In his latest blog, Vice President Duncan Macalister shares the Union’s concerns over tightened muirburn regulation
As wildfires become more frequent and intense, Scotland's farmers, crofters and land managers are determined to play their part in preventing disaster. Just last month, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued "extreme" wildfire risk warnings as warm, dry weather swept across the country. Our industry has worked tirelessly to secure the land and protect both vegetation and wildlife. However, one of our most effective tools in wildfire management, muirburn, now faces the threat of new legislation that, if mishandled, could undermine both safety and environmental protection.
Muirburn, the controlled burning of old heather and vegetation on moorland, is a traditional and vital land management practice. It supports biodiversity, improves grazing, and reduces the build-up of dry vegetation that fuels dangerous wildfires. It’s also a key tool in managing peatland health, which is essential for carbon capture.
In March 2024, the Scottish Parliament passed the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill. This shortened the muirburn season to end on 31 March, previously mid-April, and introduced a licensing requirement for all muirburn due to be implemented from September 2025.
NFU Scotland supports responsible regulation but we are seriously concerned that the current approach could backfire. At this week’s Muirburn Code Working Group meeting in Inverness, I joined colleagues from Scottish Land and Estates, and British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) to press urgent government changes to this. Together, we formally requested a one-year delay to the introduction of the licensing scheme to give us more time to arrive at a safer solution.
It’s our shared fear that a burdensome or unclear licensing system might lead otherwise responsible land managers to burn recklessly without oversight. While we respect the intentions of tightened regulation, we believe it will see a reduction in controlled muirburn and instead, a rise in high-fuelled, destructive wildfires. If those seen in Arran, Dumfriesshire and elsewhere last month are anything to go by, this is something no one wants to happen.
📢 Have your say:
NFU Scotland will submit a full response to the consultation on the draft code before the deadline on Monday 5 May. We strongly encourage members to do the same.
We’ll keep members informed as this critical issue evolves. In the meantime, if you have concerns about the licensing scheme, I urge you to contact your local MSP and make your voice heard.