Copernicus Masters Sustainable Living Challenge Award

EnviroSAR - Managing Wildfire Disturbance in Moorlands and Heathlands

Wildfires are a major hazard and produce devastating environmental and economic impacts. In moorland and heathland areas, wildfires discolour drinking water supplies, release carbon dioxide and damage these unique ecosystems. Around £55 million a year is spent by the emergency services on fighting wildfires. EnviroSAR is a targeted service for peat moorland and heathland restoration and management using Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) satellite data to deliver burned-area products, and will be the first national mapping and monitoring tool for UK wildfires. The EnviroSAR geoportal will understand patterns of wildfire occurrence, help mitigate their risks, target land management and reseeding, reduce water discolouration and the associated costs.