Highlands and Islands MSP Ariane Burgess is calling for a new Climate Shock Fund and a national summit bringing together the people responsible for protecting Scotland’s communities and landscapes from wildfires and other extreme weather.
The Scottish Green MSP’s proposals form part of a parliamentary debate on building Scotland’s resilience to wildfires and other climate shocks, following fires which affected communities across the Highlands and Islands this year, including the major Cairngorms wildfire.
Burgess wants the Scottish Government to convene a landscape resilience summit involving emergency services, farmers, gamekeepers, land managers, conservation organisations and communities, bringing practical experience from across Scotland into the same room.
She is also calling on the UK Government to establish a dedicated Climate Shock Fund to help communities and land managers meet the costs of preparing for and preventing future emergencies.
At the heart of her argument is a greater emphasis on prevention, including restoring peatlands and wetlands and considering how Scotland’s landscapes can become more resilient to wildfire, flooding, drought and soil erosion.
Burgess said:
“Nature is our first line of defence.
“Communities need to know that everything possible is being done to protect their homes, livelihoods and the places they love.
“Our emergency services and everyone who has helped tackle wildfires deserve enormous thanks.
“But we cannot keep relying on their bravery without investing in the landscape resilience work that could prevent these emergencies and reduce the damage they cause.
“That means taking a serious look at how we manage our land, restore our peatlands and wetlands, and support the people who look after these landscapes every day.
“This is not just about wildfires, a resilient landscape will also help us with flooding, drought and soil erosion and ultimately food and livelihood insecurity.
“I want the Scottish Government to bring those people around the table, that is why I am bringing this debate to the chamber today.
“Farmers, gamekeepers, conservationists, firefighters and local communities all have experience to contribute, and we need to turn that knowledge into practical action.”
The call follows a summer in which the response to wildfires became a major issue for Highland communities, particularly following the Cairngorms fire and the huge effort involving firefighters, land managers, conservation workers, volunteers and residents.
Burgess has previously raised concerns in Parliament about wildfire equipment, community involvement and the need for different organisations to work more closely together when major fires break out.
Her parliamentary motion argues that Scotland needs to move beyond emergency response alone and towards long term prevention, with restored peatlands, wetlands and other landscape measures forming part of that approach.
Burgess added:
“The UK Government must also play its part by establishing a Climate Shock Fund, with money available for the communities and land managers who ensure our land is resilient enough to protect us.
“We should not have to wait for another devastating fire or flood to make protecting our homes and communities a priority.”
After a summer which demonstrated just how quickly wildfire can threaten Highland landscapes, livelihoods and communities, the debate now turns to what can be done before the next emergency begins.
