we continually review and develop our processes to identify improvements.

Changes to grouse moor licences – November 2024

In July this year NatureScot introduced a licensing scheme for grouse shooting under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. The policy intention was for the licences to act as a deterrent to wildlife crime. We welcome the opportunity the Act provides to strengthen protections for wildlife and support nature recovery.

What changes have we made?

We have modified the licences to make two key changes. The first change is to the description of the land to which the licence relates. The second is to insert a new condition around wildlife crime.

Previously, our grouse licences covered the whole of the landholding. The changes we have made mean that, in future, it will be up to the person applying for the licence to specify the area to which the licence relates. We expect the area covered by the licence to be the full extent of the grouse moor.

At the same time, we have introduced a new condition to licences which will allow us to revoke the licence if raptor persecution which is connected to the grouse moor takes place outside of this licensed area. 

Why have we made these changes?

Shortly after the scheme was launched our legal advice identified that, according to the legislation as introduced, it was up to the applicant to specify the area over which the licence should relate. Acting on our legal advice we took the decision to change the way we described the area of land covered by the licence to ensure our licensing approach was legally robust.

We have introduced the new condition to ensure that we can help meet the policy intent of the legislation to tackle raptor persecution.

We have made these changes to ensure that the grouse licences are legally robust, while continuing to act as a strong deterrent to wildlife crime. 

Looking ahead 

This is a new licence for NatureScot and, as with all our licences, we continually review and develop our processes to identify improvements.

Licensing service update – June 2024

We will prioritise and aim to process urgent public health and safety and urgent prevention of serious damage licence applications as soon as possible.  For other non-urgent licence applications we have a current turnaround time of approximately 3 to 4 weeks.  Note this turnaround time is likely to increase during and after key holiday period.

To avoid any unnecessary delays we advise anyone looking to obtain a licence to submit their licence application at their earliest opportunity.

Our Licensing helpline (01463 725364) is currently only available for leaving voicemails, therefore if you have a general enquiry please refer to the relevant page on the licensing section of our website as it may take us some time to call you back. 

If you have a query which you can’t find the answer to online then email licensing@nature.scot in the first instance.  We will aim to respond to all email queries within 5 working days.  As our offices are currently closed please don’t send us any mail, instead, email all correspondence.

Species Licensing Review - Terms of Reference

The Species Licensing Review will focus on the procedures which NatureScot has in place for licensing lethal control, look at ways to improve openness and transparency and will explore the potential of charging for licensing.  Further details are provided in these Terms of Reference.

Deer authorisations and renewals – March 2024

Deer managers will now be able to apply for or renew a deer management authorisation online:

• apply for a new authorisation
• renew an existing authorisation (out of season and night shooting only)

The new digital form is a key part of work to modernise deer management systems in Scotland and streamline previous manual processes.

Follow the progress of our online licensing system.

Licensing Data - March 2024

Data on the number of licences issued for 2023 is now live along with the number of licences issued for hunting with dogs between November 2023 and 29^th February 2024.

Fit and competent - September 2023

Deer controllers can now apply online to join the fit and competent register or renew their status. 

The new digital form is part of a wider project to modernise NatureScot’s deer management services.

The online service is quicker and easier both for applicants and staff to use, allowing NatureScot to process applications more efficiently.

Planning Permissions and Consents - August 2023

A protected species licence application for development projects should not be made until the necessary planning permissions and consents are in place.  This should be considered when signing the relevant licence application declaration.