FirEUrisk – Integrated European Strategy for Forest Fire Risk Management

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, Horizon 2020, Project, Resilience, management, and disaster risk reduction

September 15, 2025

Client/Funder: European Union – Horizon 2020 Framework Program for Research and Innovation
Period: April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2025
Total budget: €10,539,794.00
EU Contribution: €10,271,044.00
Coordinator/Lead Partner: Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (ADAI) – Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (PT)
Partners: University of Alcalá (UAH) – University of Alcalá (ES); Center for Security Studies (KEMEA) – Center for Security Studies (GR); SAFE Cluster (FR); European University Cyprus – European University Cyprus (CY); Sapienza University of Rome (IT); Senckenberg Nature Research Society (SGN) – Senckenberg Nature Research Society (DE); Technical University of Dresden (TUD) – Technical University of Dresden (DE); Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) – Research Institutes of Sweden (SE); University of Córdoba (UCO) – University of Córdoba (ES); MeteoGrid, S.L. (ES); Institute of Information and Communication Technologies – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IICT-BAS) – Institute of Information and Communication Technologies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BG); National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea” (INCDS) – National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea” (RO); Institute for Environmental Studies – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (IVM) – Institute for Environmental Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL); University of Split – Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture (FESB) – University of Split, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture (HR); National Research Council (CNR) (IT); The James Hutton Institute (UK); Oy Arbonaut Ltd. (FI); Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) (FI); National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSRD) (GR); University of Haifa (IL); Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE) (FR); University of Lleida (UdL) (ES); Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia (ISIG) (IT); Scienseed (ES); Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) (DE); Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) (GR); Satways Ltd. (GR); GMV Aerospace and Defense (ES); Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) – Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (PT); Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) – Research Institute for Development (FR); University of Aveiro (PT); King’s College London (UK); Swansea University (UK); Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (ES); Regional Eastern Europe Fire Monitoring Centre (REEFMC) – Regional Eastern Europe Fire Monitoring Centre (UA); Natural Hazards Research Australia – Natural Hazards Research Australia (AU); University of Alberta – University of Alberta (CA)
Associate Partners/Third Parties Involved: University of Coimbra (PT); National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) (PT); Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) (PT); Ramboll France SAS (FR); Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE); General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations of Romania (IGSU) – Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (RO); ROMSILVA – National Forest Administration (RO); Ministry of Environment, Waters, and Forests (RO); Association of Private Forest Administrators (RO); Association of Private Forest Owners (RO); Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) – French National Center for Scientific Research (FR); Chernobyl Radioecological Biosphere Reserve (UA)

FirEUrisk – A Holistic Approach for Risk-Based Adaptation of Wildfire Management in the EU to Global Changes has developed an integrated scientific strategy to improve the assessment, prevention, and management of wildfire risk in Europe.

The project combined environmental and climatic factors with the social, economic, and territorial dimensions that influence the onset of fires, community exposure, and their capacity to adapt. Scientific research, technological tools, field trials, and stakeholder engagement were integrated to address the entire risk cycle, from prevention to preparedness, from response to recovery.

Objectives and Activities

FirEUrisk has developed a common approach to fire management that can be applied to various European ecosystems and risk conditions. The activities were organized around three main areas:

assessment of fire hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of people, property, ecosystems, and territories;
identifying measures to reduce risk by analyzing the human-caused sources of ignition, land-management practices, and the behavior of extreme wildfires;
developing adaptation strategies in response to climate change, demographic shifts, and changes in land use;
development of tools, models, and recommendations to support planning and decision-making;
Testing solutions at pilot sites, with the involvement of operational services, institutions, stakeholders, and local communities.

Particular attention was paid to megafires, urban-forest interface areas, and regions of Europe where, due to climate change, fires are becoming more frequent or intense.

Results and Tools

The project has produced models, maps, databases, protocols, and operational tools for fire risk assessment and management. Key results include:

models for predicting fire behavior and spread;
tools for assessing hazards, exposure, and vulnerability;
scenarios related to the effects of climate change and changes in land use;
an open platform for accessing the project’s services and results;
training materials, guidelines, publications, and recommendations for institutions and practitioners;
methods for engaging communities in risk reduction and building resilience.

The role of ISIG

ISIG contributed to the social and participatory dimension of FirEUrisk by analyzing the factors that influence the vulnerability and resilience of communities exposed to wildfires. This work made it possible to incorporate aspects such as demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, risk perception, local capabilities, and the relationship between the population, institutions, and operational services into risk assessment systems.

Among the tools developed is the Relative Social Vulnerability Index (ReSVI), which is used to assess and compare the levels of social vulnerability across different areas. At the same time, community engagement initiatives, citizen-scientist networks, and dialogue sessions with stakeholders and the local population have been designed and tested, with the aim of gathering insights, identifying needs, and collecting proposals across the various phases of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The initiatives carried out at the pilot sites contributed to the development of the FirEUrisk Participatory Model, a participatory governance model that links the assessment of local conditions to stakeholder mapping and the building of local networks for risk management. ISIG also contributed to testing the project’s initiatives and transforming the evidence gathered into useful guidelines for strengthening social resilience and collaboration among communities, local governments, and operational entities.

Project website: FirEUrisk