Environmental, Waste and Renewables Update

Here is a summary of today's Environmental, Waste and Renewables news:

BBC: Wildfire warning over new controlled burning rules

New licensing rules for the controlled burning of heather and other moorland vegetation could lead to an increased risk of wildfires, a rural group has warned. Scottish Land and Estates claimed the technical demands of a new muirburn licensing scheme will leave many land managers unable to obtain a license in time. The Scottish government said land owners have been given "adequate time" to prepare for the new regulation.

Click here to read BBC: Wildfire warning over new controlled burning rules.

STV: Scottish island becomes tenth UK site to be given UNESCO status

A Scottish island has become the 10th area in the UK to be given UNESCO status for geoparks.  The Isle of Arran has been awarded Global Geopark Status by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it was announced on Thursday.  The recognition highlights the island’s geological heritage, rich biodiversity and commitment to sustainable development.

Click here to read STV: Scottish island becomes tenth UK site to be given UNESCO status.

Scotsman: Orkney’s curlew population back on the rise, figures show

The Orcadian curlew population is on the rise following an effort to reduce the numbers of an invasive predator, experts have said.  In a report, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said on Monday that the species population has grown, after an initiative to reduce the number of stoats living on the islands came into force.

Click here to read Scotsman: Orkney’s curlew population back on the rise, figures show.

Guardian: Scottish Water staff to strike for two days as pay standoff continues

Scottish Water staff will strike for two days from the early hours of Tuesday as a standoff over pay continues at the state-owned company.  The striking workers’ union warned that emergency repairs and quality checks to water supplied to 5 million people across Scotland would not be carried out during the action on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Click here to read Guardian: Scottish Water staff to strike for two days as pay standoff continues.