Warning muirburning licence scheme could add to wildfire risk
Rural organisation say the plans could make it more difficult for fuel loads to be cleared
Rural organisations are warning the Scottish Government risks worsening wildfires in Scotland, unless it introduces a better approach to muirburn licensing.
Scottish Lands and Estates (SLE), the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS), and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) have raised concerns over a new system being introduced under the new Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.
Muirburning is when patches of moorland vegetation, mainly heather and grass, are cleared by controlled burning.
The idea is to promote new growth of heather and grasses for game birds to graze, preventing wildfires by reducing build up, and managing habitats and biodiversity, but this is debated by people opposed to the practice.
"Plays a vital role"
Muirburn season takes place in Scotland from October 1 – April 15 annually, but with permission up until April 30.
The season is due to be changed to September 15 - March 31 when the changes to the Act are implemented by the Scottish Government.
The warnings come after a number of wildfires across Scotland in the last few weeks, which experts are warning were the result of combustible vegetation, or fuel load, increasing.
Director of Moorland at SLE Ross Ewing said: “There is widespread agreement that muirburn, when done responsibly and in line with best practice, plays a vital role in preventing uncontrolled wildfires.
"Sleepwalking into a heightened wildfire risk"
“We support a workable licensing system, but right now the process being proposed is overly complex and impossible to deliver within the time available.
“If muirburn is blocked due to licensing delays, we are sleepwalking into a heightened wildfire risk next season.”
The Scottish Government plans to implement a new muirburn licensing regime ahead of the 2025-2026 season, but rural stakeholders say the technical requirements and application processes will be in place before September 15 this year, leaving many farmers, land managers and gamekeepers without adequate time to gain a licence.
Subsequently, this could mean large areas of land will remain unmanaged, meaning fuel loads will be heavier and wildfires may be more likely.
"Practically impossible to meet"
Concerns centre around the need to avoid muirburn on areas of deep peat bogs.
SGA and Muirburn Trainer Iain Hepburn said: “The sheer scale of surveying required—on some estates running to thousands of sample points—makes it practically impossible to meet the current timetable.
“Gamekeepers want to do the right thing, but we are being set up to fail. If this is not addressed, we could see vast areas of land go unmanaged, increasing fuel loads and heightening the danger of devastating wildfires.
“We know from the recent spate of wildfires that they place a significant burden on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and put firefighters at significant risk.”
"Significant burden on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service"
With no national mapping data available to identify where deep peat is present or absent, vast swathes of land face being classified as uncertain, triggering the need for thousands of physical soil tests before a licence can be issued.
The organisations said they had already devoted significant time and resources to NatureScot's Muirburn Code Working Group in an effort to help shape a workable licensing system.
NFUS vice president Duncan Macalister said: “This is a textbook example of policy getting ahead of practicality.
"Rushing licensing through for this September will not only burden farmers and land managers with unrealistic demands, but it will actively undermine Scotland's resilience to wildfire.
"Ministers must pause, listen and work with the sector"
"Ministers must pause, listen and work with the sector to get this right."
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “It is our intention to bring the new muirburn licensing scheme into effect prior to the 2025/26 muirburn season.
“The scheme will ensure muirburn is undertaken appropriately by trained individuals to minimise negative impacts on peatlands and other sensitive habitats.
“We recognise the importance of muirburn in creating firebreaks to help tackle wildfires and the new licensing scheme allows muirburn for the purpose of preventing wildfires.
“The Bill received Royal Assent in April last year and our implementation timescale has been designed to give practitioners adequate time to prepare for this licensing requirement ahead of the 2025/26 season.”
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