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Wildfire2024 was the UK Wildfire Conference’s bi-annual flagship event, attracting delegates, sponsors, industry experts, scientists and thought-leaders from all over the globe. The 2024 theme was ‘Resilience in a Changing World’, exploring the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate emergency, evolving landscapes and emerging science.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the attendees, speakers and sponsors who made this year’s Conference such a resounding success. As we continue the vital conversations on managing and preventing wildfires in the UK and around the world, we look forward to seeing the outcomes of the discussions sparked during and after Wildfire2024. This inspiring event has been enriched with incredible insights, impactful discussions and meaningful connections. Thank you once again to everyone for contributing to such a memorable and transformative experience.

Although the conference has ended, you can still access the expert presentations from the event. We hope this helps continue the conversation on wildfire prevention and suppression beyond the conference.

Presentation Slides

Day One
The Global Perspective
Formal Opening
Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
Opening address
Katrina Candy, The Heather Trust
The new normal: communities learning to live with fire
Val Charlton, Landworks South Africa
UK wildfire forecasts and risk assessments within an international context and in a changing climate
Will Lang, Met Office
Building wildfire resilient communities in Europe: Insights from the UK and Ireland
Christine Eriksen, University of Bern
Creating resilience for buildings and people in the re-wilded coastal heathlands of Norway – copying and modernising the Vikings land management practises
Torgrim Log, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Not just water, but also fire! Wildfire management in The Netherlands
Edwin Kok, Netherlands Institute for Public Safety (NIPV)
The Portuguese wildfire challenge and the landscape fire governance framework
Tiago Olivera, President AGIF
Perceptions of wildfire science, policy, and management: A pilot study
Sarah Cowan, University of York
Creating an international evidence-based strategy for UK community wildfire resilience
Victoria Amato, SWCA Environmental Consultants
Linda Kettley, Firewise UK
Fiona Newman-Thacker- PhD Candidate, Wageningen University & Research, NL
Shining a light on prescribed fire: claims versus evidence
Andreas Heinemeyer, University of York
State of wildfires
Douglas Kelley, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Peat fires: How we can respond to a growing threat
Anton Beneslavskiy, Pyrocene Alliance
Limited spatial co-occurrence of wildfires and muirburn across Scottish moorlands
Stuart Smith, The James Hutton Institute
Assessing wildfire vulnerability of touristic infrastructures
Bruno Guillaume, Efectis France
The great fuel moisture survey: Developing fundamental wildfire science and sustainable community owned agency in traditionally non-fire prone societies
Nicholas Kettridge, University of Birmingham
Adapting international ideas to help develop wildfire strategies in Scotland / UK
Michael Bruce​, Firebreak Services Ltd
Day Two
The UK Story
Welcome to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Chris Foy, VisitAberdeenshire
Wildfire: Adapting and increasing resilience within the landscape
Francesca Osowska, NatureScot
Wildfire impacts on upland vegetation
Robin Pakeman, The James Hutton Institute
The drivers of urban wildfires in London in the summer of 2022
Jamie John, Imperial College London
An integrated wildfire management plan for the cairngorms national park
Colin McLean, Cairngorms National Park Authority
Raising awareness of the public health impacts of wildfires in the UK
Iestyn Jones, UK Health Security Agency
Towards a UK fire danger rating system: Developing tools for a resilient future
Gareth Clay, The University of Manchester
What is the IDEAL UK Fire for?
Sarah Baker, University of Exeter
Fighting future fires: Integrating sensors, machine learning and satellite earth observation to combat wildfire risk
Tia Crouch, The National Trust
Landscape controls on fuel moisture variability in fire-prone heathland and peatland landscapes
Kerryn Little, University of Birmingham
Developing local multi-agency arrangements to respond to the wider consequences
Martin Ogilvie, Dumfries and Galloway Council
Challenges to controlled burning by crofters in the Scottish Highlands
Cathy Smith, Royal Holloway, University of London
Wildfire recovery through conservation grazing: Building resilience in an upland habitat
James Fisher, The National Trust
Policy and technology for more resilient communities - opportunities and risks
Mark Jones, Aberdeen City Council

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