R1 Prevention Knowledge and Practices

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Grant Agreement number: 243840 Support Action

Project acronym FIRESMART

Project title FOREST AND LAND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS TO PREVENT UNWANTEDFOREST FIRES

Funding Scheme: SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME - THEME ENVIRONMENT

Thematic Priority Area 6.2.1.6 Integrated forest research/Topic ENV.2009.2.1.6.1 Sustainable forest management as a tool toprevent unwanted forest fires.

Project starting date: 02 February 2010

Project duration: 24 months

Project coordinator: GMV AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE S.A.U.

[email protected]

www.firesmart-project.eu

FOREST AND LAND

MANAGEMENT OPTIONSTO PREVENT UNWANTEDFOREST FIRESFIRESMART

TECHNICAL REPORT 1 (WP1): COMPILATION ANDPRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF ACTUALKNOWLEDGE/PRACTICE IN FOREST FIRE PREVENTION


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FIRESMART www.firesmart-project.eu FOREST AND LAND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS TO PREVENTUNWANTED FOREST FIRES

FIRESMART-INIA-TR-WP1

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Deliverable reference number D5

Date of deliverable 30/07/2010

Issue. Revision

Abstract This report concerns the work carried out within the framework of WP1:Compilation and preliminary analysis of current knowledge/practice in forest fire prevention.

The compiled information was obtained from two sources: (i) managerialand technological, and (ii) scientific, and was included in an open accessdatabase, available on-line. A questionnaire on forest fire prevention wasdesigned, sent to and completed by managers and scientific experts fromEuropean countries in order to obtain an overview of opinions. Preliminaryanalysis of references, compiled contents, and completed questionnairesare presented. With regard to the scientific perspective, a synthesis of thestudies reported in relevant literature on Fire causes in Europe, Wildland-urban interface, Preventive silviculture and Fuel breaks, is presented inAnnexes.

Name and Organisationresponsible for this deliverable

INIA

Names and Organisation ofbeneficiaries contributing forthis deliverable

GMV, CEMAGREF, AI, CEPF, EIMFOR, FORESTIS, JRC

Project co-funded by the European Commission within the Seventh Framework Programme

Dissemination Level : PU

PU Public

PP Restricted to other programme participants (including the Commission Services)

RE Restricted to a group specified by the consortium (including the Commission Services)CO Confidential, only for members of the consortium (including the Commission Services)


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FIRESMART .......................................................................................................................................... 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ 3

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .............................................................................................................. 5

FIGURE 3-21. PERCENTAGE OF ENTRIES BY ITEM TYPE IN THE SCIENTIFIC COLLECTION .......................... 6

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 8

1.1. PURPOSE OF THE DOCUMENT ................................................................................................... 8

1.2. FIRESMART CONCEPT .............................................................................................................. 8

1.3. BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................................... 8

1.4. ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................... 10

2. OBJECTIVES, TASKS AND DISTRIBUTION OF WORK ......................................................................... 11

2.1. PROJECT OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................ 11

2.2. TASKS AND DISTRIBUTION OF WP1 ........................................................................................ 112.2.1. OVERALL WP1 PLAN AND STUDY LOGIC ............................................................................................11

2.2.2. WP1 MULTISCALE AND MULTI-PERSPECTIVE APPROACH ....................................................................13

3. METHODS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK PERFORMED ................................................................ 17

3.1. COMPILATION AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES IN FORESTFIRE PREVENTION ............................................................................................................... 173.1.1. FIRESMART DATABASE ESTRUCTURE ................................................................................................17

3.1.2. INTEGRATING THE INDEPENDENT DATABASES INTO A UNIQUE DB: FIRESMART DB. ..........................18

3.1.2.1. Migrating the information to a unique web-accessible database ................................ 19

3.2. SOURCES, COMPILATION METHODS AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS ................. 213.2.1. COMPILATION OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND MANAGERIAL MATERIAL ...............................................21

3.2.1.1. Sources of information and methodological approach .............................................. 21

3.2.1.2. In Italy .............................................................................................................. 23

3.2.1.3. In France ........................................................................................................... 26

3.2.1.4. In Central and Eastern Europe .............................................................................. 29

3.2.1.5. In Spain ............................................................................................................. 31

3.2.1.6. In Portugal ......................................................................................................... 363.2.2. OVERALL CONCLUSIONS FROM THE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL/MANAGERIAL

MATERIAL .......................................................................................................................................39

3.2.3. COMPILATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC MATERIAL ....................................................................................43

3.2.3.1. Sources of information and methodological approach .............................................. 43

3.2.3.2. Preliminary analysis of contents and conclusions derived from the scientific materialcompiled ....................................................................................................................... 44

4. QUESTIONNARIE ON FOREST FIRE PREVENTION IN EUROPE ............................................................. 51

4.1. OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................................................... 51

4.2. METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 514.2.1. DEFINING THE RESEARCH AIM .........................................................................................................51

4.2.2. IDENTIFYING THE POPULATION AND SAMPLE ....................................................................................52

4.2.3. DECIDING HOW TO COLLECT REPLIES ..............................................................................................52

4.2.4. QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN .................................................................................................................52

4.2.5. RUNNING A PILOT SURVEY ...............................................................................................................59

4.2.6. CARRYING OUT THE MAIN SURVEY ...................................................................................................59

4.3. ORGANIZING INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE RESPONSES AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS .. 59

5. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................... 65


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6. ANNEXES ....................................................................................................................................... 66

6.1. DATABASE DESIGN: SELECTED FIELDS AND ZOTERO INSTRUCTIONS (INIA) ............................ 66

6.2. TEST AREA 4: DEPARTEMENT BOUCHES DU RHONE (CEMAGREF) ............................................. 71

6.2.1. FOREST MANAGEMENT POLICIES IN THE TEST AREA ......................................................................... 71

6.2.2. FOREST FIRE CAUSES IN THE DPARTEMENT BOUCHES DU RHNE ................................................... 74

6.2.3. TRAINING, AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION ACTIONS ................................................................. 76

6.3. A REVIEW OF THE SCIENTIFIC WORKS FOUND IN LITERATURE (CEMAGREF) ............................. 796.3.1. - FOREST FIRE CAUSES IN EUROPE .................................................................................................. 79

6.3.1.1. Data collection .................................................................................................... 79

6.3.1.2. Synthesis of causes ............................................................................................. 79

6.3.1.2.1. Comparison Northern Europe Southern Europe ............................................ 79

6.3.1.2.2. Comparison Europe Canada ........................................................................... 86

6.3.1.3. Review on the main driving factors ........................................................................ 87

6.3.1.3.1. Human factors .................................................................................................... 88

6.3.1.3.2. Environmental factors ........................................................................................ 91

6.3.1.4. References ......................................................................................................... 936.3.2. - WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACES ..................................................................................................... 96

6.3.2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 96

6.3.2.2. WUI definition ..................................................................................................... 97

6.3.2.3. WUI characterization ........................................................................................... 97

6.3.2.4. WUI and wildfire risk ............................................................................................ 97

6.3.2.5. WUI typology ...................................................................................................... 98

6.3.2.6. WUI management ............................................................................................... 99

6.3.2.7. References ....................................................................................................... 100

6.3.3. PREVENTIVE SILVICULTURE IN MEDITERRANEAN FOREST TO MITIGATE FIRE RISKS: WHAT ARE THEOPTIONS? .................................................................................................................................... 103

