EMBER: Effects of Moorland Burning on the Ecohydrology of River basins
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Geography
Abstract
Controlled burning is used worldwide for the management of vegetation, yet there is serious concern about the environmental implications of such practices. Across Northern England and parts of Scotland, moorland burning is a traditional practice for encouraging and maintaining heather growth (75% of the world's heather cover occurs in the UK uplands). However, detailed evaluations of the costs, benefits and sustainability of burning are hampered by a lack of basic scientific data. Many moorland owners feel pressured to change what they see as traditional practice despite any convincing evidence of environmental degradation and this is causing serious tension between farmers and regulators. The problem also has major financial implications because heather burning is subsidised by the government under its environmental stewardship scheme, whilst paradoxically an estimated £450-630M is being spent on trying to improve the quality of water courses to meet Water Framework Directive requirements. Unsurprisingly, evaluation of burn sustainability is one of the most pressing applied ecological issues for which upland managers are requesting evidence from the scientific community. EMBER will address these issues by providing the first co-ordinated evaluation of moorland burning effects on river catchment hydrological and ecological processes. Case study sites influenced by prescribed burns will be established in internationally important SSSIs in the Peak District and North Pennines, UK. Without this research, our understanding of hydrological and ecological responses to moorland burning will remain poor, biodiversity will be at risk and these systems will potentially fail to meet EU and UK policy requirements with resultant implications for landowners. EMBER will increase understanding of the processes linking prescribed moorland burning, hydrology, water quality and stream invertebrate communities in upland peat dominated catchments. Four work packages (WP) will aim to: 1. increase understanding of the effects of moorland patch burning on the hydrology and physicochemistry of peat, through examination of changes in soil hydrology and water quality. 2. provide a better understanding of the effects of moorland patch burning on basin runoff quantity and quality, through examination of river flow regimes, suspended sediment concentration and water chemistry. 3. assess the influence of changes in stream hydrology, water quality and sediment fluxes on stream ecosystems through examination of stream invertebrate community biodiversity and fish abundance 4. gain a more fundamental understanding of some environmental drivers of upland aquatic community response to burning by experimentally manipulating fine sediment flux under controlled conditions using a series of streamside mesocosms. Taken together these packages will provide a holistic patch- to basin-scale evaluation of burning from the perspective of peat hydrology, chemistry, river water quantity and quality, and stream ecosystems, thus providing the balanced knowledge base which is currently lacking. In the longer-term we expect EMBER to act as a major reference underpinning UK moorland burning policy.
Organisations
Publications
Aspray K
(2017)
Organic sediment pulses impact rivers across multiple levels of ecological organization
in Ecohydrology
Bixby R
(2015)
Fire effects on aquatic ecosystems: an assessment of the current state of the science
in Freshwater Science
Brown L
(2015)
Effects of fire on the hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecology of peatland river systems
in Freshwater Science
Brown L
(2020)
Contextualizing UK moorland burning studies with geographical variables and sponsor identity
in Journal of Applied Ecology
Brown LE
(2016)
Moorland vegetation burning debates should avoid contextomy and anachronism: a comment on Davies et al. (2016).
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Brown LE
(2013)
River ecosystem response to prescribed vegetation burning on Blanket Peatland.
in PloS one
Brown LE
(2019)
Sediment deposition from eroding peatlands alters headwater invertebrate biodiversity.
in Global change biology
Brown LE
(2015)
Vegetation management with fire modifies peatland soil thermal regime.
