The Wildfires Action Plan to 2030 was published by Alliance DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA and is a multi-agency approach to the threat of wildfires, focused on prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and enforcement.
 
The intervention comes following 200 wildfires which blazed across countryside areas in Northern Ireland, including the Mournes and Sperrins.
 
“Last year’s wildfires wreaked havoc across the Mournes and elsewhere, devastating communities and nature alike. This action plan is a timely and vital intervention for our countryside and I would like to commend the Minister for working at pace to see it in place ahead of the warmer weather,” said Andrew McMurray MLA.
 
“Our Mournes are too precious to allow to go up in smoke; we must protect them, not just for the people who live and work in their shadow, but also for the rich habitats they provide for nature. The action plan will empower communities and improve resilience, whilst enhancing our preparedness and response to wildfires. A collective effort will be needed to ensure success.
 
“It is heartening to see nature at the heart of this plan as well as a recognition of the impact of climate change and the need for adaptation measures. Rewetting peatlands is a key tool in preventing the spread of wildfires, whilst also acting as a carbon sink and providing important habitats. Wildfires, biodiversity decline and climate change are all inter-linked, but so too are the solutions.”
 
Alongside the Wildfires Action Plan, Minister Andrew Muir has also announced the Wildfire Recovery Project, which will be led by the Pau Costa Foundation. The project focuses on at-risk areas, including the Eastern Mournes Area, Antrim Hills and Carn-Glenshane.
 
The South Down MLA said about the plan:
 
“The international expertise provided by the Pau Costa Foundation is a huge boon for Northern Ireland and I look forward to seeing them deliver the three-year recovery project. We must work alongside landowners, who are the first defence against wildfires. Through better management of our land and a focus on prevention, we will achieve much.”