6.3.3.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 103

6.3.3.2. Characterization of fire behaviour as function of main stand parameters .................. 104

6.3.3.3. Influence of stand attributes on fire risk ............................................................... 105

6.3.3.4. The role of thinning in fire behaviour ................................................................... 109

6.3.3.5. Influence of other fuel reduction treatments in combination with thinning ................ 113

6.3.3.6. Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 115

6.3.3.7. References ....................................................................................................... 1156.3.4. FUEL BREAKS ................................................................................................................................ 117

6.3.4.1. Role of fuel breaks ............................................................................................. 117

6.3.4.2. Positioning ........................................................................................................ 117

6.3.4.3. Composition and nature ..................................................................................... 117

6.3.4.4. Wind velocity and direction fluctuations on a fuel-break ......................................... 118

6.3.4.5. Fuel impact on fire propagation ........................................................................... 118

6.3.4.6. Slope effects on fire behaviour ............................................................................ 118

6.3.4.7. Dimensions ....................................................................................................... 118

6.3.4.8. Management ..................................................................................................... 119

6.3.4.9. Impact of fuel breaks on non-native species abundance ......................................... 119

6.3.4.10. References ...................................................................................................... 120

END OF DOCUMENT .......................................................................................................................... 123


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LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 1-1. Acronyms

Table 2-1. Tasks included in WP1Table 2-2. Fire prevention-related topics considered in the test areas

Table 3-1. FIRESMART database structure

Table 3-2. Work areas by country and level of work

Table 3-3. Type of material requested by partners

Table 3-4. Main institutions contacted in Italy

Table 3-5. Main institutions contacted in France

Table 3-6. Organizations link to CEPF

Table 3-7. CEPF: Main collaborating institutions

Table 3-8. CEPF entries by item type

Table 3-9. Main institutions contacted in Spain

Table 3-10. Number of entries for each level of information in SpainTable 3-11. Number of entries according to the item type in Spain

Table 3-12. Main institutions contacted in Portugal

Table 3-13. Number of entries according to the different types identified in Portugal

Table 3-14. Number of entries and percentage according to the different levels in Portugal

Table 3-15. Total of entries in the Technological collection for each beneficiary and item type

Table 3-15. Total of entries in the Technological collection for each beneficiary and item type

Table 3-16. Number of entries by geographical level and beneficiary, in the Technological collection

Table 3-17. Number of entries by item type compiled in the Scientific collection

Table 6.3-1. Main causes of forest fires, its percentage and mean number of fires/year for countries inSouthern Europe

Table 6.3-2. Main causes of forest fires, its percentage and mean number of fires/year for countries inNorthern Europe

Table 6.3-3. Main type of negligence, its percentage for each country in Northern Europe

Table 6.3-4. Main type of negligence, its percentage for each country in Southern Europe

Table 6.3-5. Comparison of fuel reduction treatments according to different recent studies

Figure 2-1. Study logic showing links and interactions among WP1 Tasks

Figure 2-2. Cagliari Province, Italy

Figure 2-3 Bouches-du-Rhne, France

Figure 2-4. Valencia Autonomous Region

Figure 2-5. Pinhal Interior Norte, Portugal

Figure 3-1. http://www.dspace.org/

Figure 3-2. From individual ZOTERO databases to DSPACE

Figure 3-3. Ad-hoc SW application to perform the automate migration of ZOTERO RDF files to DSPACEenvironment

Figure 3-4. The different levels of the National System of Defense Against Forest Fires structure andthe different type of stakeholders involved in Italy

Figure 3-5. Number and percentage of AI entries by geographical level

Figure 3-6. Number and percentage of AI entries by item type

Figure 3-7. The different levels and type of stakeholders involved in France

Figure 3-8. Number of CEMAGREF entries by item type

Figure 3-9. The structure of Spanish Administration and the different type of stakeholders involved

Figure 3-10a. Main collaborations established in Spain Figure 3-10b. Areas of the information collectedin Spain
http://www.dspace.org/http://www.dspace.org/


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Figure 3-11. Percentage of entries from the test area (NUTS 2 and NUTS 3) by item type in EIMFORdatabase

Figure 3-12. Number of entries by Autonomous Regions and Percentage of participation of theAutonomous Regions of Spain in EIMFOR database

Figure 3-13. The different levels of the National System of Defense Against Forest Fires structure andthe different type of stakeholders involved

Figure 3-14. Percentage of FORESTIS entries according to the different item types identified

Figure 3-15. Percentages of each item type in the Technological collection

Figure 3-16. Countries represented in the Technological database and the corresponding beneficiary

Figure 3-17. Percentage of collaboration of each beneficiary in the Technological collection

Figure 3-18. Percentage of entries by geographic level in the Technological collection

Figure 3-19. Percentage of entries by beneficiary in the test area and in the national level, in theTechnological collection

Figure 3-20. Localization of test areas and the number of entries for each area, in the Technologicalcollection

Figure 3-21. Percentage of entries by item type in the Scientific collectionFigure 3-22. Wildfire Conference took place every four years and it is a meeting point of Managers,Technicians, Engineers, Scientifics and Politicians. The conclusions of thematic sessions, conferencesand the general conclusions offer a first step to develop a list of obstacles and to propose solutions

Figure 3-23. The E-library from EUFIRELAB web site (left) and Fire intuition tool (a Fire Paradoxoutcome) are the two main sources of information about scientific European documents related towildfire prevention in Europe

Percentage of FIRESMART topics based on advanced keywords searches in DSPACE

Figure 3-24. Percentage of entries according to the different topics, in the Scientific collection

Figure 3-25. Percentage of entries by country, in the Scientific collection

Figure 3-26. European countries with scientific information related to wildland fire prevention

Figure 3-27. European regions (NUTS2 and NUTS3) with scientific information related to wildland fireprevention

Figure 4-1. Number of questionnaires sent out to and received (answered) from stakeholders bybeneficiary

Figure 4-2. Percentage of completed questionnaires (answered) by country of the respondents

Figure 4-3. Map of European countries with respondents to the questionnaire on forest fire prevention

Figure 4-4. Percentage of completed (answered) questionnaires by fieldwork group of the respondents

Figure 4-5a. CEMAGREF: Number of questionnaires sent out and received (answered), grouping byfieldwork of the respondents

Figure 4-5b. AMBIENTE ITALIA: Number of questionnaires sent out and received (answered), groupingby fieldwork of the respondents

Figure 4-5c. CEPF: Number of questionnaires sent out and received (answered), grouping by fieldwork

of the respondentsFigure 4-5d. EIMFOR: Number of questionnaires sent out and received (answered), grouping byfieldwork of the respondents

Figure 4-5e. FORESTIS: Number of questionnaires sent out and received (answered), grouping byfieldwork of the respondents.

