The Ecology of Severe Moorland Fire on the North York Moors: Effects of the 1976 Fires, and Subsequent Surface and Vegetation Development

Maltby, Edward; Legg, Colin J.; Proctor, M. C. F.

doi:10.2307/2261126

Cited by 121 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…We also have good knowledge of the effects of fire on vegetation and on post-fire regeneration in heather-dominated moorlands (e.g. Kayll and Gimingham 1965;Gimingham 1972Gimingham , 1988Gimingham et al 1981;Hobbs and Gimingham 1984b;Maltby et al 1990;Bullock and Webb 1995;Legg 1995). To fully appreciate the risks and behaviour of both wild and management fires, an understanding of the factors governing fire behaviour is necessary, as is an understanding of some basic fire management terminology (Table 2).…”

Section: Fire Management In the British Uplandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Drawing on the potential resource of estate records could provide extremely useful information, but would require private landowners to open up sensitive, personal information and be confident that this information would not be used to argue for further controls on fire management. Wildfires can cause significant environmental damage, threaten carbon deposits in peat, and result in bare areas that may take decades to recover (Maltby et al 1990;Legg et al 1992). Considering that climatic and environmental changes in the uplands are likely to affect fire risk, we need to recognise that through prescribed burning we can manipulate the fire regimes of the British uplands to maintain and develop landscapes, maximise the ecological benefits of prescribed fire and, crucially, manage the threat and impact of wildfires.…”

Section: Prescribed Burning and Wildfires In The Ukmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intense accidental wildfires with a high-fuel load are often the most severe and may result in ignition of peat deposits and post-fire erosion (Maltby et al 1990;Legg et al 1992). Intense, severe wildfire is likely to change the water storage capacity of the peat through drying effects and the production of waxes during intense fires (Clymo 1983;Tucker 2003), and can also increase the area of bare peat.…”

Section: Fire Management In the British Uplandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bad fire years, with a large number of wildfires or burnt areas, are, however, sporadic, with notable examples occurring in 1976 (Legg et al 1992;Maltby et al 1990), 1995 (Palutikof et al 1997(Davies 2005, Asken Ltd. 2004(Fire Brigades' Union 2006. There is anecdotal evidence that the threat of wildfires in the UK is increasing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The future of fire management in the British uplands

Davies¹,

Gray²,

Hamilton³

et al. 2008

International Journal of Biodiversity Science & Management

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SUMMARYPrescribed and wild fires play a significant role in the ecology of upland areas; changes in the frequency and intensity of both can have significant effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Whilst the way we manage fire in the future will depend on desired outcomes, the risk of wildfires and the suitability of conditions for prescribed burning will depend on climate, land-use and environmental change. Changes in relative fire risk and hazard therefore need to be carefully considered when setting management policy. Fire has long been used as a management tool in the uplands of the UK but there has been little formal support or training, and emphasis has been placed on traditional knowledge. While there is pressure in some quarters for a reduction in the use of fire, prescribed burning can be used to protect biodiversity assets and reach a range of management objectives. Large areas of old heather excluded from rotational burning pose a significant fire hazard. Wildfires in such areas will be more intense and severe, and more likely to ignite peat, causing considerable environmental damage and releasing large quantities of carbon. We argue for an ecological basis for the use of fire and seek to open a debate by briefly reviewing the main controls on fire risk in upland areas and discussing existing management and its challenges with regards to three case studies: traditionally managed moorland, forestry and peatland soils. We make recommendations for future management and suggest significant challenges exist for managers and researchers that need to be dealt with urgently.

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Section: Fire Management In the British Uplandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Prescribed Burning and Wildfires In The Ukmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fire Management In the British Uplandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The future of fire management in the British uplands

Davies¹,

Gray²,

Hamilton³

et al. 2008

International Journal of Biodiversity Science & Management

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“…Therefore, non-controlled wildfires not only destroy the aerial part of the plant, but also carry the combustion of the first centimeters of soil, destroying the organic matter and burning the roots, buds and seeds, equally affecting all the existing wildlife populations and C stocks [73][74][75], followed by erosion processes provided by the steep slopes in the study area. Consequently, heath revegetation is eventually inhibited due to the occurrence of severe fires [76][77][78].…”

Section: Dry Heaths Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of European Dry Heaths in NW Spain: A Case Study

Rego¹,

Guitián²,

Castro³

et al. 2013

Diversity

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Natural habitats are continuing to deteriorate in Europe with an increasing number of wild species which are also seriously threatened. Consequently, a coherent European ecological network (Natura 2000) for conservation of natural habitats and the wild fauna and flora (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) was created. Even so, there is currently no standardized methodology for surveillance and assessment of habitats, a lack that it is particularly problematic for those habitats occupying large areas (heathlands, forests, dunes, wetlands) and which require a great deal of effort to be monitored. In this paper we evaluate the changes affecting the European dry heaths (Nat-2000 4030) from the SCI Os Ancares-O Courel (Galicia, NW Spain) during the past decade. High-resolution aerial imagery analyses and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used. Losses of more than 7,000 ha (20.3%) of European dry heaths were computed during the 2003-2011 period in the SCI Os Ancares-O Courel, and also an increase of the degree of fragmentation was demonstrated for this habitat. Paradoxically, major impacts (afforestations, pasturelands) were financed by agri-environmental funds from the EU. Rather than promote biodiversity, these activities have provoked serious damages in this habitat of community interest, which is in complete opposition to the objectives of protection involved in the declaration of the SCI Os Ancares-O Courel. OPEN ACCESSDiversity 2013, 5 558

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References

2007

Geomorphology of Upland Peat

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The Ecology of Severe Moorland Fire on the North York Moors: Effects of the 1976 Fires, and Subsequent Surface and Vegetation Development

Cited by 121 publications

References 20 publications

The future of fire management in the British uplands

The future of fire management in the British uplands

Loss of European Dry Heaths in NW Spain: A Case Study

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