Edinburgh Napier University

  Following centuries of persecution, most species of bird of prey in Scotland were either extinct or approaching extinction by the 1950s. In recent years, conservation efforts have led to the successful reintroduction of endemic species, and offences such as killing or injuring birds, interfering with nests, or possessing certain pesticides can attract a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Raptor persecution is a key wildlife crime priority area in Scotland, where members of the public and organisations such as the RSPB proactively act as investigators and gather evidence of potential offences on behalf of the police. Still, the rural nature of these crimes means they often go undetected, while difficulties in proving intent and culpability mean prosecutions remain rare, despite ever more restrictive legislation being introduced by the Scottish Government. This paper analyses the role of private moorland management as a powerful financial incentive for the killing of raptors, and why it cannot be curbed by punitive legislation; instead, the drivers of persecution are found within the same social structures that facilitate social harms such as wealth maldistribution and environmental degradation, and which hinder meaningful land reform and efforts towards rewilding, reforestation, and the protection of biodiversity.