Grass fires in the UK are taking a devastating toll on some of the rarest wildlife, pushing them closer to extinction, according to conservationists. The National Trust revealed that ongoing wildfires in places like Powys have wiped out crucial breeding habitats for endangered species like hen harriers and water voles, which are now the fastest declining mammal in the UK. The destruction caused by these fires has been likened to torching wildlife alive, with over 110 square miles of land burnt this year – an area larger than Birmingham.
Figures obtained by the BBC show that in Wales alone, fire crews have already battled nearly 1,400 wildfires this year, prompting authorities to urge the public to act responsibly and report any suspicious activity. The dry spell and high temperatures in March were cited as contributing factors to the increase in fires, with a lower number of blazes in the previous year leaving more vegetation available to fuel these destructive incidents.
Conservation charities have sounded the alarm about the impact of these wildfires on already vulnerable species like the water vole, which is facing significant threats from habitat loss and predation by invasive species like American minks. The Woodland Trust in Wales reported damage to temperate Atlantic rainforests in places like Allt Boeth near Aberystwyth, with the loss of protected bluebells exacerbating the situation. Moreover, efforts to restore peat bogs in uplands are seen as essential to preventing future fires and safeguarding wildlife habitats.
The Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC) highlighted the plight of water voles and barn owls in areas like the Amman Valley in south Wales, where wildfires have decimated critical habitats. The knock-on effects of these fires on the food chain, like loss of invertebrates for bird species, are also cause for concern. With the majority of wildfires ignited by human activities, including accidents with disposable BBQs, a concerted effort to raise awareness and enforce responsible behavior is crucial to protecting the UK’s fragile ecosystems
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