The anger and anxiety sparked by this summer’s devastating wildfires in the Cairngorms should be channelled into real climate action, one of Scotland’s leading environmentalists has said.
The fires, which tore through parts of the Cairngorms National Park this summer, left many Scots shocked and distressed. Combined with the wave of wildfires that swept across Europe during the same period, the destruction has stirred up strong emotions in communities, conservationists and ordinary people alike.
But rather than letting that anger fade, experts are urging people to use it as fuel.
The environmentalist, speaking out in the wake of the blazes, said that the emotional response people feel when they see landscapes they love reduced to ash is completely understandable. The key, they argue, is making sure those feelings translate into pressure for change rather than helplessness.
Wildfires in Scotland have become an increasingly serious concern in recent years. The Cairngorms, home to rare wildlife and ancient Caledonian pinewoods, is one of the most ecologically precious landscapes in the whole of the UK. When fire rips through terrain like that, the damage can take decades to recover from, if it recovers at all.
This summer served as a stark reminder that Scotland is not immune to the kind of extreme fire conditions that many people previously associated only with southern Europe or North America. Drier springs, stronger winds and warmer temperatures are creating conditions where wildfires can take hold faster and spread further than ever before.
Scientists have been warning for years that climate change would bring exactly this kind of disruption to Scottish landscapes. What was once considered a worst-case scenario is now playing out in real time, and communities living near affected areas are bearing the brunt of it.
The call to action comes at a time when public engagement with climate issues in Scotland has been mixed. While there is broad awareness of the problem, turning that awareness into sustained pressure on governments and businesses remains a challenge.
The environmentalist argued that moments of crisis, as painful as they are, can be powerful catalysts. People who might never have considered themselves climate activists are suddenly confronted with the consequences of inaction on their own doorstep. That personal connection, they said, is something that no amount of statistics or reports can replicate.
Practical steps being highlighted include pushing for stronger land management policies, greater investment in peatland and woodland restoration, and holding both the Scottish Government and UK Government to account on their climate commitments. Restored peatlands in particular act as natural firebreaks and also lock in carbon, making them a double win in the fight against both wildfires and climate change.
There is also a growing conversation about how land in Scotland is managed more broadly. Some conservationists point out that certain land management practices can increase the risk of wildfires spreading, and that a rethink is long overdue.
For many Scots who watched the Cairngorms burn this summer, the images were genuinely distressing. The idea that this could become a regular occurrence unless serious action is taken is one that the environmental community hopes will push more people to get involved, whether that means contacting their elected representatives, supporting conservation organisations, or simply making changes in their own lives.
The message is clear. Grief and anger are valid responses to what happened. But letting those feelings sit without acting on them would be the real waste.