First Minister John Swinney has said Scotland must have a 'thoughtful debate' about land use and management following this summer's wildfires, acknowledging the need to consider whether current approaches are increasing the risk of future fires.
Speaking at Turriff Show recently, Mr Swinney was asked whether more livestock grazing on hill ground could play a role in reducing wildfire risk by limiting the build-up of vegetation.
He said the recent fires in the Cairngorms had highlighted the need to examine how Scotland's landscapes are managed as climate change increases the likelihood of extreme wildfire events.
"I think the wildfires require us to have a thoughtful debate about land use and approaches to land management as part of addressing the greater risk we now face from wildfires as a consequence of climate change," he said.
"These are issues we are going to have to work through because there will be different views about the appropriate use of the landscape.
"We have to be prepared to consider whether we have the right land use approaches in place that will reduce the risk of experiencing wildfires in the future."
Read more
-
Government points finger at climate change over wildfire crisis
-
Wildfire exposes growing pressure on Scotland's fire and rescue service
Asked specifically whether targeted grazing and greater livestock numbers in upland areas could help reduce the fuel load available to fires, the First Minister stopped short of backing any particular approach, saying such decisions ultimately rested with land managers rather than government.
"This is where we get into tricky territory because it is about individual land management decisions in individual areas. Government generally does not prescribe that approach," he said.
"But what we have to do is host a debate and discussion about these questions.
"The work undertaken by a variety of stakeholders, Forest and Land Scotland and others to create fire breaks and contain wildfires shows the measures and interventions that have been necessary to deal with the problem.
"What the experience of wildfire raises for me is the need to reflect openly and dispassionately on how we minimise the risk of such events happening in the future."
Mr Swinney's comments come as farmers, land managers and conservation organisations continue to debate the role of livestock grazing, controlled vegetation management and other land-use measures in reducing the risk and severity of future wildfires across Scotland.
Share