Although fires are part of the natural functioning of ecosystems, some of them pose a significant threat. For example, the wildfires that occurred in Portugal in 2017 had big impacts, including the loss of 117 human lives. There were also losses of private and public property, including buildings and industrial infrastructures, energy network infrastructure, roads, telecommunications, forestry and agricultural resources.
The project, which brings together 39 partner institutions from all over the world, wants to shift conventional thinking and develop a science-based strategy for wildfire risk management in Europe. The multidisciplinary team, that includes researchers, practitioners, policymakers and citizens, will study the vulnerability and resilience of communities and countries to wildfire including the impact of policies on land use and how socio-economic issues and human activity influence vulnerability. This will allow the creation of regional planning approaches to increase the resilience and safety of local communities, enhancing nature-based solutions, that will be tested in pilot sites and demonstration areas in Northern, Central and Mediterranean Europe.
The new approach will include innovative technologies, tools, training materials, guidelines and policy recommendations to improve wildfire management and reduce the most damaging effects of wildfires.
