NSA Scottish Region highlights the vital role of sheep in wildfire prevention
27th July 2026
Following the recent devastating wildfires in the Highlands, NSA Scottish Region has written to First Minister John Swinney MSP stressing the important contribution sheep farming makes to the management of Scotland's uplands.
Sheep play a crucial role in reducing fuel loads by grazing grasses, heather and other vegetation that can otherwise accumulate and increase the risk and intensity of wildfires. As concerns grow over the reduction of grazing livestock on some hill ground, NSA Scotland believes it is essential that the practical benefits of sheep farming are fully recognised in future land management and environmental policy.
Download the letter to the First Minister on this page.
