Wildfire response to Holyrood's muirburn consultation with over 5,700 views
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Holyrood's rural affairs and islands committee has received an 'incredible' 5,705 responses to its call for views on the Wildlife Management & Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.
A summary of these responses has been published, revealing that 5,596 individuals and 109 organisations responded during the consultation period, which ran between March 31 and May 5. "It was intended as a snapshot of some of the experiences, opinions, questions, improvements, comments and concerns the public and organisations have about the provisions set out in the Bill," explained a spokesperson at the Scottish Parliament, who described the level of response as incredible.
The committee has agreed its timeline of evidence sessions:
May 31 – evidence from the Scottish Government Bill team
June 14 – evidence from members of the Grouse Moor Management Review (Werritty) Group;
evidence on sections 1-3 (glue traps); sections 4-5 (wildlife traps); and section 8 (SSPCA powers)
June 21 – evidence on sections 6-7 (grouse moor licensing); evidence on sections 9 – 19 (muirburn licensing)
June 28 – evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
The Bill aims to address the illegal targeting of birds of prey and ensure that the management of grouse moors and related activities are carried out in an environmentally sustainable way, whilst considering the welfare of wild birds and animals.
The committee were keen to understand opinion around measures to address wildlife crime, tackle raptor persecution and manage grouse moors in Scotland and asked questions such as:
Are the proposed licensing systems for land to be used to shoot red grouse appropriate?
Are those for muirburn, the controlled burning of vegetation, suitable?
Should certain wildlife traps be permitted?
And should glue traps be banned?
Further information about the Committee’s scrutiny of this Bill, can be found here.