Figure 4-5f. INIA: Number of questionnaires sent out and received (answered), grouping by fieldworkof the respondents

Figure 6.1-1. ZOTERO instructions

Figure 6.1-2. Fields (left) and a template to fill the fields (right)

Figure 6.2-1 Test area 4: Dpartement Bouches du Rhne (France)

Figure 6.3-1. Distribution of fire frequency by causes in Northern European countries

Figure 6.3-2. Distribution of fire frequency by causes in Southern European countries

Figure 6.3-3. Comparison of fire frequency by causes in Northern Europe and Southern Europe

Figure 6.3-4. Break-down of causes due to negligence in Northern European countries

Figure 6.3-5. Break-down of causes due to negligence in Southern European countries


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Figure 6.3-6. Comparison of fire frequency by causes due to negligence/accident in Northern Europeand Southern Europe

Figure 6.3-7. Comparison of the distribution of fire frequency by causes in Europe (values calculatedaccording to tables 1 and 2) and in two provinces of Canada (values calculated on the period 2002-2007 for Alberta and 2002-2008 for Quebec, (Source: Ministry of natural resources, Canadian forestservices) and mean number of fires per year

Figure 6.3-8. Limiting fire size and fire consequences on the vegetation can be handled at thelandscape level and the stand level. In this study the focus is put on the stand level and examines theinfluence of stand structure and composition on resistance and resilience

Figure 6.3-9. Main parameters of crown fire behaviour. a) Flame lengths required to ignite conifercrowns as function of base height and for different foliage moisture content (Alexander, 1988; VanWagner, 1977) b) Rate of spread required for crown fires to be sustained as function of stand crownbulk density (Alexander,1988; Van Wagner, 1977) c) Crown fire spread rates for different slopes andwind speeds (Rothermel, 1991)

Figure 6.3-10. Different schematic spatial organisations of stands. a) disposition along an age anddimension gradient favourable to fire spread, b) disposition with vertical discontinuities moresusceptible to limit fire propagation

Figure 6.3-11. Usual types of thinning in even-aged stands. A theoretical distribution in diameterclasses is indicated (white bars) as well as the parts removed by thinning (grey bars). For each typemain characteristics possible advantages and drawbacks are indicated

Figure 6.3-12. Schematic stand structure types and susceptibility to fire risk according to a gradient ofmanagement. Each type of structure can be analysed as regards fire behaviour (crown fire, crownsurface), fire parameters (propagation, intensity) and fire severity (high, medium or low level ofdamages)


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1.PURPOSE OF THE DOCUMENTThe aim of this document is to present an overview of the current situation with regard to forest fireprevention in Europe, obtained by the collection and compilation of information from different sources.This is a preliminary step in research on forest fire prevention practices in European countries, and itis being followed by (i) an in-depth analysis of previously compiled information on these practices, inorder to identify gaps and obstacles that hamper prevention of unwanted fires. For this purpose aSWOT analysis of the current situation in fire prevention is being carried out taking into account socio-economic, institutional and legislative considerations (to be delivered in December), and finally (ii)elaboration of practical recommendations for forest fire prevention at local, National and Europeanlevels the methodological approach and the results obtained so far from the on-going SWOT analysis.

This report includes the work done from the 1st of February 2010 to the 31th of July 2010 (T0+6)

1.2.FIRESMART CONCEPTForests are systems in which a multitude of social, economic and environmental elements converge.The correct integration of these three aspects is key to the success of sustainable development. Thedevelopment of synergies between stakeholders is crucial for any Support Action. The concept ofFIRESMART is to connect different communities in relation to forest fire prevention.FIRESMART is thus envisaged as a tool that connects all those involved in fire prevention,particularly those involved in the silvicultural chain, that is: forest managers, land managers, firemanagers and policy makers, as well as forest-based industrial operators, ruraldevelopment associations and crop & livestock associations. The general public will also beaddressed in this Support Action because of the implications for protection of the environmentand, in particular, in the occurrence of fires (over 90% of fires in Mediterranean environment are

caused by man). Future problems associated with wildland fires in Europe will be highly dependent onsuccessful transfer of science and technology. In this sense, the FIRESMART Web page willconstitute a crucial tool for the communication and exchange of information between the stakeholdersin the field of forest fire prevention.

1.3.BACKGROUNDEffective forest fire prevention is a pre-requisite for good forest management in fire prone areas. Itinvolves complex implementation of different measures at various scales and levels, and isapproached by EU countries according to different methodological considerations and priorities,organizational, institutional and legal frameworks. Fire prevention integrates a broad spectrum ofactivities ranging from land and, in particular, forest management, along with raising publicawareness, environmental education and personnel training. Fire prevention also implies preparedness

and coordination among the different institutions involved in wildfire management and suppression.Legislation provides the legal framework for the different activities to be carried out and identifiesduties and responsibilities, as well as functions at the different scales. At a national/regional level, thelegal framework normally includes restrictions to control fire ignition in specific periods, especially inhigh risk areas. However, in most countries/regions there is no legislation requiring that forestmanagement plans are examined from the point of view of fire prevention effectiveness.

The current theories state that Living with recurrent wildfires requires a change of paradigm byshifting from a predominant short-term driven fire control policy towards longer-term policies aimed atacting on the structural causes of fires and integrating fire and forest management strategies. There isa need to integrate socio-economic realities and ecological imperatives (A Mediterranean Forestresearch Agenda 2010-2020). However, at least some preventative actions are taken, although theymay not be fully integrated in forest management, with the main driver being the availability of

financial resources.


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The complexity of the issue requires a sound science-based strategy, which is often poorly developedin many fire prone regions in the EU. There are currently no guidelines for forest fire prevention at theEU level. Unlike fire suppression activities where coordination among institutions and countries hasbeen achieved, a comprehensive approach regarding fire prevention activities has yet to be

developed. This should combine the activities (forecasting, planning, preparation and mitigation) ofthe great variety of institutions involved in fire prevention, whose effectiveness is clearly limited bythe lack of coordination between administrations.

Fire prevention measures should be scientifically based and practically validated, but this does notalways seem to be the case. Some practices appear to be insufficiently investigated or incorrectlyapplied, and detailed analysis of local conditions neglected. Traditional practices often play aninappropriate role and in many cases prevention practices are not updated regularly. Wildfireprevention must be considered as one of the pillars of integrated forest management and the need fora detailed careful evaluation of the present prevention approaches is widely recognized.

The aim of the FIRESMART project is to make a significant contribution to the prevention of unwantedforest fires by identifying obstacles and constraints for effective prevention, and by derivingrecommendations aimed at integrating fire prevention in sustainable forest management systems. Forthis purpose, the Consortium has already identified three major clusters of problems, related to thefollowing:

the scientific basis for prevention measures, the integration of prevention measures in forest management, the institutional roles and legal framework to be addressed.

Previously, in the framework of the EUFIRELAB project (2002-2006), state-of-the-art developmentswere carried out in the following nine domains: fuel description and modeling, fire behavior modeling,fire ecosystem functioning and biodiversity, socio-economy, decision support tools, fire measurementmethods, fire risks and hazards, fire suppression and interface management. Prior to the EUFIRELABproject, the EU had funded several research projects in the field of forest fires (SPREAD, WARM, FIRE

TORCH, SALTUS, FIRE STAR, FIRE PARADOX, EUROFIRE, etc), and which generated importantscientific information. FIRESMART will organize and make the base-knowledge in fire preventionavailable by applying standard criteria. This will affect the compilation and analysis of the currentstate-of-the-art in Europe, as well as (and this is a key point of this project), basic knowledgeconcerning fire prevention approaches (theories, policies and practices) used in different Europeancountries at different territorial levels and by different types of stakeholders (different administrativelevels, private forest owners, etc). This is considered an improvement on the currentscientific/technological status.

Despite the progress achieved in fundamental research for the Mediterranean region, practicalexperience highlights important limitations, which must be detected in order to develop suitablemeans of preventing unwanted fires, taking into account socio-economics, laws and policies, and thento achieve efficient transfer of science and technology, summarizing the existing knowledge and know-

how in this domain.


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1.4.ACRONYMSAcronyms used in this document and needing a definition are included in the following table:

Table 1-1. Acronyms

Acronym Definition

AI AMBIENTE ITALIA

CEMAGREF CENTRE NATIONAL DU MACHINISME AGRICOLE, DU GENIE RURAL, DES EAUX ETDES FORETS

CEPF CONFEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES PROPRIETAIRES FORESTIERS ASBL

DB Database

DOW Description of workEIMFOR ENTRENAMIENTO E INFORMACIN FORESTAL

EUFIRELAB European project of 5thFramework Programme. Euro-Mediterranean wildland firelaboratory, a wall-less Laboratory for Wildland Fire Sciences and Technologies inthe Euro-Mediterranean Region.

