Nature-based solutions are key to reducing Europe’s growing risk of forest fires and to making forests more resilient to climate change, according to a briefing published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Fire has always been part of the natural cycle of forests. However, wildfires are becoming more frequent and more destructive across Europe as climate change, urban expansion and land abandonment increase the likelihood of fire-prone conditions.
The EEA briefing Nature-based solutions for fire-resilient European forests outlines measures for both fire prevention and post-fire restoration — such as rewilding, promoting fire-resilient vegetation, and creating green firebreaks and buffer zones. The briefing features case studies from Italy to Finland and contributes to the implementation of the EU adaptation strategy and the EU forest strategy for 2030.
A burning problem
Every year, an average area of 3.770 km² (roughly the size of the island of Mallorca or 9 times the size of the city of Copenhagen) was subjected to wildfires in the 32 EEA countries between 2000-2024. Traditionally fire-prone regions such as the Mediterranean are now facing longer and more intense fire seasons, while regions such as north-west Europe, previously less affected, also experience more frequent and intense wildfires.
To make the situation worse, 7.4% of Europe’s surface is in areas where human settlements are in or near areas of fire-prone wildland vegetation.
Beyond the risks to human life, homes and livelihoods, wildfires also threaten Europe’s rich forest ecosystems. Forests provide crucial ecosystem services, including timber production, carbon storage and climate regulation — all of which are severely disrupted by fires.
Leaning on nature-based solutions
So far, Europe’s response to wildfires has focused mainly on emergency measures and fire suppression rather than prevention and recovery. Yet, without stronger attention to prevention and restoration, fire management will become increasingly difficult in a changing climate.
Nature-based solutions can play a vital role in forest management. Close-to-nature forestry — as promoted in the EU forest strategy for 2030 — helps reduce wildfire risks by managing fuel loads through grazing, agroforestry, deadwood management and prescribed burning. Such approaches also encourage a diversity of species, ages and forest structures, making forests more resilient and less fire-prone.
Post-fire management requires comprehensive restoration, including natural or assisted regeneration, reforestation with diverse species, and soil and hydrological rehabilitation. Diversifying both landscapes and tree species also increases resilience to other climate-related threats, such as pest outbreaks.
The EEA briefing stresses that nature-based solutions should always be adapted to local conditions and risks, as well as to governance and socio-economic contexts. Early stakeholder involvement is crucial to avoid conflicts — for instance between economic interests and nature conservation objectives — and to ensure long-term success in implementing these solutions.
