NFU Scotland calls for delay to muirburn licensing regime

NFU Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to delay the muirburn licensing regime that comes into force on 15 September, warning that it risks undermining wildfire prevention. The union made the call on 5 August, arguing that with Scotland still counting the cost of the Cairngorms wildfire, muirburn licensing must not put barriers in the way of the burning that keeps fuel loads down.

Why does NFU Scotland want the licence delayed?

The union believes practical land management tools must remain available as Scotland experiences longer dry spells and increasingly severe wildfire events. Farmers, crofters, gamekeepers and other land managers play a vital role in managing vegetation, maintaining resilient landscapes and reducing the risk of uncontrolled fires, it says, and the Cairngorms fire showed what is at stake for habitats, rural businesses, communities and the emergency services.

Its concern is that the new regime would create unnecessary barriers at precisely the moment effective vegetation management matters most. The union says it has worked constructively with government and stakeholders since the licence was announced, but that the recent fires have changed the calculation.

What changes on 15 September?

Under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, a licence from NatureScot will be required to carry out muirburn on any land in Scotland from 15 September 2026, the opening day of the muirburn season. Burning without a licence will be an offence, and practitioners must also complete approved muirburn training. The requirement covers muirburn on any land in Scotland for the first time.

What does the union say?

Debbie Playfair, chair of NFU Scotland’s environment and land use committee, said: “Wildfire prevention starts long before the first emergency call is made. The people managing these landscapes every day need the right tools, support and flexibility to reduce risk.”

“Responsible muirburn, carried out by skilled practitioners in appropriate conditions, remains one of the most effective tools available to manage vegetation and reduce fuel loads. We are asking the Scottish Government to delay the introduction of the licensing regime to ensure it is practical, proportionate and does not unintentionally increase wildfire risk,” she said.

What happens next?

Unless ministers intervene, the licensing regime takes effect on 15 September. NFU Scotland is asking the Scottish Government to delay it, to recognise active upland management in future agricultural support, and to work with land managers and wildfire experts on practical, evidence-led approaches to reducing wildfire risk. It also wants a comprehensive wildfire resilience strategy covering upland livestock grazing, firebreak maintenance, vegetation management, access routes and water points. The union’s full statement can be read on the NFU Scotland website.