The Earth is already burning — let's dampen down the flames

True resilience comes from supporting nature to do what it does best. Restoring and rewetting peatlands raises the water table, while wild beavers create water-logged habitats that act as living moisture shields.

Natural grazing of cattle, ponies and other large animals breaks up vegetation — particularly the dry thatch that can drive fast spreading flames.

By restoring a rich mosaic of native woodlands, free flowing river systems and wetlands, we allow our soils to soak up water and create natural firebreaks. In short, rewilding is an indispensable ally and toolkit for building the wetter, more complex and resilient landscapes we desperately need to stop wildfires in their tracks. 

None of this happens by accident though. It takes local people, progressive land managers, environmental charities and governments working side by side to help nature bounce back and create these landscapes. In order for this to happen, we have to move beyond finger-pointing. Instead we must come together to make informed decisions about our long-term resilience. Projects in Rewilding Britain’s network now look after over 256,000 hectares of land. The rewilding movement is thriving — but to tackle climate and nature breakdown, we need to scale it up and fast. 

We should remember Britain isn’t facing this emergency alone. Across Europe, governments are discovering that no amount of firefighting can compensate for landscapes that have become increasingly vulnerable to drought and fire. Suppressing flames after they ignite remains essential. But preventing fires from becoming catastrophic means investing in landscapes that hold water, break up the continuous fuel and recover more quickly.