Henrietta Appleton, GWCT Policy Officer, brings us new evidence on heather burning.
Policy decisions made on the basis of simple answers from evidence “at a point in time” or over short (3-5 year) time scales are therefore more than likely going to be ineffective or wrong (or both). Consequently, it is not a surprise that on-going research led by Associate Professor Andreas Heinemeyer at York University into upland management systems is beginning to show that the results of earlier research based on pre- and immediately post-burning evidence are too simplified; and even wrong when it comes to judging the carbon consequences of managed burning.