The problem
Huge swathes of Scotland (the equivalent of over 200,000 football pitches) are burned on grouse moors, every year, so more grouse can be shot for sport.
"Muirburn" makes the landscape more suitable for grouse but causes environmental damage and places our vital peatlands - a vital and internationally significant carbon resource - at immense risk.
*Scroll down to the 'Where you come in' section to find out how you can help or read on for more information*
The opportunity
The Government has decided that all muirburn is going to be regulated and licenced, not just on grouse moors. We support this. What we don't support is muirburn getting a licence when the only purpose is shooting more grouse for sport.
The Scottish Minister for Biodiversity agrees with us and has encouraged us to keep pushing these clear demands.
The solution
It's very simple. When the time comes the Scottish Government must declare that maintaining/increasing grouse numbers for sport shooting is not a good enough reason to get a grouse moor licence.
It should also be banned on all peat unless there is a proven biodiversity case for doing so.
These are very clear and sensible positions for any reasonable government to take and it may be decided in the coming months as the fires continue to burn in our uplands. Now is the time to act.
*Where you come in*
You can make a substantial difference. By writing to Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon / Minister Màiri McAllan / Minister Lorna Slater (who all have in interest in grouse moor reform) you can show that there's strong support to protect our upland environments from unnecessary burning.
* Email address to write to: scottish.ministers@gov.scot *
Your points to the Government may wish to cover the following points with the following structure:
- That you're encouraged the Government is speaking with REVIVE and its partners about grouse moor reform
- That you support the Government's position to licence all muirburn but you do not think that maintaining and increasing grouse numbers for sport shooting is a good enough reason to ever get a licence
- That our peat is an internationally significant carbon resource that must be protected and never burned on, unless there is an exceptional biodiversity reason for doing so
- That burning on grouse moors is an unnecessary risk to the environment that blocks the re-wetting of our uplands and blocks opportunities for greater biodiversity
- That by ending muirburn for grouse shooting could be a game-changer for our uplands that you feel The Government should unequivocally support
If you write an email and/or if you get a response then please feel free to email max@revive.scot to let us know about it.
Resources for your further information:
- A Better Way: How an alternative to grouse moors can help tackle climate change, increase biodiversity and benefit Scotland's people
- Muirburning for grouse: Does it increase or decrease carbon emissions?
Thank you
*Please note the INFORMATION ABOVE will help you write your letter. The following link takes you to another, no longer relevant page.*
