Landowners Cheer Scottish Delay of Muirburn Licensing to Curb Wildfires

In a move welcomed by Scottish landowners, the Scottish government has decided to delay the implementation of muirburn licensing until autumn 2026. Muirburn is the controlled burning of moorland vegetation, primarily heather, which is an essential tool for managing upland and moorland areas.

According to Ross Ewing, director of moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, the delay is crucial as licensing would have significantly constrained the ability to undertake controlled muirburn. This, in turn, would have led to a buildup of vegetation and increased the risk of devastating wildfires.

Earlier this year, Scotland experienced its largest-ever wildfire event, with fires in the Carrbridge and Dava areas burning more than 11,000 hectares of moorland and forestry. Ewing warns that without the ability to conduct preventative muirburn, the infrastructure and expertise that helped contain these recent fires could be lost, which would be "catastrophic for rural Scotland."

The Scottish government's decision to postpone the licensing requirement follows discussions with land managers, gamekeepers, estate owners, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie stated that the delay will allow for a careful consideration of how the licensing changes can be implemented without adversely affecting the ability to prevent and respond to wildfires.