Widespread cuts to Scotland’s countryside rangers have left the service at crisis point, experts have warned.

Ranger numbers have dropped by almost 40 per cent over the last 10 years, with the loss of more than 140 jobs.

With further cuts expected next year, the Scottish Countryside Rangers’ Association (SCRA) believes urgent action is needed to ensure Scotland’s world-renowned landscapes and wildlife continue to be protected and promoted.

The body has launched a petition with the Scottish Parliament calling for steps to be taken to protect the ranger service.

In a statement, the SCRA said: “Over the last 47 years, rangers have delivered a welcome to the Scottish countryside.

“They are at the front line, connecting people with nature through delivery of extensive programmes of environmental education and events and activities aimed at encouraging awareness and understanding of natural heritage.

“It is evident that Ranger Services are now at a crossroads, facing a major crisis of continuing job losses to the detriment of almost fifty years of public investment in this sector.

“By asking the Scottish Government to re-invest in the profession, the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association hope to protect that investment and build upon it for future generations.”

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The petition calls for a national strategy for countryside rangers as, currently, there are 64 different organisations employing rangers, all working independently of each other.

Due to the nature of the service, SCRA chairman George Potts described the cuts as “random, unstructured and ill-considered” as he warned that the service is now at “crisis point”.

The most significant job losses have been within local authorities after Scottish Natural Heritage, which funds countryside rangers, stopped its ring-fenced funding for councils in 2008.

SNH now plans to withdraw funding for NGOs, community and private organisations next year, which the SCRA claims will result in further job losses.

The association claims this will lead to problems with the maintenance and conservations of Scotland’s countryside, as well as issues over less staff being able to educate visitors about natural heritage.

The rangers also help in emergency situations - including preventing the spread of wildfires- and the cuts mean less people able to help the police and fire service.

The SCRA claimed that Scotland once led the way in its countryside ranger service, including setting up the International Rangers’ Federation and being used as a role model for other services around the world.

However, the cuts mean the country could soon be lagging behind other nations.

Mr Potts added: “I’m hopeful that policy makers and those in positions of influence will address the serious issues that are threatening the future of Ranger Services across Scotland, before it is too late.”

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A spokesman for COSLA said: “COSLA recognises the important role which countryside rangers provide. Local Government has faced serious financial constraint in recent years which has impacted upon many vital services - countryside rangers included.

“Every organisation has to balance its budget, and this includes Local Authorities and SNH.

“The real solution is to properly fund Local Government across the board to allow it to meet the needs of its communities in a holistic way.”

An SNH spokeswoman said: “Countryside ranger services play an important role in delivering Scottish Government priorities for people and nature. While we recognise local authorities face very difficult spending decisions, we are concerned by the apparent decline in funding available for these services in some parts of Scotland.

“Scottish Natural Heritage places great value on the services provided by rangers throughout Scotland, and are committed to funding services provided by communities and the private sector until at least 2019.”