in Journal of environmental management
Holden J
(2015)
Impact of prescribed burning on blanket peat hydrology
in Water Resources Research
Title | Upstream |
Description | Trudi Entwistle worked with water@leeds to explore how water influences the character of the landscape in and around the uplands of the South Pennines. "Upstream" charts Trudi's changing perspective of this landscape based on dialogue with the scientists who study the upland environment. http://www.wateratleeds.org/about/art-exhibition/ |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | Several exhibitions and artist contributions to workshops |
URL | http://www.wateratleeds.org/about/art-exhibition/ |
Description | Our research has increased understanding of the effects of prescribed vegetation burning on blanket peatland hydrology, chemistry and physical properties, and on the hydrology, water quality and biota of rivers in upland peat-dominated catchments. It is the first time that a systematic and comprehensive assessment of burned and unburned catchments has been carried out. The project was initiated in response to concerns over the intensification of rotational heather burning on blanket peatlands and the lack of evidence to inform various stakeholders about the environmental effects. |
Exploitation Route | Key information for upland management relevant to grouse moors. E.g. landowners, regulators, other scientists |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism |
URL | http://www.water.leeds.ac.uk/ember |
Description | Used by general public, environmental groups/agencies and land owner groups in discussions about land management |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | Discussed in parliament |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Impact | Discussed in houses of commons debate |
URL | https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-11-18/debates/92B33DDB-FCE9-4118-A35A-8D054E9CC15C/Moorla... |
Description | Holden invited to SNH review of Muirburn |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Ilkley Moor Management Plan |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
Impact | The City of Bradford Metropolitan Council Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in November 2015, recommended that alternative techniques to vegetation burning (such as cutting or flailing) be explored. These suggestions have been formalised in the management plan with reference to the EMBER project outputs. |
URL | https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s11701/Ilkley%20Moor%20Management%20Plan%20Final%20Consul... |
Description | Natural England |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
Impact | Evidence for land management impact on soils and water quality - influence on management actions |
URL | http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5978072?category=4993022171283456 |
Description | Natural England freshwater narrative |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
Impact | Influence on conservation priorities within Natural England, for headwater rivers |
URL | http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6524433387749376 |
Description | Research discussed in 2x Westminster debates |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
URL | https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-10-31/debates/7076f2c8-30d3-4c38-8608-988eb871b6cb/Westmi... |
Description | Monitoring water quality in Chellow raw waters - Woo Gill experimental catchment manipulation. |
Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Yorkshire Water |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2013 |
End | 05/2015 |
Description | NERC Innovation - Yorkshire iCASP |
Amount | £4,800,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/P011160/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | Understanding plant-soil feedback effects impacted by peatland fire |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 09/2018 |
Title | 0 |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Dataset associated with 'Prescribed burning, atmospheric pollution and grazing effects on peatland vegetation composition';. |
Description | Subsets of two vegetation surveys held by UK government body Natural England with additional environmental data including plot physical attributes, burning status and deposition of atmospheric pollutants. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | EMBER comparison - systematic review |
Description | Shortlisted papers considered as part of a systematic review of moorland burning literature, with codings for seven ecosystem properties relevant to the EMBER research project. Soil temperature disturbances, water table depths, FPOM concentrations, invertebrates, water temperature. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://archive.researchdata.leeds.ac.uk/696/ |
Title | EMBER plot locations |
Description | Grid references, burn age categories and slope position categories for the study plots used in the EMBER project. Effects of moorland burning on the ecohydrology of river basins. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Description | Chris Packham video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Chris Packham refers to the research in one of his broadcasts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-injdXcWm8&feature=youtu.be |
Description | Committee on Climate Change |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | citations in 2015 progress report https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/6.736_CCC_ASC_Adaptation-Progress-Report_2015_FINAL_WEB_250615_RFS.pdf increase in discussions by MPs about the role of grouse moor management in flooding and climate change related events (December/January 2015) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/6.736_CCC_ASC_Adaptation-Progress-Report_2015_F... |
Description | Media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Media coverage in the Times, the Independent, Herald, Scotsman, Yorkshire Post, BBC Radio 4 Farming Today, BBC Look North (TV), BBS Radio Scotland, BBC Radio York. Also various coverage on blogs by organisations such as RSPB, Moorland Association, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Scottish Gamekeepers Association. RSPB requested further details for inclusion in presentations. Large scale coverage on Twitter including tweets by Chris Packham Discussed at IUCN peatland conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.wateratleeds.org/ember/ |
Description | Media interest |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Media coverage in Financial Times and Guardian journalist George Monbiot's Twitter followers and his personal website Contact from further journalists (Channel 4/ITN news) Contacted by an Australian scientist looking to initiate a class action against grouse moor owners by flooded residents in upland areas of Yorkshire |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/543de6d2-aeec-11e5-993b-c425a3d2b65a.html |
Description | Sustainable Restaurants Association |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | see http://www.thesra.org/grouse-changing-the-rules-of-game/ see http://www.thesra.org/grouse-changing-the-rules-of-game/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.thesra.org/grouse-changing-the-rules-of-game/ |