- - Features
- - Features
MPs back ‘toolbox’ approach to upland management
The devastating wildfires of recent years have shown that protecting our countryside requires more than an emergency response when flames take hold. Prevention, preparation and practical land management must all form part of the solution, says Alex Farrell.
The importance of prevention, preparation and practical land management in wildfire mitigation is a key message from the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee’s new report, A burning issue: managing wildfire risk.
Published on 21 October, it calls on the government to learn the lessons of the 2026 wildfire season and improve the UK’s preparedness ahead of next spring. For BASC, the report also serves as an important recognition of the contribution made by gamekeepers, farmers and other land managers, and of the need for practical, evidence-led approaches to reducing wildfire risk.
The people on the front line
Wildfires place enormous pressure on emergency services, but the response often begins before professional firefighters arrive.
Gamekeepers, farmers and land managers know their ground. They understand local access routes, water sources and how vegetation and weather conditions can influence the spread of fire. They can provide machinery, create firebreaks, help tackle flames and support the emergency services.
The Committee heard that land managers and volunteers form a “skilled and well-equipped cadre” within rural communities, capable of responding quickly when fires break out.
Yet the report also highlights the physical and psychological toll of wildfire response, including the strain on families who live with the uncertainty of another emergency call-out.
The Committee says the knowledge and experience of land managers must be reflected in policy decisions, rather than policies being developed without the people expected to help deliver them.
We support the call for gamekeepers and land managers to be involved in national discussions on wildfire prevention and response. Their practical experience should help shape the policies that affect their ability to protect the countryside.
What does a 'toolbox' of options mean?
One of the report’s most important conclusions reflects a position BASC has consistently advocated: practitioners need a range of appropriate tools to manage their land and reduce wildfire risk.
The Committee states that “no single approach can deliver wildfire resilience across every landscape”. It recognises that peatland restoration, rewetting, grazing, cutting and prescribed burning can all contribute to reducing wildfire risk in different circumstances.
We believe this is the right starting point. Upland landscapes vary in their vegetation, soil, topography and hydrology. Management must reflect those differences, taking account of the immediate risks on the ground alongside longer-term environmental objectives.
Peatland restoration has an important role in recovering damaged habitats, improving water management and supporting carbon storage. However, restoration takes time, and rewetting alone does not necessarily address the immediate challenge of managing extensive or continuous above-ground vegetation.
The Committee acknowledges the need to manage fuel loads while longer-term restoration continues. For us, this reinforces the importance of enabling practitioners to choose the appropriate combination of measures for their site, based on evidence, experience and environmental safeguards.
Controlled burning is one of those tools. Where suitable and undertaken responsibly, it can help reduce vegetation fuel loads and create strategic breaks in vegetation. Cutting and grazing may also be appropriate, depending on local conditions.
This is not an argument for one method to be applied everywhere. It is an argument for practical choices, informed by evidence and tailored to the landscape.
Are burning regulations and licensing workable?
The report also raises important questions about the effect of recent restrictions on controlled burning in England and the operation of the licensing system.
The Committee recommends a review of the regulations governing controlled burns and their implications for wildfire prevention. It also questions whether the wildfire consequences of the restrictions were adequately assessed before their introduction.
The licensing system deserves particular scrutiny. The report records that 24 burning licence applications had been submitted over the preceding 12 months, with only two approved. These figures raise questions about whether the system is enabling appropriate management where it may be needed to reduce wildfire risk.
A licensing framework must protect sensitive habitats and soils, but it must also be workable, transparent and capable of delivering timely decisions. Practitioners need clear guidance, a consistent process and a realistic understanding of what alternative management options are available when a proposed burn cannot proceed.
We support a proper assessment of how the regulations affect wildfire prevention, alongside their environmental objectives. The Government should consider the evidence, examine how the licensing system operates in practice and ensure that the findings inform future policy.
The aim should be effective regulation that safeguards the environment while enabling responsible land managers to take appropriate preventative action.
Turning recommendations into action
The Committee has called for a more coordinated national approach to wildfire risk, improved public awareness and stronger cooperation between government, regulators, emergency services and rural communities.
It has also recommended that Defra and Natural England hold a stakeholder roundtable within six months, focused on rebuilding trust with land managers, and publish a summary of the discussions and any resulting actions.
At BASC, we will continue to advocate for the involvement of practitioners and for an evidence-led approach that recognises the value of sustainable upland management.
The challenge now is to turn the Committee’s recommendations into practical action before the next wildfire season. That means learning from the experiences of 2026, reviewing the barriers to effective prevention and ensuring that those who know and manage the land have the tools and support they need.
Share
Alex Farrell
Five minutes with Schöffel Countryside Awards finalist Jim Allsop
Jim Allsop has spent a decade turning Monkwood, a 270-acre site near Chesterfield, into a haven for wildlife.
From gravel pit to wildlife haven: Will Garfit’s small shoot story
Artist and author Will Garfit explains how his small shoot turned 69 acres of gravel workings into a haven for 148 bird species and over 460 plants.
The most important thing you can do this month
The government’s review of game shooting closes on 1 November. One email is all it takes. If you haven’t sent yours yet, today is the day to act, says Conor O’Gorman.
