Integrated Fire Management

Forest fire is a natural hazard that becomes semi-natural as far as most fire incidences are caused by human activities, in Europe and elsewhere. Forest fires are complex phenomena involving land use and related policies such as the EU CAP, urban planning in the vicinity of forests, climate and weather conditions, and human activities, cultural traditions. Therefore, the problem has multiple interacting drivers and aspects, beyond just considering ignitions and firefighting issues. The social and economic changes that result in increased fuel build-up and the increased frequency of extreme weather conditions require the full understanding of the problem and the use of integrated solutions. Wildfires have become a structural problem in the EUMed countries and would probably expand to other EU regions in the near future. To live with fire in the long-term requires mastering fire hazard within safe boundary conditions, addressing the multiple involved factors in a proactive way. Management of forest in risky areas demands a multipurpose strategy that weights appropriately the competing demands of forest uses with the consequent risks they imply. These holistic solutions have to be found using experiences and knowledge from various partners and they may include many diverse components as the use of fire in reducing fuel loads or the use of biomass for energy. The search of these more efficient and integrated solutions therefore requires more cooperation, coordination and integration of research.