Once again, we are seeing the devastating impact wildfires are having on rural Scotland. Wildfires are becoming an increasingly serious threat to our countryside, with recent fires that have devastated moorland habitats, impacted rural communities, disrupted rural businesses such as hospitality and tourist attractions and required significant emergency service resources. Therefore, the way we manage our uplands has never been more important.

At the heart of that management are Scotland's upland livestock farmers, as well as gamekeepers and land managers who work on the land. These are the people with the knowledge, expertise and experience on effective land management, and they need to be listened to. Thanks must also be given to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, other emergency services, and the huge effort of local volunteers. 

Sheep and cattle have shaped our hills and moorlands for generations. Their role extends far beyond food production. Through carefully managed grazing, livestock help maintain open landscapes, reduce the build-up of combustible vegetation and create more varied habitats that can slow the spread of wildfire. Active grazing forms an essential part of an integrated approach to managing fuel loads across the uplands.

Where grazing declines or land is abandoned, vegetation such as rank grasses, heather and scrub can accumulate. During prolonged dry periods, these become significant fuel sources capable of sustaining fast-moving and intense wildfires. The challenge facing Scotland is to strike the right balance between environmental ambitions, biodiversity enhancement and practical land management that reduces these risks.

Grazing alone is not the complete answer. Effective wildfire prevention relies on a toolbox of land management practices, including cutting, grazing and responsible muirburn.

Muirburn has been used for centuries as a controlled method of managing heather and other upland vegetation. When carried out under the right weather conditions, by trained and experienced practitioners, it creates a mosaic of vegetation ages that supports biodiversity, improves grazing and reduces the continuous build-up of fuel that can feed severe wildfires. Scottish Government guidance also recognises that muirburn can contribute to reducing fuel loads and creating strategic firebreaks as part of wildfire prevention.

With the Scottish Government's licensing scheme coming into force ahead of the 2026 muirburn season, we are concerned that the introduction of the new muirburn licensing regime would create unnecessary barriers at a time when effective vegetation management is more important than ever.  It is vital that the new arrangements do not create unnecessary barriers to carrying out well-managed muirburn during the cooler months of the year. Their success should be measured by whether they enable responsible land managers to continue reducing wildfire risk. As a result, NFU Scotland are calling on Scottish Government to delay the introduction of the new muirburn licensing regime to allow further consideration of its practical impacts on wildfire prevention and land management. 

Too often, discussions around upland farming focus solely on agricultural production or environmental impacts. In reality, upland livestock farmers deliver a broad range of public benefits.

Alongside producing high-quality food, they maintain landscapes that support tourism, preserve rural employment, protect cultural heritage and actively manage some of Scotland's most iconic environments. Their day-to-day presence on the land also means they are often among the first to identify and respond to emerging wildfires, working closely with the gamekeepers, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other agencies.

As wildfire risk continues to grow, policymakers must recognise that active land management is an essential part of climate resilience. Supporting viable upland livestock businesses means supporting the people who maintain these landscapes every day.

There is no single solution to Scotland's wildfire challenge. It will take collaboration across farming, land management, emergency services and government, and NFUS is proud to be part of the Scottish Wildfire Forum, ensuring our members' voices are heard.  Livestock grazing, habitat management, and responsible muirburn each have a role to play where they are appropriate. 

The recent wildfires are devastating and underline the need for practical, evidence-based land management that can deliver multiple outcomes: reducing wildfire risk, supporting biodiversity, sustaining rural businesses and producing food. On several occasions now we have raised our concerns directly with First Minister John Swinney MSP, including the meeting with Chair of ELU Committee Debbie Playfair at Border Union Show and most recently at the Black Isle Show.

Scotland's uplands have always been working landscapes. As wildfire becomes an increasingly significant threat, ensuring those landscapes continue to be actively managed is more important than ever.