Fire Interdisciplinary Research on Ecosystem Services; fire and climate change in UK moorlands and heaths (FiRES)

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Environment and Development

Abstract

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Description Key messages from the seminar series, policy recommendations and knowledge gaps were summarised in a four-page policy brief.

A follow-on online survey of end-users and researchers ranked the top three key messages as:

1. Wildfire management needs combined strategies of fire suppression, prevention and protection of ecosystem services, including fuel and risk reduction.

2. Fires are costly to put out, and have long-term cost implications for ecosystem services. Treating ecosystem services as property assets would allow the costs of suppressing wildfires to be set against the avoided costs of damage to these services.

3. Partnership working is an effective and efficient approach to address the wildfire problem.

The top three policy recommendations were:

1. Establish a cross-sector wildfire risk assessment and integrate into management plans.

2. Support partnership working through local fire groups, where best practice can be shared.

3. Establish a combined wildfire strategy of prevention and suppression, including better fuel management and risk reduction.

The top three knowledge gaps were:

1. Data and procedures to improve the evidence base, including an accurate, spatially robust and accessible database on UK wildfires.

2. Baseline regional fire regimes and how they are changing in response to land use, including clarifying the relationship between the occurrence of prescribed fire and wildfire.

3. What are fire regimes would be need to achieve the management objectives of each ecosystem service under climate change scenarios.
Exploitation Route The England and Wales Wildfire Forum (EWWF) has strongly endorsed the policy brief as an excellent summary of the UK wildfire issue. They sent it to all Chief Fire Officers and to members of the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisors Unit at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to improve awareness of UK wildfire risk. It was used by the Cabinet Office and Government Departments in reviewing wildfire risk, and was endorsed by the Natural Hazard Partnership.

The policy brief formed the basis of discussions for the EWWF Action Plan and later in 2012 for the new Chief Fire Officers' Association Wildfire Group's action plan.
Sectors Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Transport,Other
URL http://www.fires-seminars.org.uk/downloads/FIRES_Policy_Brief_final.pdf
 
Description Through their role in stimulating EWWF and by providing a scientific basis for the Forum's evidence to Government, the FIRES seminar series and the resulting KE fellowship have played their part in changing national policy. In 2012, wildfire was included on the 2012 Olympic risk register, and in 2013, for the first time, it was recognised on the National Risk Register of civil emergencies.
First Year Of Impact 2012
Sector Environment
Impact Types Societal,Economic,Policy & public services
 
Description Knowledge for Wildfire
Amount £80,000 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/J500768/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2012 
End 10/2015
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation Essex Count Fire & Rescue Service
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation Heather Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation Moors for the Future Partnership (MFF)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation NatureScot
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation University of Edinburgh
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation University of Leeds
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation University of Manchester
Department Manchester Institute for Mathematical Sciences (MIMS)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description FIRES seminar series 
Organisation University of Manchester
Department Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Coordinated the seminar series; four 2-day seminar events over two years. Co-ordinated production of the policy brief; key messages, knowledge gaps and policy recommebdations from the series. Also a report for SNH. Co-ordinated an online follow-on survey of the wider wildfire community's response to the policy brief to ascertain their priorities and any omissions.
Collaborator Contribution SNH, GWCT, PDNPA, MIMS provided top-up funding. Edinburgh University, MIOR/MIMS and PDNPA/MFF each hosted one of the 2-day events The Heather Trust, Essex FRS, Leeds University, MIOIR all served on the steering group and helped write and edit the policy brief MFF co-ordinated the design and printing of the policy brief
Impact Very much an interdisplinary and cross-sector collaboration bewtween human & physical geographers, geospatial scientists, social scientists, fire behaviour modellers, planners, economists, environmental scientists, fire officers, gamekeepers, conservation professionals, foresters, policy-makers, etc. Four 2-day seminar events. Website of papers and reports of discussions Influential FIRES policy brief An online survey which prioritsed the key messages, knowledge gaps and policy reccomnedation presented in the policy brief Social capital and momentum which helped expand the England and Wales Wildfire Forum A fire service-academic partnership to carry out experimental burns, from which an SME developed. Knowledge for Wildfire (KfWf) NERC KE Fellowship
Start Year 2007
 