EUROFIRE European project of 6th Framework Programme An Innovative Approach toForest-Fire Detection and Monitoring

FIRE PARADOX European project of 6th Framework Programme. An innovative approach ofintegrated wildland fire management regulating the wildfires problems by the wiseuse of fire: solving the fire paradox.

FIRE STAR European project of 5th Framework Programme. A decision support system forfuel management and fire hazard reduction in Mediterranean wildland-urbaninterfaces.

FIRE TORCH European project of 5thFramework Programme. Prescribed burning as a tool forMediterranean Region: A management approach.

FORESTIS ASSOCIAAO FLORESTAL DE PROTUGAL

GMV GMV AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE S.A

INIA INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACION Y TECNOLOGIA AGRARIA YALIMENTARIA

JRC JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

NUT Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics

SALTUS European project of 4th Framework Programme: Spot fires: Knowledge andModeling

SPREAD European project of 4th

Framework Programme Forest Fire Prevention andmitigation

SRA Strategic Research Agenda

SWOT Strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths,Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business

WARM European project of 5th Framework Programme. Wildland-Urban Interface FireRisk Management.

WP Work Package

WUI Wildland Urban Interface
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/viewhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/nef/frontoffice/project/16125/view


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2. OBJECTIVES, TASKS AND DISTRIBUTION OF WORK

2.1.PROJECT OBJECTIVESThe overall goal of the FIRESMART project is to contribute to the prevention of unwanted forest firesfirstly by identifying obstacles that reduce the effectiveness of prevention measures, and secondly bymaking recommendations aimed at integrating fire prevention in regular forest management.

The main expected results involve the assessment of the available options to overcome the actualdifficulties in defining strategies and the subsequent proposal of recommendations and practicalguidelines for stakeholders involved in forest management. The role of incentives will also beaddressed. Finally, findings derived from the project, will represent the theoretical and practicalreference for the Consortium for the development of a strategic roadmap that will point the path tofollow in the future. This final document will contribute to define the future European Communityresearch and technological development policy in fire prevention as well as to identify synergies withother land planning policies related with forest fires (i.e.: agriculture, urban, risk management, civil

protection, land use). This strategic roadmap will also address the need to guarantee closerelationships among stakeholders facing the fire prevention issue at the different levels and tostrengthen prevention measures by adopting up-to-date management/evaluation processes (e.g. theCIP-Continuous Improvement Process) which constantly check and improve the overall strategy in thelight of its efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. In this way, FIRESMART is not only expected tocontribute to policy development, but also to the preparation of future Community research.

In the light of the above, to the work in FIRESMART project was broken down into thefollowing parts (each one corresponding to a work-package):

1. Identify and collection information about forest fire prevention practices applied in differentEuropean countries/regions (WP1)

2. Identify obstacles that may prevent a fire-smart land/forest management (WP2)3. Identify possible approaches and assess possible options to overcome the above-mentionedobstacles, taking into account the particular socio-economic, institutional and legislativeaspects in each case (WP3)

4. Derive recommendations and practical guidelines for stakeholders involved in the entiresustainable management chain of silviculture. These will cover institutional aspects, practicalmanagement advice and incentives to prevent unwanted forest fires (WP3)

5. Have an impact on integral management from regional to national and European level (WP4)

2.2.TASKS AND DISTRIBUTION OF WP12.2.1.OVERALL WP1 PLAN AND STUDY LOGIC

The overall WP1 work plan is grounded on a thorough knowledge and understanding of the fireprevention theories and practices currently in use in Mediterranean Europe.

WP1 was broken down into four Tasks (see Table 2-1 below), which are connected as shown in thestudy logic of Figure 2-1.


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Table 2-1. Tasks included in WP1

WP1

(TASK ID)

Task title Task coordinator, with supportfrom

Task 1. Compilation of the actualknowledge/practices from a Managerial andtechnological perspective

EIMFORCEMAGREF, AI, CEPF, FORESTIS

Task 1.2 Compilation of the actualknowledge/practices from a scientificperspective

CEMAGREF

(INIA. JRC)

Task 1.3 Integration of the information previouslycompiled and preliminary analysis.

INIA

(CEMAGREF, AI,CEPF, FORESTIS,EIMFOR

Task 1.4 Database design GMV

(AI)

Task 1.1.Compilation of actual knowledge/practices from a Managerial and technologicalperspective.

This task consisted in the retrieval of technical studies, reports and guidelines on the experiences andtypes of practices in forest fire prevention usually adopted at national and local levels.

Local data and information were crucial for this particular Task and for the whole project. Since it isnot possible to retrieve local data throughout the whole of Europe, four local test areas were identifiedas test cases. The test areas were selected because:

i) they represent areas that are particularly fire-prone, where fire prevention measures arebeing applied.

ii) they illustrate policy integration of policies (forestry, agriculture, rural development).Task 1.2. Compilation of the actual knowledge from a scientific perspective.

This task consisted of collecting the results of previous research projects in the different fields of fireprevention management. Inputs for this activity came from:

Scientific papers Deliverables of the EU-funded projects, such as EUFIRELAB, FIRE PARADOX, FIRE STAR, WARM Reports of national research projects. Other worldwide sources such as web pagesTask 1.3.Integration of the information previously compiled and preliminary analysis.

A preliminary analysis of the information retrieved in Task 1.1 and Task 1.2 was carried out. In

addition, a questionnaire was specifically developed in order to collect from European experts information concerning: efficiency and consequences of current management practices, restrictions,legal issues, social and communication activities in terms of wildfire prevention.

Task 1.4. Database design.

A database was designed to maintain the documents compiled in Task 1.1 and Task1.2, and tofacilitate the further thematic analysis of this information. The FIRESMART database will be anaccess-restricted Network Working Area as a permanent communication tool to support storageand sharing of documents and data. This restricted area is available to the FIRESMART participants viaa secure Web-based interface accessed by means of a personal username and password. Differentusers can access the system with different functionalities according to their specific user profile.

The links and interactions among tasks are shown in Figure 2-1.


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Figure 2-1. Study logic showing links and interactions among WP1 Tasks

In addition, in FIRESMART project, the WPs are chained, and the WP1 was designed to provide inputs

to WP2, WP2 will use those inputs and provided and added value that will be used in WP3 and so on.

2.2.2.WP1 MULTISCALE AND MULTI-PERSPECTIVE APPROACHThe information was retrieved taking into account two main perspectives: A managerial andtechnological approach, and a scientific approach, and at different territorial levels: from local toEuropean level.

Excluding the published material, which was retrieved from different sources in the field of forest fireprevention, the rest of the material was mainly retrieved from exhaustive investigations carried out infour test areas, in order to study their practices and strategies in forest fire prevention. Theinformation retrieved from this local level, was complemented with the information obtained fromother territorial levels (regional, national, European).

The following local test areas were chosen by the beneficiaries of the Consortium FIRESMART involvedin this work: Cagliari in Italy (AMBIENTE ITALIA), Bouches du Rhne in France (CEMAGREF), ValenciaAutonomous region in Spain (EIMFOR) and Pinhal interior in Portugal (FORESTIS).

These test areas were selected because of being particularly active in fire prevention served to threemain purposes:

1. To be used as examples of practical management (as these areas are particularly prone to fireoccurrence), identifying main advances and limitations in forest fire prevention.

2. To be used as validation for follow up of the final recommendations.3.

To exchange information with the local/regional stakeholders during personal meetingsorganized in the test areas.

