Shaping Europe’s future wildfire risk management strategies

The Berlin meeting served both to finalize Firelogue’s remaining activities and to provide a forum for dialogue with the wider wildfire risk management community. A dedicated hybrid session connected the EU Green Deal Wildfire Risk Management projects with policymakers and practitioners to reflect on Firelogue’s legacy and chart the way forward.

At the heart of the discussions was the presentation of a draft Integrated Wildfire Risk Management (IWRM) Strategy for Europe, developed by a consortium of scientists and practitioners from the FIRE-RES, SILVANUS, TREEADS and FirEUrisk projects. The strategy offers coordinated, evidence-based approaches to help Europe respond to increasingly frequent and severe wildfires.

As a partner in the Firelogue project, IIASA plays a leading role in consolidating and integrating knowledge across the EU’s wildfire-related Green Deal Innovation Actions. The Institute coordinates the analysis of different approaches to wildfire risk management, leads the working group on insurance mechanisms, and contributes to the development of a justice framework to ensure that wildfire resilience strategies are equitable and inclusive.

“Through Firelogue, we are working to bridge diverse perspectives and practices in wildfire risk management. Our aim is to create integrated strategies that not only reduce wildfire risks but also do so in ways that are socially just and sustainable,” explains IIASA Equity and Justice Research Group Leader, Thomas Schinko.

The program opened with a presentation of the IWRM Strategy and its policy recommendations, delivered by experts from the European Research Executive Agency, the Fraunhofer Institute for Technological Trend Analysis INT, and Trilateral Research. This was followed by a roundtable discussion that brought together policy representatives, including colleagues from DG ENV and the Pan-European Forest Risk Facility (FoRISK), to reflect on how the results could be taken up and aligned with ongoing European initiatives. The event concluded with an interactive workshop session that explored the projects’ legacy, identified future research needs, and mapped out the next steps for implementing the strategy.

Wildfires in Europe are becoming more frequent, intense and unpredictable. Climate change, land-use changes, and expanding wildland-urban interfaces are intensifying risks, while prolonged fire seasons challenge existing capacities. The IWRM Strategy proposes coordinated, practical approaches that leverage research, governance and technological innovations to strengthen wildfire resilience across Europe.

The strategy highlights five key priorities:

1. Inter-agency coordination – Establish cross-level working groups (EU, national, local) to implement a unified strategy and improve data sharing.
2. Integrated strategy development – Define measurable targets at EU and national levels and support informed decisions on wildfire risk investments.
3. Knowledge exchange and capacity building – Foster practitioner training and knowledge-sharing on resilient landscapes and good practices.
4. Guidance and best practices – Provide tailored recommendations for implementing IWRM across diverse national and regional contexts.
5. Funding and technological innovation – Develop new funding structures and partnerships to accelerate the use of decision-support systems and regenerative landscape solutions.

Accompanied by a policy brief, the strategy offers a roadmap for a seamless, coordinated and forward-looking wildfire risk management approach across Europe.

The final strategy is available here: An Integrated Wildfire Risk Management Strategy for the EU: developing resilient landscapes and safer communities

About Firelogue 
Firelogue is a Coordination and Support Action Funder under Horizon 2020 Grant Agreement No. 101036534. It brings together more than 70 Mio. € in research funding that has been invested mainly under the European Green Deal call on “Preventing and fighting extreme wildfires with the integration and demonstration of innovative means”. The Firelogue project aims to support and coordinate the consolidation of research results from the wildfire risk related Green Deal Innovation Actions. It integrates the findings and promotes the discussion via forums and workshops, leading to the exchange among a large range of stakeholders. It closely collaborates with the following projects: FIRE-RES, SILVANUS, TREEADS and FirEUrisk

Further information 
Visit the Firelogue Website