EUSTAFOR Response to the European Commission Communication on Integrated Wildfire Risk Management

We celebrate the strong emphasis placed on the landscape-level approach, the recognition of regional and local management as a cornerstone of wildfire risk reduction as it was highlighted in our previous EUSTAFOR Approach for an Integrated Wildfire Risk Management statement. Additionally, the acknowledgement of the role of forest managers and other land-based actors is highly positive and reflects a necessary shift towards addressing the root causes of wildfire risk. These are crucial and signal a positive step to building a sound and effective preventive framework. It rightly emphasises opportunities for co-financing, notably through the Common Agricultural Policy and other EU funding instruments. This represents a valuable opportunity to scale up preventive measures and support long-term resilience across Europe’s forested landscapes.

There are, however, still important opportunities to further strengthen the approach, particularly in relation to high-intensity wildfires, which are increasingly affecting large parts of Europe, and especially in Mediterranean countries.

 

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