Bellow a brief description of each test area is given:


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TEST AREA 1: Cagliari Province, Italy

This area is located in the South-eastern part of Sardinia (Figure 2-2). It has an extension of 689,539

ha and it shows three different areas: the Capidano Plane in the central part, a mainly agriculturalarea, and two mountainous regions, in the east and the west. About 40% of the test area is coveredby forests which represent about 25% of all Sardinian woodland. The site landscape is a mixture ofMediterranean vegetation types and therefore it is considered particularly sensitive to fire.

Figure 2-2. Cagliari Province, Italy

Forest fires in the Province of Cagliari take place mainly in the eastern and western part, while thecentral plane is less affected. The main causes are here voluntary ignition (70%); involuntary causescover 17.5% of the fire events, while 11.5% remain of unknown origin.

TEST AREA 2: Bouches-du-Rhne, France

The French study area is located in south-eastern France in the Metropolitan area between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille (Figure 2-3). It comprises around 167,670 ha corresponding to 59municipalities. Forestland represents 60% of its surface area, 20% is used for urban purposes and20% for agricultural purposes. There is a high level of urbanization (420 inhabitants km -2) and highurban pressure. This will make this area particularly interesting as a pilot case to examine forest fireprevention policies and practices

Figure 2-3. Bouches-du-Rhne, France

TEST AREA 3: Valencia Autonomous Region, Spain

This Autonomous Region is located in the East of Spain (Figure 2-4) and it is composed by threeprovinces: Castelln, Valencia and Alicante. It has 5 094,675 inhabitants (year 2009), representingthe 11% of Spanish population.

The extension of the Autonomous Region is 2 342,981 ha. About the 48% of this surface is forested

area. It is divided in eleven regions for the forest management, with a surface of around 200,000 ha.

The orography is very abrupt and irregular, the climate is Mediterranean with vegetation adapted toforest fires.


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Figure 2-4. Valencia Autonomous Region

TEST AREA 4: Pinhal Interior Norte, Portugal

This area is in the Center Region of Portugal (Figure 2-5). It occupies approximately 261,663 ha(grouping 14 municipalities) and has 53 inhabitants km-2. The population density is decreasing and theage index is increasing in most municipalities that are part of the test area.

Figure 2-5. Pinhal Interior Norte, Portugal

Forest stands in the area occupy 133,030 ha (the two main species are maritime pine - 52% andeucalyptus - 35%) and other woodland areas occupy an area of 80,389 ha. The area is severelyaffected by forest fires.

The fire prevention topics considered in the four local test areas, as well as at other territory levels areshown in Table 2-2.


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Table 2-2. Fire prevention-related topics considered in FIRESMART

Fire prevention-related topicsAgroforestryAwareness and communication-related activitiesExisting actions aimed at conciliating interests, including volunteer programmesFire risk/Fire dangerIntegrated forest management systemsInvestigation of fire causesLegislationPoliticsPlanningPreventive infrastructuresPreventive silviculture, including use of fire

StatisticsSurveillanceTraining coursesWildland-Urban interfaces


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3. METHODS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK PERFORMED

3.1.COMPILATION AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF CURRENTKNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES IN FOREST FIRE PREVENTION

FIRESMART bases on the compilation of an important amount of documentation regarding fireprevention theories and practices (see Section 3.2). In order to systematically organize the collectionof information by independent project teams a database was designed according to a structure thatcould satisfy the analyses needs previously identified.

Once the structure was agreed, the actual database was then built in two stages:

(i) Databases were built by each partner involved in Task 1.1 (Technological collection), Task1.2 (Scientific collection), and Task 1.3 (preliminary analysis of the information compiledin the Technological and Scientific collections and designing a questionnaire on forest fireprevention)

(ii) Local databases were transferred and integrated into an open access single database fromnow on called FIRESMART database (Task 1.4)

To feed the database the Consortium teams devoted their efforts to identify and retrieve materialrelevant to the project purposes by consulting directly or indirectly several information sources. In afirst step this information was gathered by each team independently in accordance with the agreeddistribution of the work. Each team then uploaded it into an independent database that followed thegeneral structure provided (see Table 3-1 below).

3.1.1. FIRESMART DATABASE ESTRUCTUREThe design of the FIRESMART database structure was carried out by brainstorming and discussionduring the Kick Off meeting (08/04/2010), based on a preliminary proposal by the INIA team. The

fields required to compile basic information from technical and scientific point of views were defined.The database had to be able cope with the following facts:

The large amount of information to be stored and organized The heterogeneous nature of the information The fact that the information was going to be compiled, independently, by different teams and

in different countries

The need for the information to be documented so that it could then be organized, accordingto certain criteria, into the database for further exploitation.

The criteria established to define each field and database content were determined and agreed inorder to comply with two main objectives: (i) The ability to compile a large number of documents andcontents (ii) The definition of contents to help development of SWOT analysis in subsequent periods(WP2).

The main fields defined and database contents were as shows Table 3-1 (see more details in Annex1).


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Table 3-1. FIRESMART database structure

Field Field name in the database Values

Type of document: this field classifies thetype of item according to the type ofdocument selected. Taking into account thatseveral types of documents were studied

Item type Alphanumerical code: Eighteendifferent types of documents (seeAnnex 1)

Title, author, date, publication, Volume,Issue, Pages, identifier (ISSN, DOI, ISBN)and web-links: different fields define basicitems that will define the entry

Title

Author

Date.issued

Publication.title

Publication.volume

Publication.issue

Publication.pages

Identifier.doi/issn/isbn

Identifier.uri

Text

Text

Numerical value (year)

Text

Numerical value

Numerical value

Numerical value

Alphanumerical code

Web link

Abstract and keywords: this field containaccurate descriptive words that will draw thereader to the content

Description.abstract

Subject

Text

Text

Language Language Text

Geographical level: this field was defined toclassify the references at local, regional andcountry level according to the Europeanadministrative limits

Scope

Geocode

Numeric value

NUT codes (alphanumerical)

Group of stakeholders most interested:this field was defined to classify references inorder of expected interest to three different

groups of stakeholders: managers,researchers and politicians

Stakeholders Alphanumerical code

Preliminary information for SWOT: thisfield was defined to obtain information thatmay be useful for SWOT analysis in WP2

Notes Free text field

Topics: search criteria had to be defined inorder to obtain information regarding alltopics defined in DoW)

Description Fifteen different topics related towildland fire prevention weredefined (Table 2-2 )

Attached archives: each reference canattach archives including text and additionalinformation

Attach files tool Text, maps, photos, videorecordings

3.1.2.INTEGRATING THE INDEPENDENT DATABASES INTO A UNIQUE DB:FIRESMART DBA Mozzilla browser plug-in called ZOTERO was selected by FIRESMART teams to implement thedesigned database structure and thus to compile the fire prevention information locally (each team intheir respective office). The main reasons for selecting this tool were that:

It is an open-source database It is a powerful, easy-to-use tool that helps in the collection, organization, and analysis of

sources and subsequent sharing of research results

It is easily accessible from Mozzilla browser: http://www.zotero.org/Zotero is a non-customizable database, so the solution adopted was to use Zotero fields and tools toadapt the previously defined fields and contents (Table 3-1). The result was a defined internaldocument (Zotero instructions, Annex 1) used by partners to ensure the coherence of the databasecontents.


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Yet, ZOTERO plug-in is a tool living in each PCs individual Web-browser, that is: it is a personal toolthat in the frame of FIRESMART enabled the coherent compilation of prevention material (in digitalformat) by independent participating teams. As explained above the consistency among the individualrepositories was guaranteed by a common database structure and a guide to upload references inZOTERO database previously circulated among these teams.

