Key recommendations on wildfire prevention in the Mediterranean

Fire is a natural disturbance in many Mediterranean ecosystems. Nowadays, because of its origin in human activity, fire represents a serious threat with negative impacts on natural and cultural landscapes as well as ecosystem services.

The Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea is a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge as well as combining and coordinating efforts to prevent and fight wildfires.

In 2011, the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), coordinator of the working group on forest fires of Silva Mediterranea, organized the preparation of the first edition of the position paper “Wildfire Prevention in the Mediterranean”, published by FAO. The first edition of this position paper was endorsed by the main Mediterranean stakeholders during the Second Mediterranean Forest Week (organized in Avignon, France, 5–8 April 2011), of which represented the opportunities to address wildfire prevention in the context of climate change and implement these recommendations in all countries of the Mediterranean region. The European Forest Institute (EFI) and MITECO, in collaboration with Mediterranean stakeholders, committed to updating the first edition in 2021.

The position paper summarizes the work and reflections collected from a wide range of Mediterranean experts committed to conserving, managing and protecting the natural environment. The preparation of the second edition of the position paper required several working sessions in different forums, including the side event at the Seventh Mediterranean Forest Week (Antalya, Türkiye, 21–25 March 2022); the workshop “Developing, adopting and transferring innovative solutions and actions to prevent and control wildfires” (Antalya, Türkiye, October 2022); and the side event at the EFI Mediterranean Forum Network (Barcelona, Spain, 29 November–1 December 2022).

The second edition maintained the original structure based on a series of general recommendations containing various proposed actions that have been updated and re-addressed to accommodate current and future scenarios and challenges. It is arranged around six main topics for recommendations:

1. planning (programmes, policies and adaptation strategies);
2. governance models as a cornerstone;
3. developing sustainable financial mechanisms to ensure implementation and continuation of wildfire management measures;
4. knowledge generation, education and awareness of society;
5. harmonizing information systems as the basis for sharing information and understanding the complex reality of wildfires; and
6. international cooperation.

Each recommendation includes specific actions identified as necessary for improving forest fire prevention and risk reduction.

The publication was launched at the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference organized in Porto, Portugal, 16–19 May 2023.

The publication, published by EFI, is available here in English, Spanish and Catalan. It will soon be published in Italian, French and Arabic.

Giovanbattista de Dato (FAO), Eduard Mauri (EFI)