Description Peak District National Park wildfire risk management 
Organisation Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Report and GIS-based wildfire risk map for allocation of fire prevention and fire fighting resources. Forecasting model to estimate probability of a fire outbreak from historic weather and fire data. Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in the Park. Advice on combining the risk map and forecasting model for an interactive public fire awareness exhibit recently opened atEdale's Moorland Centre.
Collaborator Contribution Access to rangers' fire log (database of fire occurrences in PDNP, maintained since 1976); access to MFF's spatial data on environmental variables and ecosystem services; GPS data on fire perimeters; unstinting expert advice (interviews, attendance at workshops, speaking at seminars); hosting us at Fire Operations group (FOG) training exercises; etc.
Impact PDNP wildfire risk map used to site fire ponds and fire patrols Improved reporting proforma for rangers fire log Co-produced MFF Research Note on mapping and modelling moorland wildfire PDNP wildfire forecasting model Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in PDNP Interactive public fire awareness exhibit for visitor's centre
 
Description Peak District National Park wildfire risk management 
Organisation Moors for the Future Partnership (MFF)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Report and GIS-based wildfire risk map for allocation of fire prevention and fire fighting resources. Forecasting model to estimate probability of a fire outbreak from historic weather and fire data. Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in the Park. Advice on combining the risk map and forecasting model for an interactive public fire awareness exhibit recently opened atEdale's Moorland Centre.
Collaborator Contribution Access to rangers' fire log (database of fire occurrences in PDNP, maintained since 1976); access to MFF's spatial data on environmental variables and ecosystem services; GPS data on fire perimeters; unstinting expert advice (interviews, attendance at workshops, speaking at seminars); hosting us at Fire Operations group (FOG) training exercises; etc.
Impact PDNP wildfire risk map used to site fire ponds and fire patrols Improved reporting proforma for rangers fire log Co-produced MFF Research Note on mapping and modelling moorland wildfire PDNP wildfire forecasting model Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in PDNP Interactive public fire awareness exhibit for visitor's centre
 
Description Peak District National Park wildfire risk management 
Organisation Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Report and GIS-based wildfire risk map for allocation of fire prevention and fire fighting resources. Forecasting model to estimate probability of a fire outbreak from historic weather and fire data. Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in the Park. Advice on combining the risk map and forecasting model for an interactive public fire awareness exhibit recently opened atEdale's Moorland Centre.
Collaborator Contribution Access to rangers' fire log (database of fire occurrences in PDNP, maintained since 1976); access to MFF's spatial data on environmental variables and ecosystem services; GPS data on fire perimeters; unstinting expert advice (interviews, attendance at workshops, speaking at seminars); hosting us at Fire Operations group (FOG) training exercises; etc.
Impact PDNP wildfire risk map used to site fire ponds and fire patrols Improved reporting proforma for rangers fire log Co-produced MFF Research Note on mapping and modelling moorland wildfire PDNP wildfire forecasting model Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in PDNP Interactive public fire awareness exhibit for visitor's centre
 
Description Peak District National Park wildfire risk management 
Organisation Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Report and GIS-based wildfire risk map for allocation of fire prevention and fire fighting resources. Forecasting model to estimate probability of a fire outbreak from historic weather and fire data. Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in the Park. Advice on combining the risk map and forecasting model for an interactive public fire awareness exhibit recently opened atEdale's Moorland Centre.
Collaborator Contribution Access to rangers' fire log (database of fire occurrences in PDNP, maintained since 1976); access to MFF's spatial data on environmental variables and ecosystem services; GPS data on fire perimeters; unstinting expert advice (interviews, attendance at workshops, speaking at seminars); hosting us at Fire Operations group (FOG) training exercises; etc.
Impact PDNP wildfire risk map used to site fire ponds and fire patrols Improved reporting proforma for rangers fire log Co-produced MFF Research Note on mapping and modelling moorland wildfire PDNP wildfire forecasting model Report on the economics of fire-fighting strategies in PDNP Interactive public fire awareness exhibit for visitor's centre
 
Description FIRES1 The Role of Managed Fire in Ecosystem Services of UK Moorlands and Heathlands 
Form Of Engagement Activity Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation workshop facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The two-day seminar reviewed how fire has been used historically, and the role of managed burning today. We identified the ecosystem services provided by UK moorlands and heathlands, including: biodiversity; carbon budget; water provision; rural livelihoods; landscape quality and recreational use. The focus for debate was the extent to which managed fires contribute to the maintenance of these ecosystem services or pose threats to them, especially with changes in policy.

