New laws stamp down on wildlife traps and muirburn

A new Bill to tackle the persecution of birds of prey and restrict the burning of peatland has been published in the Scottish Parliament.

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill aims to: end raptor persecution; ensure grouse moors are managed sustainably; ban the use of glue traps for rodents and tighten regulations for the use of other types of wildlife traps.

The Bill will also strictly regulate the use of muirburn, the controlled burning of vegetation, on peatland. Licences for burning on peat will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, such as for wildfire prevention.

Environment minister Mairi McAllan said: “I recognise grouse shooting contributes to the rural economy and this Bill is not about stopping this activity.

“However, it is clear grouse moors must be managed in a sustainable and responsible way ensuring any environmental impacts are minimised. Public consultation on the Bill, which received more than 4,500 responses, made clear the regulation and protection of our natural environment is an important issue for many.

‘‘The views of both the public and stakeholders have been carefully considered in the formation of this

Bill and I look forward to its passage through Parliament.”

A spokesman for The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) said: “The Bill leaves fundamental questions unanswered for our members and we will be seeking meetings with decision makers. It is disappointing the Scottish Government has ignored the longest-running UK research, Peatland-ES-UK, which is finally giving us fresh insights into the important role controlled muirburn can play in sequestering carbon in peatlands. This Bill will, instead, restrict that activity in Scotland at a time when it could be assisting national objectives. It is a short-sighted step at a time when our understanding has developed considerably.

‘‘Scottish Government should understand this move will not be taken well by rural workers.”