INTERREG-SUDOE Use4forest Project: Strategy for fire prevention in the Southwest through the improvement of forest areas

Over the last decade (2012-2022), the countries of Southwest Europe have suffered a high number of wildfires, with an annual average of 222 in Spain, 213 in Portugal, and 105 in France, placing them among the five countries with the highest numbers in the EU (EFFIS, European Forest Fire Information System). The fact that three of the worst fire seasons in the EU have been recorded in the last six years demonstrates the upward trend noted by experts, due in part to the effects of climate change. This situation is exacerbated in Southwest Europe by the progressive abandonment of rural areas and the consequent cessation of productive activities traditionally linked to forestry. Faced with this challenge, it is crucial to adopt preventive measures tailored to the characteristics of Southwest Europe (demographic crisis, abundant forest cover, and a progressive increase in extreme weather events). Their success will depend both on understanding the specific conditions and on demonstrating the effectiveness of innovative tools on-site, tools that could potentially be transferred to other areas affected by the same problem.

From this perspective, USE4FOREST proposes a strategy for fire prevention in Southwest Spain (SUDOE) through the improvement of forest areas, based on three phases: a thorough understanding of the factors contributing to the problem; the development, testing, and demonstration in participating territories of innovative tools for the prevention, management, and anticipation of forest fires; and their transfer and widespread adoption across Southwest Spain. USE4FOREST aims to improve the response capacity of different government bodies through coordination with organizations with extensive experience in forest research and management. The analysis of various variables, such as the environment (vegetation, climate, etc.) and anthropogenic factors (populations, crops, etc.), will enable the development of new solutions and the evaluation of their impact, effectiveness, and transferability. This will facilitate the development of smart prevention strategies in the most at-risk forest areas, taking into account their natural, socioeconomic, technological, and management resources to address this need comprehensively.