The facts presented in this paper serve to highlight how thin the argument in favour of licensing is. While I can see the need for some change and development in the way that moorland is managed, I can see no logic to justify licensing of grouse moors. It would be a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Positive and supportive engagement by the licensing lobby is much more likely to achieve benefits for the birds they seek to promote and protect. They will argue that they have tried everything and achieved nothing, but maybe they ought to look to their approach and tactics before walking away in high dudgeon.
A workable and lasting solution must be achievable, but it will not be achieved without compromise. In my view, we need to give the brood management proposals a chance and learn from the process. It may not have have all the answers, but at the very least it will be progress.
