Empowering action at the landscape level

Fostering multi-actor collaboration for the landscape to be more resilient, recoverable, and manageable.

Problem

Managing Extreme Wildfire Events requires a landscape-level approach encompassing diverse stakeholders and considering the interplay between ecosystems, land use practices, and climate factors. However, the lack of coordination and limited collaboration among stakeholders often hinders the effective implementation of strategies to prevent, mitigate, and respond to Extreme Wildfire Events. This fragmented approach exacerbates the impacts of wildfires, leading to significant environmental, social, and economic consequences.

Why the Problem exists?

The problem emerges from multiple sources ranging from the structuring of the properties in the territories to factors such as land use patterns, vegetation types, and fire-prone areas. Additionally different entities are responsible for managing various land types within a given landscape, leading to a lack of coordination in fire prevention, fuel management, and firefighting efforts. This fragmentation results in inconsistent strategies and ineffective utilisation of resources. 

Looking for solutions that completely or partially solve the following:

  • Overcoming land fragmentation for resilient landscapes. 
  • New funding mechanism for vegetation management in depopulated areas. 
  • Reversing land abandonment through socioeconomic activation.
  • Vegetation (fuel) management at the landscape level in fragmented ownerships.  
  • Empowering stakeholders in resilient landscapes. 
  • Reversing land abandonment through socio economic activation. 

Requirements

  • Interdisciplinary approach evidence-based guidance for landscape-level management. 
  • Engage all relevant stakeholders in decision-making processes. 

Limitation(s)

  • Legal and policy frameworks across different jurisdictions. 
  • Limited funding and resources. 
  • Conflict of interests, power dynamics, and diverse perspectives among stakeholders. 

Fire Management Phase(s)

Prevention & Preparedness; Adaptation & Restoration 

Living Labs

Chile Living LabSardinia-Italy Living Lab; Portugal Living Lab.

Voice of the Living Lab(s)

  “Land ownership cooperation can be strengthened or promoted to achieve economically profitable and sustainable forest management that fulfils all landscape-scale functions. What strategies can be employed to increase the average size of managed forested lands and to encourage landscape-level management?“.

Portugal Living Lab

 “Actually in Sardinia we can say a lack of planning concerning activities for functional restoration of burnt areas. Also regulations are old and there is scarce dialogue among stakeholders. There is inexistence planning of required measures to restore after fire areas. How could we apply to promote planning also engaging local communities?“.

Sardinia-Italy Living Lab

 

  “Landscapes prepared for emergencies, which give an opportunity to combat efficiently taking care of the environment, especially in relation to the use of water“.

Chile Living Lab

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