In what seems one of the most rushed Bills of recent times, Stage 2 of the Natural Environment Bill will push towards a closure, with another double session of the Rural Affairs Committee expected tomorrow (Wed).
Caveat: It may still be possible that Stage 2 will require a further Wednesday meeting the next week to conclude, due to the number of sections to be heard.
Still to be debated are policies around venison action plans before what is likely to be a lengthy session of amendments around commercial forestry, which also takes in future costs of deer fencing, and protected marine areas.
Muirburn amendments
Muirburn and Wildfire will be the next substantive section, with proposals for a national wildfire response unit and better wildfire reporting, including quantifying carbon emissions from each major fire (see image below of aftermath of Dava/Carrbridge wildfire in woodland regeneration area).
There are also amendments to tidy up, and make more sensible, Muirburn licensing procedures -key amendments by Beatrice Wishart, which the SGA fully supports.
Thereafter, there are debates around various aspects such as Gull management and NatureScot’s role in tackling gull issues.
What is still to be voted on are amendments already debated regarding the licensing of gamebird releasing and proposals to extend the area to which a grouse licence applies.
The latter is expected to be supported.
You can watch from 8.30am tomorrow morning. If the session runs over (likely), there will be a further session from 6pm tomorrow evening.
You can watch on https://www.scottishparliament.tv and click on Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
