Cairngorms 2026: Rewilded land wildfire prevention
RSPB Scotland outlines a four-point land management plan after a massive wildfire scorched over 2,500 hectares of moorland and forest in the Cairngorms.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A massive wildfire destroyed over 2,500 hectares of moorland and forest in the Cairngorms.
- RSPB Scotland identified four key areas for land management changes to prevent future fires.
- Critics debate whether rewilding increases fire risks, prompting calls for balanced strategies.
- Restoring peatlands and planting broadleaved trees help reduce flammability in ancient forests.
Following a massive wildfire that burned for over a month in the Cairngorms and left lingering hotspots a full week after firefighters departed, RSPB Scotland site manager Ben Oliver-Jones and conservationists are shifting their focus toward bolstering wildfire defenses in the Abernethy nature reserve.
The devastating blaze consumed more than 2,500 hectares—approximately 10 square miles—of moorland and forest, forcing the evacuation of an entire village and sending smoke visible and traceable 60 miles, or 96.5 kilometers, away to Aberdeen. While critics argue that rewilding leaves areas vulnerable to uncontrollable fires, the conservation charity disputes this and has outlined significant land management revisions.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The strategic changes center on four main areas: fire breaks, wetlands, heather management, and tree planting. Although estate tracks acted as fire breaks in some zones, high winds allowed flames reaching up to six meters high to leap the gaps. Experts note that fire breaks must be three times the flame height, prompting RSPB Scotland to widen forest trail clearings.
Additionally, the charity plans to construct more ponds and wet areas to supply water for firefighting, building on a successful instance in June when a Scottish government-funded pool helped extinguish a small blaze. Efforts are also underway to raise water tables on drained bogs, utilize cattle grazing to manage fuel loads, and mechanically mulch excessive vegetation.
Balancing ecological restoration with proactive fire safety highlights the complex challenges land managers face amid shifting climatic conditions. Integrating traditional conservation methods with modern environmental science is vital to protecting sensitive habitats from escalating wildfire threats.
The fourth strategy involves introducing more broadleaved tree species, such as alder, rowan, aspen, and birch, into the ancient Caledonian pine forest. Unlike highly flammable Scots pines, these broadleaved trees possess higher moisture content, making them less prone to ignition and helping to slow down potential fire spread.
"We should do it as much as we can, as quickly as we can and as strategically as we can, especially in the context of this changing climate."
Roxane Anderson, University of the Highlands and Islands
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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