New wildlife management and muirburn laws for Scotland passed

24 March 2024

Stricter regulations will be introduced over the use of muirburn, the controlled burning of heather and vegetation on moorland, after a new law was passed by the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs voted 85 votes to 30 in favour of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill.

New provisions mean a licence and training will be needed to undertake muirburn at any point in the year in a bid to reduce the risk of wildfires. Currently, a license is not required between October to mid April in Scotland. Restrictions will be made on burning over peatland.

The Bill includes a range of other measures including reducing the illegal killing of birds of prey with a new licensing framework for grouse moors, a ban on snaring in Scotland, as well as the use, sale, and possession of glue traps to catch rodents.

Greater powers have been given to Scottish SPCA inspectors to tackle wildlife crime.

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “This Bill is a significant step in our wider journey to ensure Scotland’s environment is managed sustainably.

“People who live and work on our land have shown that it’s possible to manage wildlife.

“They have shown that muirburn, which is a key approach to helping manage wildfires, can be undertaken responsibly and in a way that protects biodiversity.

“We have struck the right balance between improving animal welfare, supporting rural businesses and reinforcing a zero tolerance approach to raptor persecution and wildlife crime.”

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was introduced primarily to address raptor persecution and ensure that the management of grouse moors and related activities are undertaken in an environmentally sustainable and welfare conscious manner.

Muirburn is the intentional and controlled burning of moorland vegetation to encourage new growth of heather or grassland for improving moorland grazings for livestock or deer.