NatureScot announce new licensing scheme for muirburn

In 2024, new legislation for muirburn was introduced by the Wildlife Management & Muirburn (Scotland) Act.

The new licensing scheme for muirburn will be announced in Autumn 2026 before the start of the new season, which runs from 15 September to 31 March. NatureScot are advising all land managers to start preparing for this now by collecting the following information:

• details of the area(s) you wish to burn
• training evidence provided by a Lantra-approved course Muirburn Practitioner Foundation Course - Lantra
• confirmation you will comply with the Muirburn Code
• peat depth survey data using the NatureScot mapping tool (optional, depending on the area and licensable purpose)

There are 10 licensable purposes, 6 on non-peatland and 4 on peatland:

• managing the habitats of moorland game or wildlife (non-peatland only, not permitted out of the muirburn season)
• improving the grazing potential of moorland for livestock (non-peatland only, not permitted out of the muirburn season)
• conserving, restoring, enhancing or managing the natural environment (non-peatland only)
• restoring the natural environment (peatland only)
• preventing, or reducing the risk of, wildfires causing damage to habitats (non-peatland / peatland)
• preventing, or reducing the risk of, wildfires causing harm to people or damage to property (non-peatland / peatland)
• research (non-peatland / peatland)

Training Exemption: While you must be on a training course to burn without your own licence, the actual licensable purposes for muirburn in Scotland relate strictly to land management, conservation, wildfire prevention, and research.

You can apply for both peatland and non-peatland purposes in the same application.

The Act defines peatland as land with peat layers of 40cm or more.

The Muirburn Code is currently under review by NatureScot and stakeholders from the Muirburn Code Working Group. We will inform our members and supporters when the new code is published, so keep a look out on social media for any updates.

For more information on the licensing process, please contact:

NatureScot Licensing Team
01463 725364
licensing@nature.scot