As we move to the summer months, the sad familiar sight of our hills on fire returns. In a climate and ecological emergency this is an abhorrent act that threatens so many of our endangered species and the lives and livelihood of people. On the night of the 23rd of April, we saw vast areas of two mountain- both refuges of endangered species - both ablaze destroying nature, life and years of work to protect & restore them 

At present, there is no political will or action being shown to address the root causes of these fires and prevent the destruction.

Fire management policy in Ireland makes no use of peer reviewed data to inform practice nor does it have any research to show it is an effective or positive management tool. There is also very little to no evidence that it was ever used culturally.

It is used mainly to keep otherwise unsuitable areas open for unsustainable grazing - with a legal burning season allowed from September to February. Fires outside the legal period are frequently said to be started by tourists - due to 2 summers of national lockdown, this seems highly unlikely.

As we see the effects of climate change with extended dry periods, the magnitude and impact of devastation will only continue to increase.

This petition is calling for;

1) Absolute moratorium on all fire burning seasons in Ireland to allow mountains to start to recover effective immediatel

2) Government to engage with eNGOs, scientists/ecologists, agri-organisations and local reps to develop sustainable policies and schemes for mountains without the use of fire - including but not limited to payments for carbon sequestration, expansion of existing woodland sites, montane habitat restoration schemes, different grazing systems where suitable (eg. booleying), woodland restoration for water attenuation, rework of payments to discourage burning. 

3) Immediate funding of emergency restoration work of burned areas to speed up recovery of nature, with priority given to SPA and SAC areas

This petition calls on all TDs to raise this concern as a matter of urgency and to start the work to find effective solutions to ensure our hills do not burn to ash!