All 15 UK National Park Authorities have endorsed a new joint position on wildfire management.
The UK’s National Parks are uniting behind stronger planning, partnership and prevention to tackle a fast-growing climate risk, and businesses have a role to play.
Wildfire is no longer an occasional threat in the UK. The new Wildfire Management Position Statement, agreed through the UK National Parks Wildfire Group, follows one of the most significant wildfire seasons in recent years. That season included this summer’s Glenmore and Strath Nethy wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park.
Wildfires threaten homes, lives and livelihoods, and devastate nature and wildlife. They put human-made assets at risk, including houses, places of business and other vital infrastructure. They also put natural assets at risk, including woodland, peatland and less mobile species.
The financial impact can be considerable. Estimates for the cost of the Saddleworth Moor wildfire in 2018, covering firefighting and environmental damage, run into many millions of pounds. The Dava Moor fire of 2025 affected more than 10,000 hectares, the largest wildfire event ever recorded in the UK.
A changing climate, a growing risk
National Parks are already seeing changing weather patterns. Winters are becoming wetter and warmer, summers hotter, and spring remains the period of highest fire risk. Climate projections point to further warming, with more dry days and longer dry spells in summer. That means drier soils and vegetation, and a greater likelihood of wildfire.
Human activity adds to the pressure. Rising visitor numbers are welcome, but in a warmer, drier climate, campfires, portable barbecues and discarded cigarettes all increase the risk. So does controlled burning (muirburn or swaling) when it gets out of control.
A shared commitment across the UK
National Park Authorities play a strategic leadership role. They work with land managers, fire and rescue services, farmers, conservation organisations and local communities to reduce wildfire risk, improve preparedness and support recovery after fires.
Through the position statement, all UK National Park Authorities have committed to:
- Including wildfire management in their National Park Plans as they are reviewed
- Leading or helping to prepare an Integrated Wildfire Management Plan for their park
- Having an identified wildfire lead
- Strengthening public communications on wildfire prevention
- Sharing expertise and best practice through the UK National Parks Wildfire Group
Grant Moir, Chair of the UK National Parks Wildfire Group, said:
“No single organisation can tackle this challenge alone. The strength of this position statement is that it brings together National Park Authorities across the UK behind a shared approach focused on prevention, preparedness and partnership working.
“By acting together now, we can help build more resilient landscapes, reduce wildfire risk and better protect these special places for future generations.”
Nature-based solutions for a more resilient future
The statement highlights the importance of nature recovery, including peatland restoration and woodland creation. Large areas of mature woodland and rewetted land are likely to help create landscapes that are more resilient to fire. More native woodland and natural regeneration, less impact from deer and other grazing animals, and more diverse moorland all bring benefits for biodiversity and climate resilience.
The statement is also clear that these habitats take many years to develop. While they mature, the amount of burnable vegetation can increase, so fire risk has to be managed carefully during the transition. Rewetting, firebreaks and well-planned woodland all form part of that approach.
Why this matters to business
For businesses, wildfire risk is an operational risk. The position statement makes clear that wildfires threaten built infrastructure as well as natural assets, from windfarms and fencing to buildings and heritage sites. Businesses can only operate when the infrastructure they rely on is safe and secure. That includes energy generation, transport links, utilities and the sites where they work.
When fire puts that infrastructure at risk, the effects can spread quickly: operations disrupted, supply chains interrupted, staff and communities affected, and significant recovery costs. As summers bring more dry days and longer dry spells, that exposure is set to grow.
National Parks cover around 10% of the UK’s land area. These landscapes store carbon, regulate water and support rural economies, communities and infrastructure. Their value to business depends on their resilience.
Supporting nature-based solutions in the National Parks gives businesses a tangible, long-term way to reduce wildfire risk to the landscapes and infrastructure they rely on, and to show real action on climate and nature. Because restored peatland and new woodland take years to mature, and fire risk has to be managed carefully in the meantime, the time to act is now.
Get involved
National Parks Partnerships works with businesses to fund and deliver nature-based projects across the UK’s National Parks. To find out how your organisation could help build resilience in our most treasured landscapes, contact us today.