In spite of its advantages ZOTERO does not facilitate the sharing of resources through the Web. Asthis is a requirement for FIRESMART purposes, the need arose to evaluate different alternatives thatcould enable the open sharing of material. After testing several tools, it was decided that the bestoption to provide Web-access to the documents compiled in FIRESMART would be DSPACE software(http://www.dspace.org/) (Figure 3-1)

DSPACE is an opensource Document Management System initially developed by the MIT and HpCompany under the concept of Open knowledge sharing. This SW is currently being used worldwideby a large community of users and developers and among them educational, government, private and

commercial institutions to build their Open digital repositories(http://www.dspace.org/introducing/dspace-video.html).

This SW can manage and preserve all types of digital contents, and moreover it is completelycustomizable so it could be customized for FIRESMART needs. In summary DSPACE was chosen tomanage, provide access to, preserve and share digital contents (all types) compiled in FIRESMARTproject mainly because of the following reasons:

It is an opensource tool.

It enables open (Web) sharing of content that spans organizations, continents and time.

It is in fact a Document Management System, and this is of the interest for FIRESMARTdatabase exploitation during and after the project.

It can be customized for the storage and exploitation of FIRESMART material.It can be integrated in FIRESMART Web site.

Figure 3-1. http://www.dspace.org/

Once DSPACE was selected the next step was to migrate the ZOTERO references previously compiledto this new environment. This had to be done in a secure an automatic way. Next Section describesthe procedure followed.

3.1.2.1.Migrating the information to a unique web-accessible databaseAs explained above fire prevention material was collected by several FIRESMART teams on individualbasis. Each team built a personal database with the most relevant documents found at the nationaland local level in Europe, but also worldwide (with scientific material). Two teams, EIMFOR and INIA,
http://www.dspace.org/http://www.dspace.org/http://www.dspace.org/http://www.dspace.org/introducing/dspace-video.htmlhttp://www.dspace.org/introducing/dspace-video.htmlhttp://www.dspace.org/introducing/dspace-video.htmlhttp://www.dspace.org/http://www.dspace.org/http://www.dspace.org/introducing/dspace-video.htmlhttp://www.dspace.org/


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were then in charge of grouping these under two different criteria i) Technological/Managerial and ii),EIMFOR and INIA scientific references. The two resulting databases (Figure 3-2) were made up byboth, the bibliographic references properly documented and the associated file/s (e.g. PDFdocuments/s). Both were finally exported to a ZOTERO interchange format (RDF format).

ZOTERO 2ZOTERO 1 ZOTERO 4

SCIENTIFIC DB

ZOTERO 5 ZOTERO 6

TECHNICAL- MNGDB

ZOTERO

INTRUCTIONS

RDF file RDF file

Figure 3-2. From individual ZOTERO databases to DSPACE

ZOTERO interchange format (RDF) cannot be directly imported in DSPACE. Therefore it was necessaryto develop and ad-hoc SW application to perform the automate migration of ZOTERO RDF files toDSPACE environment (Figure 3-3). This was solved using a Java code. The first step of this migrationwas the replication of ZOTERO structure of fields in the DSPACE environment. Additionally several

tests were made using a testing database to make sure that the migration could be performedautomatically and that all ZOTERO field were properly read.

Figure 3-3. Ad-hoc SW application to perform the automate migration of ZOTERO RDF files to DSPACEenvironment

One of the advantages of DSPACE is that it is customizable. As said above the tool was customized to

be able to read and store every ZOTERO Field as designed in the previous phase. Besides theingestion of references in DSPACE it is also possible to customize the Web interface adapting it to theneeds of the project. Although the current version is just a draft we have already inserted in the mainpage an introduction, the project and the FP7 logo among other general aspects of the project. Thiswork is on-going and will be finished in the next months. In any case it will be finished by the momentthe FIRESMART web site will be open to the public (foreseen for February 2011).

Regarding also the customization, three different profiles have been created in DSPACE:Administrator, registered users and normal users. Normal users can browse among all references andaccess the associated documents. Registered users can submit new references, view statistics on themost consulted items and receive (if they wish) an email every time a new reference is uploaded.

The administrator manages the different authorizations and customizes both the database and Toolinterface. In DSPACE there is normally a distinction between Communities (like Departments) and Collections (a subset of a Community). For FIRESMART we have created one Community,FIRESMART, and two separated collections, one for storing the Technological-Managerial material,


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containing mainly information retrieved at the local scale in the four pilot areas: TechnologicalCollection, and the other for storing the Scientific material: Scientific Collection.

3.2.SOURCES, COMPILATION METHODS AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSISOF THE RESULTS

This subsection is organized in two parts. The first one concerns compilation and preliminary analysisof the Technological and managerial material carried out by AI, CEMAGREF, CEPF, EIMFOR andFORESTIS. The second one concerns compilation and preliminary analysis of the scientific materialcarried out by CEMAGREF, INIA, and JRC.

The division of the material into Technological/Managerial (Task 1.2) and Scientific (Task 1.2) issomehow artificial, and that it was done for two main reasons:

- To facilitate the distribution of the work among beneficiaries- To enable the analysis from different perspective

3.2.1.COMPILATION OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND MANAGERIAL MATERIALThe objective of the Task 1.1 was to retrieve management and technological studies, reports,guidelines and other type of information (published or unpublished material) about the experiencesand practices adopted at the national and local level in forest fire prevention.

The compilation of the material was done in different levels: Local, National and European level. Mostof the work has been focused in the local level through the four Test Areas because they represent fireprone areas in which fire prevention measures are being applied through the integration of policies.

3.2.1.1.Sources of information and methodological approachThe collection and analysis of relevant information regarding fire prevention within the projectFIRESMART was performed on the bases of an approach which considers the specific administrativeorganization of each country.

The partners worked at the three levels differed one from another due to the different system ofadministration, land planning and public/private forest management of each country.

To clarify these aspects, the work done by each partner is described by country with the samestructure: sources of information, methodology followed and specific conclusions.

The Technological/Managerial material was compiled by the beneficiaries AMBIENTE ITALIA,CEMAGREF, CEPF, EIMFOR and FORESTIS as shows Table 3-2 below. In this task, EIMFOR was thecoordinating team.

Table 3-2. Work areas by country and level of work

AREA PARTNERLOCALLEVEL

NATIONALLEVEL

ITALY AMBIENTE ITALIA X XFRANCE CEMAGREF X XEUROPE CEPF - XSPAIN EIMFOR X XPORTUGAL FORESTIS X X

The methodology to request the material was:Elaborate a database of contacts, if it doesnt exist, in national and local level to identify thepotential sources of relevant information.


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Contact with the main stakeholders and send a FIRESMART summary/letter introducing theproject.

Request of information and organizing meetings.

Elaborate a database with the material requested with ZOTERO tool.

The material compiled in this task was classified by the partners, following INIA instructions to fill theZOTERO database, in:

Table 3-3. Type of material requested by partners

BOOK MAP

BOOK SECTION POWER POINT PRESENTATION

COMPUTER PROGRAM SCIENTIFIC REPORT

CONFERENCE PAPER TECHNICAL REPORT

DOCUMENT STATUTE

INTERVIEW THESIS

JOURNAL ARTICLE (SCI PUBLICATION) VIDEO RECORDING

MAGAZINE ARTICLE (NO SCI PUBLICATION) WEB PAGE


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3.2.1.2.In ItalyAMBIENTE ITALIA is a private consultancy operating in all Italian regions providing services in theareas of renewable, compliance and permitting, corporate sustainability, planning and environmentalimpact assessment, sustainable development

Its activity regarding forests is focused on the promotion of sustainable management of naturalresources including forest protection and fire prevention.

