MediterRE3

Background

In Europe, fires burn over 500,000 hectares of forest annually, and scientists estimated that during the 21st century the number and extent of wildfires will increase due to climate change. This is significant when acknowledging that natural forest disturbances such as wildfires account for approximately 30 per cent more greenhouse gases (GHG) than fossil fuels. One of the root causes of wildfires is inadequate land management practice, including accumulation of dry biomass, burning of farmland waste and landscape simplification for industrial agriculture. 

Project

The principles of fire-smart landscape management and Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) are integrated landscape management approaches, which, over the past two decades, have proven successful means of reducing the number of wildfires. The project team addressed local and national decision-makers, policymakers and practitioners who were involved in landscape management and fire prevention in three natural and national parks in France, Greece and Montenegro. Several means aimed to help them to apply and mainstream the principles of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) into policies, regulations and land use plans: First, the project team provided the target group with guidelines for fire-smart landscape planning and management according to FLR principles and shared best-practice examples in the Mediterranean region. Second, the project team partnered with the National Observatory of Athens to develop a climate model for estimating the reduction in fire-related GHG emissions under different future climate change scenarios in fire-smart, mosaic-like resilient landscapes. The results of this aimed to inform policymakers and to support national climate change mitigation and climate-resilient landscape planning policies and strategies. Finally, the project team supported the development of three Landscape Action Plans for the fire-smart restoration of the three target landscapes in France, Greece and Montenegro. The Network of Mediterranean Forest Landscapes of High Ecological Value (Medforval) ensured to disseminate the knowledge generated through the project, advancing the fire resilience of landscapes across the Mediterranean and eventually reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly. 

Results

• The project developed a study with guidelines on building fire-smart landscapes in the Mediterranean region. It applies Forest Landscape Restoration principles to achieve fire-smart landscapes, focusing on planning and natural resource management. The document was disseminated trough the edition of a reader-friendly abridged version and its content was presented in workshops happening in the framework of the project in France in October 2023. But also, in the framework of external workshop such as the Parmenides X organized by CIHEAM-MAICh in Crete, in October 2023. 

• In August 2022, a fire destroyed 250 hectares of woodlands in the Luberon Regional Natural Park, near Niozelles and Villeneuve, threatening villages with almost 3,700 residents. Following the fire, the municipality adopted fire prevention measures from the project’s guidelines. The Office National des Forêts shared knowledge included in the guidelines with local firefighters, municipal authorities, and forest experts, implementing measures like vegetation clearance around homes. These actions prevented the fire from spreading to villages and saved an additional 250 hectares of forest, averting CO2 emissions. This area was also visited during the project’s final workshop in October 2023, showcasing successful fire prevention efforts. 

• In October 2023, the project hosted a workshop in Luberon, which served as a testament to its ability to revitalize the Medforval network. Over the past years, the network had been operating at low capacity due to various challenges, including the withdrawal of funding from the Mava Foundation. However, despite these obstacles, the workshop showcased the enduring spirit of the Medforval community. Participants demonstrated active collaboration, care, and a strong willingness to develop future collaborations between the network and Instituto Oikos. The workshop provided a platform for Medforval members to come together, share insights, and discuss priorities for the sites involved in the network. Through engaging discussions and collaborative efforts, the project facilitated the identification of key priorities, helping to guide future actions and initiatives within the network. 

Last update: October 2024