The Near East Network on Wildlands Forest Fire wraps up a workshop on integrated fire management for post-fire restoration practices in Morocco

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Near East Network on Wildlands Forest Fire (NENFIRE), the FAO Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea (Silva Med), and the National Agency of Water and Forestry of Morocco, successfully hosted a workshop on Integrated fire management: good practices and knowledge sharing for the Near East and Mediterranean regions. Held from 12 to 15 February 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, the event brought together NENFIRE members, Silva Med representatives, and fire management experts to bolster cross-border cooperation, share experiences, discuss challenges, and strengthen resilience strategies against wildfires in the Near East, North Africa and Mediterranean regions. 

Addressing wildfire challenges in the NENA region

With climate change intensifying extreme weather conditions, wildfires have become an escalating threat to forests, rangelands, and rural livelihoods in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. This workshop served as a crucial step in fostering cross-country collaboration, promoting best practices, and developing stronger fire resilience strategies.

The opening ceremony featured addresses from FAO representatives, Moroccan officials, and key stakeholders, all emphasizing the urgent need for integrated fire management and post-fire restoration. Speakers underscored the essential role of forests in the NENA region, despite covering just 5.4 percent of the land area, in sustaining food security, water conservation, and climate resilience. Morocco, recognized as a regional leader in sustainable forestry and wildfire management, demonstrated its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in tackling forest fires.

In her opening remarks, Fidaa Haddad, Senior Programme Officer and Regional Priority 3 Lead at FAO, highlighted the importance of collective action in mitigating wildfire risks. She stated, " The wildfire crisis is not a future threat—it is happening now and accelerating. The cost of inaction will be devastating, not only for our forests but also for our people, economies, and future generations. FAO stands ready to work alongside all partners to transform fire management into a proactive strategy, protecting our forests and communities for a more sustainable future." 

Advancing integrated fire management: a five-year regional roadmap

A central focus of the workshop was the endorsement of the NENFIRE five-year roadmap (2024–2029), a comprehensive regional plan to enhance fire preparedness, prevention, and response mechanisms. Participants reviewed and refined this roadmap to ensure alignment with regional priorities and emerging challenges.

Morocco, as a country strongly invested in forest fire management, presented a scalable model of integrated fire management best practices. Participants visited the National Center for the Management of Forest Climate Risks at the National Agency for Water and Forests, where experts showcased Morocco’s fire prevention strategies, early detection systems, and emergency response coordination mechanisms. The visit provided hands-on exposure to advanced monitoring technologies, cross-agency cooperation, and post-fire restoration efforts. 

Strengthening capacity through post-fire restoration training and global fire management efforts

As part of the workshop, participants traveled to Tangier in northern Morocco, where they visited two forested areas affected by wildfires. The first being Perdicaris Park (Rmilate Forest), covering 65 hectares of botanical gardens, which suffered fire damage in 2017; and the second being Cap Spartel Forest, which survived a 2023 wildfire that affected 40 hectares of pine-dominated forest cover.

Representatives from 14 countries engaged in a knowledge-sharing session, featuring presentations from Morocco, Spain, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Portugal, and Tunisia on fire management and ecosystem restoration. Participants were introduced to FAO’s Forest Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM) tool, a digital platform supporting the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). FAO continues to support wildfire mitigation through the Global Fire Management Hub (Fire Hub), which helps countries enhance capacities for integrated fire management. As a key outcome of the workshop, hands-on training allowed participants to document and share best practices for post-fire recovery, to be documented under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The workshop also established mechanisms for ongoing regional collaboration, enabling knowledge-sharing, policy alignment, and coordinated responses to wildfire risks.

“Creating opportunities for knowledge exchange is at the heart of our commission’s mission. Regional collaboration, capacity-building programs, and integrated fire management strategies are key to addressing wildfire risks in the Near East and North Africa. We must invest in early warning systems, community engagement, and restoration efforts to enhance resilience against wildfires”, highlighted Mohamed Al Hiari, Secretary-General, Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture & Chairperson, Near East Commission for Forestry and Rangelands.

Through partnerships like Silva Med, the workshop fostered cross-regional learning, solution-sharing, and collective action for wildfire management in the NENA and Mediterranean regions. As João Pinho, Head of Rural Fire Management, Portugal’s Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas & Silva Mediterranea Network Member highlighted, “This workshop provided valuable insights into the fire management tools and methods used across the Mediterranean. Stronger regional cooperation is essential to tackling climate-driven fire risks and ensuring more effective fire management strategies.”

 By enhancing regional cooperation, driving innovation, and promoting sustainable practices, countries can mitigate the impact of wildfires, restore ecosystems, and build long-term climate resilience. 

Driving sustainable solutions for the future

As FAO marks its 80th anniversary, this workshop reflects its unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable forestry, fostering inclusive climate resilience, and implementing best practices for a greener future. FAO remains dedicated to realizing its vision of the Four Betters—Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life—through concrete, community-driven actions worldwide.