Editing NatureScot (section)

==Projects==
In support of its statutory duties, NatureScot undertakes many individual projects across Scotland, often in collaboration with land managers, charities and local communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/funding-and-projects|title=Funding and Projects|access-date=8 February 2021|publisher=NatureScot}}</ref>

===Stoat eradication project===
The introduction of alien [[stoats]] since 2010 has created serious problems for native species in [[Orkney]]:
{{Quote|The introduction of a ground predator like the stoat to islands such as Orkney, where there are no native ground predators, is very bad news for Orkney’s native species. Stoats are accomplished predators and pose a very serious threat to Orkney’s wildlife, including: the native Orkney vole, hen harrier, short-eared owl and many ground nesting birds|NatureScot<ref name=orcdianstoats>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-wildlife/orkney-native-wildlife-project|title=Orkney Native Wildlife Project|access-date=2 February 2021|publisher=NatureScot}}</ref>}}

In 2018, a stoat eradication project was presented by NatureScot to be applied "across [[Orkney Mainland]], [[South Ronaldsay]], [[Burray]], [[Glimps Holm]], [[Lamb Holm]] and [[Hunda]], and the biosecurity activities delivered on the non-linked islands of the archipelago". The project, which is run by a partnership including NatureScot, [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|RSPB Scotland]] and [[Orkney Islands Council]],<ref name=orcdianstoats/> uses "humane DOC150 and DOC200 traps".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2020-05/Orkney%20Native%20Wildlife%20Project%20-%20SEA%20consultation%20-%20SEA%20Environmental%20report.pdf|title=The Orkney Native Wildlife Project|access-date=2 February 2021|publisher=NatureScot}}</ref> A report issued in October 2020 stated that over 5,000 traps had been deployed. Specifics were provided as to the locations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/orkney/b/orkney-blog/posts/stoatsnippet92|title=Orkney Native Wildlife Project|date=20 October 2020 |access-date=8 February 2021|publisher=RSPB}}</ref>

Not all was going well as of 15 January 2021, according to [[The Times]] which stated that the project "has been hit by alleged sabotage after the destruction and theft of traps that have also killed and injured household pets and other animals" but added that the £6 million programme was supported by most islanders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/stoats-of-orkney-weasel-out-of-cull-thanks-to-saboteurs-6070v3spn|title=Stoats of Orkney weasel out of cull thanks to saboteurs|access-date=8 February 2021|work=The Times|last1=Watson |first1=Jeremy }}</ref> Another news item stated that some of the traps had "caught and killed family pets as well as hundreds of other animals".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19011526.row-stoat-cull-mass-deaths-animals/|title=Row over stoat cull after mass deaths of animals|date=14 January 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021|publisher=The Herald}}</ref> A subsequent report confirmed that "Police Scotland is investigating a number of incidents involving damage to and the theft of stoat traps in Orkney".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orcadian.co.uk/police-investigate-stoat-trap-damage/#:~:text=Police%20Scotland%20is%20investigating%20a,Deerness%20and%20Evie%20throughout%202020.|title=Police Investigate Stoat Trap Damage|newspaper=The Orcadian Online |date=11 January 2021|access-date=8 February 2021|publisher=The Orcadian |author1=Newsroom }}</ref>