The National Sheep Association has described the lynx reintroduction process adopted by Lynx UK as 'flawed' and 'misleading'.
The economic, environmental and social consequences of releasing lynx into the UK countryside were highlighted at a National Sheep Association meeting.
The meeting, held in partnership with the British Deer Society (BDS) in the Scottish Borders on Wednesday (17th August), was in response to Lynx UK Trust announcing Kielder Forest as its preferred site for a trial release programme.
The event chaired by Sybil Macpherson, NSA Scottish Region Chairman and Argyllshire sheep farmer, brought together some 10 organisations and individuals involved in farming, tourism, animal welfare, land management and conservation.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, reports that there is "substantial" and "widespread" concern over the implications of releasing lynx.
"There is concern over the way Lynx UK is going about its work," Mr Stock adds.
"Very valid points were raised in areas of strong public interest that go way beyond the losses that will be suffered by sheep farmers.
"NSA has been very concerned the Lynx UK Trust would either orchestrate for its own, biased research to be used as the public consultation.
"They might apply to only one licencing body despite the proposed release site falling under the remit of both Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Mr Stock says he feels "confident" that NSA would be far from the only group opposed to those two things.
He believes there is willingness within the Scottish and English licensing bodies to be communicating together.
10 animals for Kielder Forest
No formal application has yet been made for the pilot release.
But the NSA believes there will be 10 animals in Kielder Forest, five of each sex.
NSA has voiced its concerns to Lynx UK Trust, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage, and the organisation has said it will continue to oppose the proposals if and when a licence application is made.
The NSA also attended a Lynx UK Trust meeting in Kielder last week, and said they were "dismayed" to see the group using its own consultation work and results interpretation to "garner support for the proposals."
Mr Stocker adds: "The process adopted by Lynx UK is flawed and misleading and cannot be used as the legally required independent public consultation that must be carried out when the reintroduction of a lost species is considered.
"It is essential any consultation is impartially conducted by an organisation that would attract unbiased responses.
"NSA has tried on many occasions to engage with Lynx UK and, following its meeting last week, where it attempted to misrepresent NSA’s position, has severed tied with the trust.
'This country is a very different place'
"This country is a very different place to how it was 1,300 years ago.
"NSA does not believe we have enough largescale, suitable habitat to support the minimum population of 250 lynx that is needed for true genetic sustainability.
"We do not believe claims that say lynx will only predate some 0.4 sheep each per year, as evidence in other parts of the world (and more recently on Dartmoor where an escaped Lynx killed four sheep in three weeks) demonstrates that such theoretic claims are nonsense.
"The UK countryside is stunningly beautiful and already provides the foundation for tourism and local economies.
"But our iconic landscapes, environment and rural communities have been created largely by centuries of farming, grazing and human activity, at the same time as keeping people fed from the land.
"Introducing lynx would jeopardise that delicate and essential balance," Mr Stocker concludes.