This was the first of four two-day seminars, which ultimately led to the co-production of an influential policy brief on UK wildfire (which I led); http://www.fires-seminars.org.uk/downloads/FIRES_Policy_Brief_final.pdf This, in turn, also led to an invitation to join the England and Wales Wildfire Forum (EWWF) as one of only two academics (the other being a Manchester colleague, Professor John Dold, Mathematics). EWWF is the primary stakeholder forum for UK fire professionals and land management agencies involved in managing wildfire risk. It includes Fire and Rescue Services, Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), DEFRA agencies (Natural England, Forestry Commission, Met Office), Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat, MoD, Highways Agency, and non-government organisations such as the Heather Trust and CONFOR. The Chair acknowledges that its expansion in 2010 was facilitated by the community of practice and momentum established in the FIRES seminars. EWWF used the FIRES policy brief to raise the awareness of wildfire issues affecting UK FRS's by circulation to all Chief Fire Officers and members of the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisors Unit at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). The FIRES Policy Brief also formed a cornerstone of the discussions leading to the production of the inaugural EWWF Action Plan, and that of the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA) Wildfire Group, formed in 2012. Further outcomes which can be traced back to FIRES are covered under the Partnerships section.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008
URL http://www.fires-seminars.org.uk/programme/seminar1/
 
Description FIRES2: The impact of wildfire on ecosystem services: relationships between wildfire, climate change and people 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Relationships between people, climate, the environment and fire are complex. The seminar reviewed the frequency, timing and distribution of wildfires in the UK. We examined UKCIP climate change scenarios and their implications for wildfire hazard and risk, managed burns and resulting fire regime. Critical questions addressed included how climate change will affect: vegetation vulnerability to fire; visitor pressure and potential sources of ignition; feedbacks between climate, vegetation and fire; and the impacts on ecosystem services of moorlands and heathlands. Over 50 people attended the event and more wanted to attend. Over half were practitioners from the land management community, fire services, nature conservation, etc.

Links established with the international keynote speaker from the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) led to the convenor (Julia McMorrow) presenting at two international Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire fireconferences in the US. The MoU signed in 2014 between the UK Chief Fire Officers' Association and the NFPA to introduce the Firewise program of community resilience to wildfire into the UK could be traced back to contacts made at the FIRES2 seminar.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008
URL http://www.fires-seminars.org.uk/programme/seminar2/
 
Description FIRES3: Forecasting and modelling wildfire risk for UK moorlands and heaths 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact FIRES3 focussed on 'where, when and how' of wildfires: Where do they occur? When do they break out? How do they behave once ignited? The official theme was 'Forecasting and Modelling Wildfire Risk for UK Moorlands and Heaths', but in practice the seminar ranged widely across Europe and California. There were no geographical boundaries to the discussion, either in the formal sessions or the lively coffee and meal breaks.

Our NERC and ESRC sponsors are keen to encourage transdisciplinary and international exchange; the seminar succeeded spectacularly well in this respect. We were fortunate to have speakers from California, Portugal, Spain, Corsica and Italy, as well as contributors from the Fire and Rescue Services, Met Office, academic and many other sectors. The result was truly excellent debate. It brought home the mutual benefits of cross-disciplinary working and of and how much academics and fire-fighters can learn from each other.

Many important lessons emerged which will help to move knowledge and management of UK wildfires forward. These ranged from the importance of socio-economic drivers such as land abandonment via its impact on fuel management, to need for better wildfire reporting and fire-fighter training. Download the presentations and discussants reports to learn more.

