Management of forest ecosystems to reduce the risk of forest fires (MED-Foreste)

Description:

MED-Foreste deals with the prevention of forest fires, through experiments and construction of works aimed at the active management of the forest.

The risk of fires in the Mediterranean area is undoubtedly linked to the climate changes underway, but in the case of forests the risk is greatly aggravated by the general abandonment of agricultural and forestry-pastoral activities, especially in mountainous and marginal areas. Abandonment determines an increase in the forest area, even in coastal urban areas, with a consequent increase in combustible material, a decrease in areas of discontinuity and in the resistance and resilience of ecosystems to the passage of fire. Defining new prevention actions means acting on the possible causes of fires, making forests less flammable, more resistant and resilient to fires and safer for those who live there.

Spreading the culture of prevention among local administrators and citizens will make it possible to contain the destruction of the environmental and landscape heritage and to reduce expenditure deriving from the devastating effects of fires. Furthermore, the recovery of forest management could create new economic opportunities for local communities, allowing the launch or consolidation of sustainable production activities.

Project information

Lead

ANCI Toscana, Italy

Partners

Office National des Forêts, France;

Parc national de Port-Cros, France;

Regione Liguria, Italy;

Agenzia forestale regionale per lo sviluppo del territorio e l'ambiente della Sardegna, Italy;

Istituto di Biometeorologia – IBIMET, Italy

Source of funding

Interreg Marittime