Scottish Land & Estates has announced the appointment of a new Moorland Director.

Ross Ewing will start his new role on July 11 and will take the lead in all moorland and game shooting related activity within the organisation.

Ross is a former public affairs manager in Scotland for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) where he was at the forefront of efforts to secure government funding for country sports business impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. He also devised guidance to enable businesses to operate legally between lockdowns and played a prominent role in a campaign to highlight abuse directed at gamekeepers.

Ross is a graduate of the University of St Andrews where he spent his honours' years studying stakeholder attitudes towards licensing grouse shooting as well as exploring the environmental implications of louping-ill virus in the Scottish uplands. He also holds a masters' degree in sustainable mountain development with distinction from the University of the Highlands and Islands.

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Ross, who lives in rural Perthshire, is a warfare officer in Royal Naval Reserve, specialising in submarine operations, and is also a country sports enthusiast.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining Scottish Land & Estates as Moorland Director, at time when grouse moor management, in particular, faces crucial challenges and new opportunities.

"Scotland's grouse moors provide integral benefits to the environment, the economy and our rural communities. I am looking forward to championing these benefits and demonstrating how grouse moor management makes a positive contribution to tackling climate change and reversing biodiversity loss."

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: "We are delighted to welcome Ross to our organisation. He has already amassed a great deal of experience and expertise in the sector throughout which he is very highly regarded. I am sure he will be a great asset to moorland managers and communities in Scotland at a time when the sector continues to evolve to embrace new opportunities & address ongoing challenges."