Evaluating the Impact of Management Strategies on Fire Spread in Heather-Dominated Moorlands

Wildfires present a significant threat to heather-dominated moorlands and heathlands, especially as climate change exacerbates fire risks, underscoring the need for effective management strategies to mitigate fire spread. This research investigates the effects of different management approaches, burning, cutting, and leaving areas unmanaged, on fire spread rates in the Scottish region. The study focuses on patches with varying years of intervention, 2019, 2015, and 2007, alongside patches that were left unmanaged. Fieldwork was conducted to gather data on vegetation height, while dead fuel moisture was calculated using the Nelson Fire Model, which derives estimates from weather parameters collected at a local weather station. Fire behaviour, particularly surface fire spread rates, was simulated using BehavePlus software, with specific fuel models assigned based on vegetation height.

Preliminary analyses indicate that different management practices result in varying fire spread rates, highlighting the importance of vegetation height and the timing of interventions. Vegetation height emerged as a critical factor, and the study highlights the importance of implementing management interventions within optimal time intervals to maintain their effectiveness. These findings suggest that management strategies could play a critical role in mitigating wildfire risks and provide a foundation for further research into optimising practices for enhancing wildfire resilience in the UK’s moorlands and heathlands.