Estates press their wildfire role as Scottish muirburn licensing nears

Scottish Land & Estates has used its Moorland Conference to underline the part private land managers play in fighting wildfires, and to warn that new muirburn licensing must not blunt that capability. Land managers, estates and the fire service must work hand in hand to tackle Scotland’s growing wildfire threat, delegates at the Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) Moorland Conference were told on 10 June. The sold-out event, attended by 200 landowners, land managers and gamekeepers, followed a record year for wildfire in 2025, including the Carrbridge and Dava Moor fire, which drew in more than 36 rural businesses and 110 land managers.

Background on Scotland’s wildfire threat

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour, head of prevention at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), said: “We are seeing a change in trend with regard to wildfires, which highlights why collaborative prevention work is key to mitigating this. Effective response depends on strong coordination between emergency services, land managers, and rural businesses.”

Ross Ewing, SLE’s director of moorland and strategic projects, pointed to the recent Pentland Hills fire, where 16 gamekeepers and 14 farmers from 10 estates and farms used fogging units, all-terrain vehicles and a tractor to hold a blaze that affected around 17 hectares and could have spread across Black Hill and the main Pentland ridge.

“These incidents cannot be tackled in isolation, they require a coordinated, landscape-scale response,” Mr Ewing said. “The experience of those on the ground shows that public-private partnership is essential.”

What does it mean for muirburn licensing?

SLE’s analysis of the Carrbridge-Dava response valued the private equipment deployed, including 35 all-terrain vehicles, 28 fogging units and 11 tractors, at nearly £4m.

The conference came as the Scottish Government moves to bring its new muirburn licensing scheme into force under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, with the 2026 muirburn season due to run from 15 September to 31 March. NatureScot licensing policy manager Jess Findlay briefed land managers on applying for licences. Mr Ewing warned the scheme “must not compromise the ability of land managers to reduce fuel loads during the cooler months of the year”.

SLE chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing represents land-based and rural businesses on the Scottish Government’s Strategic Oversight Group for Wildfire, while Mr Ewing was recently appointed vice chair of Scotland’s Wildfire Forum.