NFU Cymru President Abi Reader attended the Wales Climate Change and Resilience Summit in Merthyr Tydfil on Thursday 22 October. The event gathered stakeholders from across Wales to learn lessons from the summer drought and wildfires, with a view to creating key actions to tackle such extreme weather events in the future.
Abi Reader was joined at the event by NFU Cymru member and Vice Chair of the Blorenge Commoners' Association, James Bourne, who relayed his experiences in tackling the devastating wildfires at Mynydd Garnclochdy common earlier this year. The fires, which burned for several weeks, scorched a significant amount of grazing ground, destroyed habitats and claimed the lives of livestock and wildlife.
Five priorities for wildfire control
During the summit, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader presented the union's five priorities for wildfire control to the First Minister, assembled Cabinet Ministers and stakeholders in attendance. The five priority areas are:
• Strengthen the Wales Wildfire Board
• Put farmers at the heart of wildfire management
• Take action to prevent wildfires
• Improve emergency preparedness and co-ordination
• Support recovery and recognise the costs of wildfire damage
Speaking after the summit, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: "The wildfires resulting from the sustained hot, dry summer weather have had devastating impacts for many farm businesses in Wales. I was therefore pleased to be able to join the First Minister's summit and present a list summarising our members' priorities for wildfire control.
Farming has to be at the heart
The plan has a central focus on putting farmer at the heart of wildfire management, recognising the benefits of active land management in preventing wildfires. I was also eager to stress the importance of a collaborative effort in improving emergency preparedness and collaboration in response to wildfires and, in this regard, NFU Cymru believes that the Wales Wildfire Board needs to be strengthened.
It's also imperative that agencies work together in a proactive campaign to raise public awareness of fire risk in the countryside during hot periods.
"I was joined at the summit by our member James Bourne, the Vice Chair of the Blorenge Commoners' Association, whose land and business were severely affected by the significant wildfires at Mynydd Garnclochdy earlier this year.
I commend James for the way in which he relayed those harrowing experiences during the summit and it's crucial that lessons are learned from what happened there and in other areas across Wales. During the summit, I stated the importance of effective arrangements being made available to farm businesses impacted by wildfires.
These measures must recognise the significant costs wildfire imposes on our farmers and landowners and aid their recovery, while also supporting the long-term restoration of those affected environments."
