A new licensing regime to restrict controlled burning will come into place on September 15th with NatureScot due to publish the accompanying Code next Wednesday (July 1st).
However, gamekeepers will not endorse it, claiming Government advisers, NatureScot, have completely ignored warnings that new restrictions will lead to heightened risk of wildfires.
Removes tools
While trained land managers can carry out muirburn on peatlands to prevent wildfire under the coming licence, gamekeepers argue the Code, which will govern how that’s done, will ‘remove virtually all tools’ to prevent wildfire in hill environments.
They claim the Code criminalises proven strategies which would help mitigate the spread of major blazes, thereby representing a danger to ‘people, property, habitats and economic assets.’
Scotland’s gamekeepers have frequently assisted the Fire Services at infernos due to their ability to mobilise vital equipment and skilled manpower; their latest intervention being in late May in the Pentland Hills, see:
They have fed into the development of the Code through official channels, with membership body The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) also providing a critique to assist its development, which it has published on its website (read below).
However, the SGA says ‘centuries of practitioner knowledge’ has been ignored in the final version of NatureScot’s Code, leaving Scotland’s uplands poorly protected against increasing threats.
Ignored
“We agree with co-designing solutions. However, co-designing is not asking practitioners with centuries of practical experience for their views, only to ignore them,” said Gamekeeper, Malcolm Downie.
Gamekeeper Andy Buchan, who assisted at the Pentlands wildfire, added: “We’d like to know who is responsible for the final draft? What qualifications do they have in wildfire management to enable them to treat centuries of knowledge and experience, disdainfully?
“We have held constructive discussions with Ministers and ministerial staff over this issue, throughout, and we value that engagement. However, advisers NatureScot have not reflected that practitioner input and concern for public safety and property in this Code.
“For that reason, we can’t endorse it. This is hugely disappointing given all the work which has gone in, and the fact our members continue in good faith to put themselves in the line of fire, taking a Team Scotland approach to help the Fire Service at major blazes."
SGA Vice Chairman Bob Connelly said: “We will provide members with as much support and guidance as we can when applying for these new licences but, with so many aspects unworkable, we have little confidence this will run smoothly.”
Licence delay
New curbs were placed on Muirburn - the controlled burning of vegetation – through the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill, 2024.
Licensing the activity was designed to give greater protection to peatlands but the scheme was delayed in the wake of the wildfire at Dava/Carrbridge which was the biggest in the nation’s history, burning through 12 000 hectares.
Scottish Government asked NatureScot to review evidence to ensure new measures were appropriate to emerging wildfire threats in Scotland, with the regulator reaffirming its earlier position.
In the wake of the Dava ‘megafire’, the SGA attended a Wildfire Summit meeting in the Cairngorms, hosted by Scottish Government, and commissioned a survey regarding wildfire assistance.
Using data from local asset registers and their members, it found that the gamekeeping sector could mobilise between £5m and £10m of volunteer fire- fighting assets and over 100 trained staff across Scotland, see:
“We’ve got a great relationship with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and SGA members are always amongst the first to assist," said Gamekeeper, James Rolfe.
“However, if they can’t get licences to carry out their daily work, knowledge and investment will be lost and Scotland can only lose from that scenario."
