Wildfire risk planning and prevention: innovations in the Mediterranean and beyond
Wildfires, a natural part of ecosystems, pose significant environmental and socio-economic risks due to climate change and their destructive impact on local populations. Traditionally, fire suppression operations have focused on large forest fires, but nowadays prevention is gaining prominence and is considered crucial in integrated wildfire management. Therefore, forest fire prevention approaches should not be considered in isolation but as part of a comprehensive management framework.
EFI Mediterranean Facility (EFIMED) has recently released the publication ‘Wildfire risk planning and prevention – Innovations in the Mediterranean and beyond‘ in collaboration with the Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona). The document presents eleven case studies from Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the United States featuring successful forest fire risk planning and prevention instruments implemented by local authorities, research centres, NGOs and other organisations and public administration bodies, with potential for replication elsewhere.
The publication describes innovations for fire risk assessment, planning, preparation and, of course, prevention as part of the wildfire risk management continuum. In Greece, for example, a research institute and an NGO organise a team of volunteers to assess the susceptibility of buildings to forest fires on the island of Kythira and advise owners on how to mitigate the risk. Other practices take a technological approach: public authorities and fire services in Turkey use Artificial Intelligence to predict ignitions so that they can react promptly to such events and ensure an efficient allocation of fire suppression resources across the country.
The publication is aimed at land managers responsible for forest fire risk management. Each of the eleven innovations is described in detail but concisely, including the local context, the challenge addressed, the technical, administrative, and financial implementation, and how the specific instrument meets the four requisites for success: integration, continuity, specialisation and collaboration.
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Available in English and Spanish
Suggested citation
Mauri, E., Jankavić, M. 2024. Wildfire risk planning and prevention – Innovations in the Mediterranean and beyond. European Forest Institute. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36333/rs8en