It should be highlighted that referring to forest management and, more in general, to the agriculturaland forestry sectors, Italy displays a substantially federal organization of the Administration accordingto an amendment of 2001 to the Italian Constitution which has brought some decentralization in thisfield (Figure 3-4).

The Regions are thus responsible for defining the forest management guidelines, plan the firepreventing measures, ensure fire fighting activities in case forests or pasture land are involved.National bodies like the National Forest Service (CFS) continue to play a role both in law enforcementand civil protection activities. The role of CFS differs from region to region according to localresolutions. The Central Government *Department of Civil Protection* is responsible for thecoordination of different activities at national level (definition of national strategies and guidelines,intervention of aerial forces, intervention coordination in case of major incidents/disasters).

The activity carried out by AMBIENTE ITALIA considered two levels of the Administration: a nationallevel and a local level. The latter refers to the regional Administrations as their offices are responsiblefor defining the local forest policy and management strategies. From the point of view of forestmanagement we considered more specifically the territory of the Province of Cagliari (Test area).

Figure 3-4. The different levels of the National System of Defence Against Forest Fires structure andthe different type of stakeholders involved in Italy

MOST RELEVANT ACTIONS

At the beginning of the activities defined in Task 1.1 the institutions considered as potential sources ofrelevant information were contacted (Table 3-4), sending a letter introducing the FIRESMART project.


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Direct contacts followed and meetings were organized. These personal contacts favored theestablishment of positive relationships and an unrestricted access to the information requested.

Table 3-4. Main institutions contacted in Italy

Concerned topics Sources

National level

Forest management (inventory data) Forest offices of several Italian Regions; NationalForest Service (CFS); Ambiente Italia, Ambiente& Diritto

Fire statistics National Institute for Statistics

(ISTAT)

Coordination of fire fighting activities

Prevention plans in protected areas

Awareness and prevention measures (addressing the public)

Civil Protection Department (PC)

Research activities Research Center for Silviculture (CRA)Universities

LOCAL LEVEL NUTS III Cagliari ProvinceForest policy

Forest fire management guidelines and strategy

Infrastructure planning

Regione Sardegna

Forest fire management

Prevention plans

Civil protection plans

Awareness and prevention measures (addressing the public)

Statistical data

Infrastructure management

Corpo forestale e di vigilanza Ambientale dellaSardegna

Other prevention campaigns Provincia di Cagliari

Forest management plans of public forests

Fire management plans

Ente regionale Foreste della Sardegna

Fire research (modelling) Universit degli Studi di Sassari

Fire prevention and fire prevention at local level Professional associations; (foresters, farmers);Voluntary firemen

Public awareness razing ONG

The meetings with the stakeholders highlighted some interesting aspects of the fire prevention issue

which will be further analysed more in depth.

At the moment of writing this report 231 items were collected and uploaded in the FIRESMARTdatabase (Technological collection). Most of the publications collected refer to scientific or technical journal papers, followed by studies and analysis regarding fire prevention policy (legal aspects andstrategies) and technical results (Figure 3-5).

Publications referring to the national level are by far more represented but are often related to issuesof regional interest which are managed according to a national strategy (e.g. prevention of forest firesin national parks and other protected areas).


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Figure 3-5. Number and percentage of AIentries by geographical level

GEOGRAPHICAL LEVEL N

SARDINIA REGION - 36 items

45TEST AREA (P.A.) - 9 itemsNATIONAL LEVEL 177

OTHER 9

TOTAL 231

The prevailing type of items collected are conference papers and journal articles (Figure 3-6), thisunderlining that forest policies and fire prevention guidelines have, in order of being effective, to beshared and discussed among several institutions and the public.

Figure 3-6. Number and percentage of AI entries by item type

The content of the material collected underwent a brief analysis showing that:

Fire prevention is addressed by several institutions, both at national and local level,

Fire prevention activities are not homogenously distributed at national level, and show anirregular time trend at local level,

The distribution of the material among the issues initially listed highlights that some topicsconsidered are scarcely addressed,

Few material is the result of activities carried out in cooperation between research institutionsand forest management agencies,

Most of the information collected is freely accessible.

ITEM TYPE A.I.

BOOK 13

BOOK SECTION 1

CONFERENCE PAPER 69

DOCUMENT 32

INTERVIEW 1

JOURNAL ARTICLE (SCIPUBLICATION)

59

MAP 8

PRESENTATION (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)

2

SCIENTIFIC REPORT 8

TECHNICAL REPORT 18

THESIS 10

VIDEO RECORDING 1

WEB PAGE 9

TOTAL 231


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3.2.1.3.In FranceCEMAGREF is a public research institute that targets results directly useable in land and watermanagement. The goal is to produce new knowledge and technical innovations for use by managers,decision-makers and companies in providing answers to the specific question raised by societyconcerning resource management, land use and development.

From national level to local level, the national plans concern mainly the protection against forest firespolicies; the risk management and the prevention watch (aerial and terrestrial). Different ministries ofthe French Government are in charge of these plans: Ministries of Agriculture, Environment andInterior, but the National Forest Office (ONF) as well (see Figure 3-7 the levels and stakeholdersinvolved).

At regional level, regional plans concern the fire risk prevention (PPRIF), the forest protection againstfires (PPFCI), the forest management, fire cause investigation and the daily fire risk index. Different

entities manage these plans: the civil protection at regional level (CIRCOSC), the regional andterritorial prefectures, the regional environment institute (DREAL), the delegation to the protection ofthe Mediterranean Forest (DPFM), the Entente interdpartementale pour la protection de la fort,ONF, and the pluridisciplinary team working on fire causes investigation.

At local level, the plans concern the mandatory brush-clearing around houses, municipal and territorialforest management plans, municipal urban plans and municipal fire risk prevention. Themunicipalities, civil protection at territorial level (SDIS 13 and 83), Direction dpartementale desterritories et de la mer (DDTM) and ONF mainly manage these plans.

Figure 3-7. The different levels and type of stakeholders involved in France

The regulation on fire prevention at local level comes from the regulation at national level (code

forestier, ministerial orders, etc.). The information retrieved at this level comes from the same sourcethan the one previously given (see Annex 6.2).


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The French test area has been studied for several years by CEMAGREF and the information used forthis part of the work comes from CEMAGREFs own database (statutes on fire prevention,technological reports, web site, etc.) and Promthe fire database for the fire causes (see Annex 6.2).

At national and local level, the database was complete with the most relevant references on forest fireprevention, mainly related to the regulation in force at the different level.

In the Table 3-5 there is a scheme of the sources in national and local level responsible of thedifferent items defined in Task 1.1.

