Question reference: S6W-12745
- Date lodged: 5 December 2022
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 December 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make an assessment of whether rewilding on deep peat caused by a lack of management risks reducing (a) carbon sequestration and (b) populations of ground nesting bird species.
Answer
There are different forms of active management of vegetation on deep peat including muirburn, cutting and grazing.
As far as muirburn is concerned, NatureScot published research earlier this year which reviewed the evidence on the impacts of muirburn on wildfire prevention, carbon storage and biodiversity: NatureScot Research Report 1302 - Reviewing, assessing and critiquing the evidence base on the impacts of muirburn on wildfire prevention, carbon storage and biodiversity | NatureScot
Following on from the research, the NatureScot Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) have been asked to provide advice on the circumstances under which muirburn, including muirburn on peat could be permitted under licence, and where it would not be appropriate.
The Scottish Government will take in to account evidence from the NatureScot research and the SAC advice alongside information provided by stakeholders.
Further information on impacts of grazing and cutting are available in NatureScot guidance:
https://www.nature.scot/doc/peatland-action-peatland-management-guidance-grazing-and-muirburn