On the 16th and 17th June, RDI will be organising the fourth UK wildfire conference in Lyndhurst in the New Forest.
After a couple of wet years it wouldn’t be unexpected if wildfire has slipped down the list of priorities. But with climate change predicted to extend the long term trend towards hotter and drier summers, and the anticipated increase in fires that this would result in, wildfire experts in the UK are concerned that many areas could find themselves unprepared, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
Wildfires can cause severe damage to habitats and landscapes which in some cases can take decades to restore, not to mention impacts on soil, water quality and carbon storage. These same areas are often of great importance for recreation and tourism and a severe wildfire could badly damage the local economy built around these activities. So it’s vital that land managers and the fire services work together to ensure they can not only respond effectively in the event of a wildfire, but undertake activities to prevent them in the first place.
It’s against this background that the 4th UK national wildfire conference, Wildfire 2009, will take place on the 16th and 17th of June 2009 – and for the first time it’s heading towards the South of England. This year’s conference will be held at the Lyndhurst Park Hotel in the middle of the New Forest, Hampshire, one of the areas predicted to suffer from increasing drought and more wildfires.
Wildfire 2009 will bring together all of the latest developments in the field of Wildfire from the UK and internationally, and will include a varied programme of conference sessions, workshops and demonstrations covering all aspects of wildfire. There will also be an accompanying trade stand area with suppliers of vehicles, equipment and services relevant to wildfire situations. The overarching theme is partnership working and among those attending the event will be countryside managers, foresters, national park officials and fire and rescue personnel. The event is also an excellent networking opportunity, particularly the evening BBQ.
“Wildfires can be devastating to all of the things that make places like the New Forest National Park so special – and they can be especially damaging to the wildlife that thrives here. It’s vital that we learn from each other about how to stop them from happening and to fight them more effectively, if and when they do occur. That’s why this conference is so important and why everyone with an interest in reducing the impact of wildfires should attend” said Stephen Trotter from the New Forest National Park Authority.
This year’s programme is currently being finalised but an unrivalled line up of speakers is planned, bringing expertise from a range of sectors and across the UK as well as from Australia, South Africa and the USA. Key topics for the conference sessions and workshops will include:
• Wildfire behaviour and suppression techniques
• Arson and wildfire
• Partnership working and fire groups
• Wildfire training
• A wildfire strategy for the UK
• Environmental impacts of wildfire
There will also be a number of demonstrations led by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, including their excellent new remote controlled surveillance helicopter and Unimog, the event sponsor, will be offering demo rides. The conference is also supported by the Forestry Commission and the New Forest National Park.
To book your place, or for more information, please visit www.wildfire2009.org.uk.
For more information on RDI's other wildfire work, please visit the links below:
