Scotland’s countryside watchdog has been urged to investigate a late season moorlands blaze in rural Perthshire.
A large section of heather-filled hills between Braco and Comrie went up in smoke over the Easter weekend.
The muirburn is understood to be part of an intensive moor management programme, intended to increase grouse numbers.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell has reported the incident to Scottish Natural Heritage, which issued warnings of muirburn fires just days earlier.
Muirburn are prohibited after April 15 to avoid risks to wildlife but this timescale can be extended under certain circumstances.
Mr Ruskell sits on Holyrood’s environment committee which has been scrutinising the impact of the grouse moor industry.
He said: “Muirburn is a growing environmental problem on moorland managed for game shooting that releases vast amounts of pollution in the form of smoke and carbon, that worsens climate change.
“Peat soils are Scotland’s rain forests in terms of the carbon they lock up. Muirburn can threaten wildlife, result in serious soil erosion and should be banned.”
Mr Ruskell added: “This latest incident happened beyond the cut-off date of April 15, which is set to protect ground breeding birds.
“I have written to the watchdog with pictures taken on Comrie Moor for investigation.”
Grouse moor management is currently under a Scottish Government review over a range of concerns including muirden, as well as the impact on birds of prey, mountain hares.
“The review must address the need for fundamental change,” said Mr Ruskell.
One of the most contentious factors of muirburn is the potential damage caused to carbon-storing peat.
A spokeswoman for SNH said: “A high warning of fire danger was in place for much of Scotland from April 16 to 20 and a very cautious approach to muirburn was advised.
“Indeed, we issued advice in the run up to the bank holiday urging members of the public not to light open fires.”
She said: “However, the dates for the muirburn season were set in law by the Scottish Parliament under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.
“This states that the statutory season for muirburn runs from October 1 to April 15, but can be extended to April 30 at the discretion of the landowner.”
She added: “Burning within the extension period is not encouraged as there can be increased risks to ground-nesting birds in late April.
“If anyone believes that any of the legislation that applies to muirburn is being broken it should be reported to the police.”
