That is the welcome news emerging from Holyrood today in an answer to a written question lodged yesterday by Emma Harper, MSP, who asked what lessons had been learned from the Cairngorms wildfires which raged this summer.
In Parliament today (Thurs 9th October), Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie MSP responded to the question, saying that he had listened to stakeholders following Scotland's worst ever wildfire at Dava and Carrbridge and that Scottish Government would now take time to ensure any changes were appropriate.
Common sense
The move has been welcomed by the SGA as 'common sense'.
Chairman Alex Hogg, MBE, said: “The Dava wildfire, combined with new research on the role prescribed burning can play in protecting peatlands and preventing wildfires, makes this move from Scottish Government 100% necessary.
“The Minister has engaged with land managers constructively and the decision to delay the changes to muirburn is not only common sense, it is also necessary if we are to protect the public and Scotland’s peatlands.
“Watching 100 years of carbon released from peatlands through wildfire is in no one’s interest. It does nothing for environmental targets or public investment.
“The SGA supports the Minister’s move and looks forward to making future changes more workable, drawing on our members’ centuries of knowledge in this area.”
Wildfires 'hugely damaging'
Scottish Government had already delayed implementation of muirburn changes once, to January 1st, noting the difficulty land managers would encounter in probing peat depth for licence applications.
The latest delay, however, is in response to a changing picture in upland Scotland since muirburn was last debated in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill.
Responding to the specific question, Mr Fairlie wrote: “Following discussions with a number of stakeholders and experts over recent weeks, I have decided to delay implementation of the muirburn provisions until the start of the next muirburn season in Autumn 2026.
“This decision will provide us with the time and opportunity to carefully consider the upcoming changes to muirburn and how these changes can be brought forward in a way which does not adversely affect our ability to prevent and respond to wildfires.
“Wildfires as I saw this summer, are very damaging to our precious peatland carbon stores and further discussions on this issue will take place with key stakeholders and at the Wildfire Summit on 14 October 2025.”
The SGA will be in attendance at the Summit next week.