Much good work goes on regionally but the UK needs a national policy on wildfire. The cross-sectorial impact of wildfire requires joined-up thinking by policy-makers - a topic which will be taken up in FIRES4.

There were actually three days of discussion. The international visitors enjoyed a field visit in the Peak District before the seminar, courtesy of the Peak District National Park Fire Operations group, which gave them an appreciation of UK wildfire issues and a chance to bounce on two metres of peat at the top of the Snake Pass.

1. We set up an experimental burns partnership between researchers from five Universities and two Fire Services. It resulted in two successful mutually beneficial field experiments in Northumberland and Dorset. Research questions about fire behaviour were devised jointly by researchers and fire officers. Fire officers carried out the burns as part of their wildfire training exercises. Researchers recorded fire behaviour and soil and vegetation pre- and post-fire. The land owners benefited from fuel reduction on their land. The initiative ultimately led to an SME called FireLab.
2. A fire officer made a study visit to an international fire researcher in Corsica after they met at the seminar. The The fire officer brought the fire-fighting techniques seen there back to his own FRS.3. See FIRES1 for impacts from the seminar series as a whole.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
URL http://www.fires-seminars.org.uk/programme/seminar3/
 
Description FIRES4: Economic impacts of wildfires, wildfire policy and the use of adaptive land management to reduce wildfire risk and impact 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In this final seminar of the series we looked at the economic impacts of wildfire, wildfire policy and adaptive land management to mitigate wildfire risk / impact.

Day One provided comprehensive information of the 'costs' of wildfires to policy makers that initiated discussion on the importance of wildfires and potential policy reforms to address wildfire risk reduction and fire-fighting policy and resourcing. The day started with a focus on the policy and practice of fighting moorland and heathland wildfires followed by a series of talks that provided an overview of the costs of wildfire suppression, their 'costs' on ecological services, local economies and costs to restore wildfire sites. The day culminated in a question and answer session to an invited policy panel, comprised of Jon Stewart (Natural England), Trevor Johnson, (Scottish Wildfire Forum), Malcolm Hay, (Heather Trust), Richard Campen, (Peak District National Park Authority) and Mark Jones (English Wildfire Forum).

The session was an excellent opportunity for researchers, fire-fighters and land managers to raise a series of questions of direct relevance to their interests that resulted in an incredibly insightful and interesting session.

Day Two focused on Adaptive Land Management (ALM) to reduce wildfire risk and impact. ALM is essentially 'learning by doing' but with a strong, built-in monitoring, evaluation and learning system. Within an ALM system, the impacts of changes in practice and policy are able to be assessed. After an introduction to this concept and its relevance to wildfire mitigation, there was a workshop session in which provided a cross-sector exercise to assess the perceived impact and knowledge of wildfire on ecosystem services, followed by development the necessary systems to test several land and fire management reforms on a 'real life' scenario.

Take home message:
Economic evidence of the impact of wildfire was strongly identified as a key driver of future wildfire policy reforms. Robust and reliable evidence on the full economic impacts is therefore a priority, both to further develop best practice in wildfire mitigation (land management, improving preparedness) and suppression (fire-fighting), and inform and drive future policy reforms.

The contacts made in the seminar series have endured and grown (see FIRES1 for overall impacts). FIRES4 in particular showcased the work of the Peak District Fire Operations Group (FOG), and helped to encourage the formation of new fire groups. For example, FIRES4 co-host and steering group member, Moors for the Future (MFF) partnership, and myself were asked to provide wildfire risk mapping for the new South Pennines FOG in 2008, and also for Lancashire FOG in 2012. We have attended as invited observers at FOG group training exercises - a mark of the trust and co-operation built up through the FIRES seminar series.
With fellow steering group member, Jonathan Aylen (Manchester Business School), we advised MFF on a 'Be Fire Aware' interactive exhibit to raise public awareness of wildfire risk and its management in the Peak District National Park. It is based on our published work on wildfire forecasting and risk mapping. The resulting exhibit at the Moorland Centre in Edale opened in July 2014, with a second due to follow in the Upper Derwent Valley visitor centre. together they will reach an estimated 80,000 people a year.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
URL http://www.fires-seminars.org.uk/programme/seminar4/