CLA Cymru Highlights Devastating Impact of Heat-Driven Wildfires across Rural Wales
CLA Cymru has expressed deep concern over the ongoing and recent wildfires ravaging rural Wales, fuelled by prolonged heat spells, record dry conditions and drought status in parts of the country.
These fires, including major blazes in the Rhinogydd mountains in Gwynedd, seen by satellite in space, (affecting an estimated 951 hectares) and Blaenavon in Torfaen (over 220 hectares), alongside incidents in other areas, are causing immediate and long-lasting damage to the agricultural sector and wider rural communities.
Farmers and landowners across Wales are on the front line of this crisis. Vast areas of grazing land have been scorched, killing livestock and threatening their welfare and forcing many to draw on their limited winter feed supplies during already strained water resources and drought declared regions. The loss of productive pasture, damage to internationally important habitats and risks to livestock not only undermine farm businesses but has a ripple effect through the entire rural economy, affecting supply chains, tourism and community resilience.
These wildfires are a stark reminder of the growing challenges posed by extreme weather in our countryside. Our members, who manage much of Wales’ rural land, are working tirelessly and shoulder to shoulder alongside emergency services to protect lives, property and the natural environment. However, the financial and emotional toll on farming families is immense. We urge Welsh Government and relevant agencies to provide swift, targeted support for recovery, including resources for habitat restoration, compensation where appropriate and long-term strategies to build resilience against heat related risks. We also urge Welsh Government to urgently examine how land is used and managed across Wales and to take decisive action on vegetation management and grazing practices, so that we can better prevent and mitigate the risk of future wildfires.
CLA Cymru stands ready to work with Welsh Government, fire services and partners like Natural Resources Wales to mitigate future risks while championing the vital role of rural businesses.
The human and economic cost cannot be overstated. Many of our members are facing years of recovery on land they have stewarded for generations. We pay tribute to the bravery of our firefighters and emergency services working in incredibly challenging conditions. CLA Cymru calls for urgent action from policymakers to support affected communities now and to invest in practical measures that will help rural Wales. Our members are part of the solution, and their voices must be central to building a more resilient future for the Welsh countryside.
