The FireEUrisk project is financed by the H2020 framework program of the European Commission (AG no. 101003890). The project counts 38 partners from 18 countries, and the results will be produced in the period 2021-2025. The Project Leader is Associacao Para O Desenvolvimento Da Aerodinamica Industrial, Portugal.

The consortium includes groups from regions with different fire regimes, ensuring comprehensive coverage of European fire conditions. The consortium was organized to consider all fire risk factors, including current and future conditions. The proposed integrated and inclusive approach will facilitate the comprehensive characterization of biophysical and socio-economic factors, with an emphasis on extreme fires and those occurring in the interface areas between urban and built-up areas.

Implementation duration: 4 years: May 2021 – April 2025

Website https://fireurisk.eu/

Goals

FirEUrisk will develop, evaluate and disseminate an integrated scientific strategy based on: 1) expanding current forest fire risk assessment systems, including critical risk factors not previously covered; 2) the production of effective measures to reduce the current fire risk conditions and 3) adapting management strategies to expected future climate and socio-economic changes. This will be done in close collaboration between researchers, stakeholders and citizens, integrating new technologies, guidelines and policy recommendations to improve current systems and practices at regional and EU scale. The project will address all types of forest fires, with a particular focus on mega-fires, the urban-wildland interface and the challenges of manifesting this type of risk in regions of Europe less prone to large-scale fires such as Nordic or Central European countries.

FirEUrisk will (a) model socio-economic issues and human activity that influence fire ignition, vulnerability and exposure; (b) assess the impact of national and EU policies on land-use change, the economy and rural development, in the context of future expectations of changes in the fire regime, and (c) consider potential cascading effects related to wildfire situations. This will enable FIREURISK to deliver innovative risk-based regional planning approaches that are effective in increasing the resilience of local communities, ensuring safety and enhancing the protection of assets and economic activity. The resulting advances in fire risk reduction will be linked to innovative organizational models and efficient business models that promote a cost-effective bioeconomy and nature-based solutions.