Heatwaves and wildfires: a new reality for Ireland’s forests

The recent spate of wildfires in Ireland following the heatwave are a reminder of how the climate and weather is changing and how it is affecting efforts to protect forests in Ireland. Even the best laid plans to protect forested areas can be brought down in mere days by uncontrollable wildfires. Prolonged hot and dry spells were once a rarity in Ireland but are becoming more frequent and with it come more favorable conditions for wildfires.

The biggest of the recent wildfires was in the Slieve Bloom mountains on the Laois/Offaly border. It had a front of over 4.5 miles and burned for more than a week. Although the full extent of the damage is not yet clear there are estimates of 180 hectares destroyed from this fire alone, with loss of habitats and release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere slightly more difficult to quantity.