The Growing Risk of Wildfires in Scotland

That the Parliament shares its deep concern for the growing number of wildfires taking place, which, it considers is a result of both climate change and land management practices, and the increasingly significant threat that these fires pose for communities across rural Scotland, such as those in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; understands that the Cairngorms wildfire in particular has had a devastating impact within the Cairngorms National Park, both on its natural environment and the businesses that were forced to close; further understands that more than 100 firefighters were required to tackle the blaze; commends the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and retained duty firefighters for all that they have done to tackle the wildfire in the Cairngorms, as well as other fires in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh and Hill of Tarvit in Fife; further commends communities in the Cairngorms and across the wider Highlands region for the support that they have provided alongside hard working firefighters as well as for the residents of Nethy Bridge when they were forced to evacuate; understands that the Scottish Government has published a Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires and the announcement of a £3 million fund to help those businesses which have been impacted; notes the belief that despite this action plan and fund, the Scottish Government response to the wildfire in the Cairngorms has fallen short; further notes the calls for a cross-party summit to be held to learn the lessons of the response to the Cairngorms wildfire, ensuring that there is a concrete action plan for any future wildfires, and notes the calls for better funding of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as well so that it is better equipped to deal with these major incidents going forward.