Disseminating best practices to reduce wildfire risk in the Mediterranean
The 21st century wildfires will potentially account for an estimated 30% of GHG emissions in the Mediterranean area. One of the main causes of wildfires is inadequate land management leading to accumulation of dry biomass and landscape simplification. The project, funded by EUKI, will promote the reduction of fire-related GHG emissions in three target landscapes in Greece, Montenegro and France. In close collaboration with our partners, we enhance the capacities of decision and policy makers and practitioners on the application of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) principles. With one goal: restoring forest landscapes with fire-smart solutions.
– Photo credit: David Tatin –
WILDFIRES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: A HUMAN-RELATED DISASTER
Scientists estimate that during the 21st century wildfires will account for at least 30% of GHG emissions in the Mediterranean region and the total burned area is projected to increase by 40-100%. One of the main causes of wildfires is inadequate land management leading to accumulation of dry biomass and landscape simplification. The abandonment of rural areas of Mediterranean countries with a traditional mosaic-like landscape of high environmental and socioeconomic resilience, has led to the homogenization and simplification of the territory. The consequences are accumulation of biomass, poor landscape planning and the consequent fire risk exacerbation.
THE SOLUTION: FIRE-SMART LANDSCAPES
The MediterRE3 project will promote a relatively novel approach to manage wildfire hazards: the so-called “fire-smart landscape management”. This integrated approach is primarily based on biomass management and fire spread/fireintensity reduction. By lowering ignition likelihood and fire behaviour potential, forests and the whole landscapes become more resistant to fire spread and more resilient to its occurrence. In the past two decades the development of the principles of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) highlighted the benefits of this integrated landscape management approach to promote fire-smart landscapes.
The project will deliver guidelines for fire-smart landscape planning in the Mediterranean region and Landscape Action Plans aimed at applying FLR principles in each target landscape: Luberon NRP in France, Prokletije and Komovi NP in Montenegro and Samaria NP/Lefka Ori in Greece. This will increase the capacity to secure adequate long-term support through funding mechanisms addressing land degradation and climate change. Upscaling in the Mediterranean region will be secured by the Medforval network of Mediterranean high value ecological forests.
THE MEDITERRE3 PROJECT ACTIVITIES
• Development of guidelines for fire-smart landscape planning and manage¬ment based on FLR principles and best practices at a regional level.
• Development and application of a robust science-based methodology for estimating the reduction in fire-related GHG emissions under future climate change scenarios in fire-smart, mosaic-like resilient landscapes.
• Development of strategic Action Plans for the fire-smart restoration of target landscapes.
• Dissemination of the project outputs and deliverables at regional level involving the Medforval network of High Ecological Value (HEV) forest landscapes.
THE PROJECT PARTNERS
Parc naturel régional du Luberon (France)
Green Home (Montenegro)
CIHEAM MAICh (Greece)
National Observatory of Athens (Greece)
The project is funded by EUKI.