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Firewise Communities – helping neighbourhoods prepare and respond to wildfires
Photo: Fire at Upton Heath, Dorset, in 2011 adjacent to the Dorset Firewise community just prior to their evacuation. Photo Credit: Urban Heaths Partnership Last year, Firewise Communities launched in Dorset as part of a new UK initiative to provide community guidance and support for preparing and responding to wildfires. Dr Adriana Ford, our Centre […]
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New study using state-of-the-art fire-vegetation models estimates a 10% global reduction in tree covered area and vegetation carbon storage due to fire
Terrestrial ecosystems, particularly large forests, represent an important source of carbon uptake and storage, but their capacity to do so can be impacted by the occurrence of fire. Other factors, such as drought and herbivory also interact within ecosystems, making it difficult to determine to what extent fire impacts the carbon cycle, and therefore how […]
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With the threat of wildfires increasing, how is the UK’s response being coordinated?
Photo: Paul Hedley, Chief Fire Officer of Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service The UK is not a wildfire hotspot, when compared to places such as the Mediterranean or Australia, yet wildfires still pose a threat to life, health and property. This risk is only likely to grow with climate change, with wildfires increasing in frequency […]
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Adapting to a changing climate in the management of wildfires – what we know, and what we need to do
By Dr Adriana Ford, Centre Manager (Photo: OECD Conference Centre in Paris) Recognising the significant impact that wildfires can have on socio-economic development, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) held an international conference “Adapting to a changing climate in the management of wildfires”, jointly organised with PLACARD, on the 16-17 January 2020 in […]
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An interview with Dr Apostolos Voulgarakis
Dr Apostolos Voulgarakis is an Associate Director, and Founding Director, of the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society. He is Associate Professor at the Technical University of Crete and remains a part-time Reader at Imperial within the Department of Physics, in the Space and Atmospheric Physics Group. Our Centre Director, Prof. Colin Prentice, asked […]
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Wildfires: Fire expert urges Australian government to “prepare now for 2021”
Imperial’s Professor Guillermo Rein spoke to Caroline Brogan at Imperial about what makes wildfires so dangerous, and what can be done to tackle them.
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Wildfire research centre to launch with £10m from the Leverhulme Trust
New funding will help improve prediction and management of wildfires globally through the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society.
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