Table 3-5. Main institutions contacted in France


National level

Forest management (inventory data) National Forest Office (ONF)

Fire statistics Promthe Database on forest fires insoutheastern France

Fire fighting policies Ministry of Interior, Ministry ofAgriculture

Research activities INRA, CEMAGREF, Universities

Fire protection planning Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry ofEcology, Prfectures (PPFCI, PPR)

LOCAL LEVEL NUTS III Dpartement Bouches du Rhne

Forest policyForest fire management guidelines and strategy

Infrastructure planning

Conseil Rgional Provence-Alpes-CtedAzur, Conseil Gnral Bouches duRhne (13)

Forest fire management

Prevention plans

Civil protection plans

Statistical data

Infrastructure management

ONF,

DDTM (ex DDAF)

SDIS 13

Promthe database

Conseil Gnral 13

Forest management plans of public forests

Fire management plans

Urban plan

ONF

ONF, DDTM

Municipalities

Fire research INRA, CEMAGREF, Universit Aix-Marseille

Fire prevention at local level Professional associations

(foresters, farmers)

Voluntary firemen

Public awareness raising ONG (OFME), Conseil Rgional PACA,Municipalities

Formation of FIRE Fighters, test of equipment, protectionequipments mapping

ENTENTE (inter-departemental publicinstitute)


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ITEM TYPENATIONALLEVEL TEST AREA

DOCUMENT 1

TECHNICAL REPORT 2 3

STATUTE 4 7

WEB PAGE 2

THESIS 1

TOTAL 6 14

DOCUMENT7%

TECHNICALREPORT

22%

STATUTE50%

WEB PAGE14%

THESIS7%

CEMAGREF

NUMBER OF ITEMS / TYPE

Figure 3-8. Number of CEMAGREF entries by item type

All these material belong to the local (Dpartement Bouches du Rhone) or regional (Rgion PACA)levels except 3 statutes belonging to the national level. The statutes ones (62%) and the technicalreports (23%) are the most representative information. The Annex 6.2 contains much moreexhaustive information.

The content of the material in the database is relevant to the forest fire prevention especially at localor regional levels that are the most subject to fire risk in France. The information cover mainly fireprevention, especially concerning the regulation in force around fires.


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3.2.1.4.In Central and Eastern EuropeNATIONAL LEVEL

CEPF, as the umbrella organization for European forest owners associations, gathered informationmainly by sending out information about the project to the members of the organization together witha request to them to share and send in material. Within the CEPF this communication was done mainlythrough the Members Update, a fortnightly new letter that is sent out to all members and interestedparties. This newsletter reaches approximately 130 specific persons directly, and indirectly manymore.

The interest for providing information about forest fires was relatively high and several files werecollected. The external contacts of the CEPF network have also been used to gather up moreinformation. Direct contacts were made also to known experts in our non-member contacts network.Internet surfing has also been used to find information in some of the countries where the voluntaryparticipation has been low. However, this method didnt provide any extra information in the countrieswhere material is not mainly published in English.

All of the CEPF members organizations (see Table 3-6) have been asked to provide the same

information, that is information about forest fires, forest fire prevention and forest fire legislation andactivities in their region/country/county.

Table 3-6. Organizations link to CEPF

Country Name of the organisation

Albania Albanian Forest Owners Organisation

Austria Land & Forst Betriebe Steiermark

Belgium Socit Royale Forestire de Belgique

Czech Republic Association of Municipal and Private Forest Owners Czech Republic

Denmark Skovforeningen (Danish Forest Association)

Estonia Eramets (Estonian Private Forest Union)

Finland MTK (Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners)

France Foret Privee Franaise

Germany AGDW (German Forest Owner Association)

Greece Forest Owner Association Greece

Hungary Association of Hungarian Private Forest Owners

Ireland ITGA (Irish Timber Grower Association)

Latvia Forest Owners Association Latvia (Mezaipasnieki)

Lithuania Forest Owners Association of Lithuania

Luxembourg Letzebuerger Privatbesch

Norway Norges Skogeierforbund

Portugal CAP (Confederation of Agriculture of Portugal)

SlovakiaAssociation of Slovakian Forest Owners (nia regionalnych zdruzenivlastnikov lesov Slovenska)

Spain COSE (Confederation of Spanish Forest Owners Organisations)

ARCMED (Mediterranian Forest Owners Association)

Sweden LRF Skogsgarna (Lantbrukarnas Riksfrbund)

Switzerland WVS (Waldwirtschaft Schweiz)

The Netherlands FPG (Dutch Land Owners Organisation)

United Kingdom ConFor (The Confederation of Forest Industries )


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3.2.1.5.In SpainEIMFORwas the team coordinating the retrieval of management and technological material (WP1.1).

EIMFOR, is a private enterprise specialized in training and expert technical assistance in the forestrysector. The main activity is the provision of environmental services in the area of integrated defenseagainst forest fires, for Autonomous and National Forest Service.

In the case of Spain, the organization of Administration according to the Spanish Constitution isdecentralized into the Autonomous Regions (first political level of Spain). The Autonomous Regions areresponsible of defining forest management actions. The role of National Forest Service differs fromregion to region according to local resolutions. The Central Government is responsible of thecoordination of different activities at national level, defined in the Figure 3-9.

The methodology used to compile and analyze the most relevant information took into account thestructure, hierarchy and different levels of the National and Autonomic Forest Service and the differenttype of stakeholders involved as it is shown in the Figure 3-9.

Figure 3-9. The structure of Spanish Administration and the different type of stakeholders involved

MOST RELEVANT ACTIONS

LOCAL/REGIONAL LEVEL INFORMATION

The Spanish test area defined on the proposal (Valencia province) was modified because someimportant material retrieved concern the level of the Autonomous Region, and not only the provincial.

In order to get access to the information of interest, EIMFOR contacted first with the local managers toinform them about the progress of the FIRESMART project and initiate the collaboration. A report waselaborates with the items to collect the information and a draft of an index to ensure to obtain theprincipal working files of the test area.

A three days visit to the test area was organized on May 19th 2010. The objective of the meeting was:

Check the material contributed (report by EIMFOR). Have access to data, studies and other relevant information.


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Visit some preventive infrastructures, an auto protection plan, some natural parks, and talkwith some surveillance workers and responsible of preventive actions and preventive plans.

NATIONAL LEVEL INFORMATIONThe national contact was done taking into account the hierarchy defined in our Public Administrationto ensure the support and the collaboration of the different levels in the project, that is:

1st.MARM - Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs2nd.CLIF (Committee of Forest Fire Fighting - Public Managers). The result was

different collaborations (national level).

3rd.National Forest Service4th.Private and Semipublic Companies5th.Associations of Environmental Education6th.Forestry Owners Associations

Table 3-9. Main institutions contacted in Spain


National level

Fire statisticsAwareness and prevention measures (addressing the public)TrainingSpecific Actions in Preventive Silviculture and burning

Environmental, rural andmarine affairs Department

Awareness and prevention campaigns ONGs

Awareness and prevention campaignsTraining

PROFOR(.

Forest fire managementForest management plans

Associations of Forest Owners

Communication reports CCOO (Communist LaborUnion)

Forest policyIntegrated Forestry Management SystemProjects of Silviculture directed to preventionForest fire management guidelines and strategyFire fighting Infrastructures PlansForest-urban interface plans and actionsForest plans of SurveillanceInterest conciliation actionsAwareness and communication actionsVolunteer programsTrainingAgreements between forest public administration and electric/traincompanies.

Environmental Department inall Autonomous Region ofSpain, National ForestService

Local Level Autonomous Region of ValenciaForest policyIntegrated Forestry Management SystemProjects of Silviculture directed to preventionForest fire management guidelines and strategyFire fighting Infrastructures PlansForest-urban interface plans and actionsForest plans of SurveillanceInterest conciliation actionsAwareness and communication actionsVolunteer programsTrainingAgreements between forest public administration and electric/traincompanies.

Consejera de MedioAmbiente de la GeneralitatValenciana (EnvironmentalDepartment in theAutonomous region ofValencia)

Interest conciliation actions

Awareness and communication actionsFire fighting Infrastructures PlansProjects of Silviculture directed to prevention

Local Forestry

Associations;Municipalities; Privateenterprises


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The Autonomous Region of Valencia, Catalua, Andaluca, Asturias, Castilla y Len and Islas Balearesprovided us some management files, not published material that is used in each area.

As a result of this contacts, main collaborations were established through most of the Spanishterritory, as can be seen Figure 3-10a, b.

Figure 3-10a. Main collaborations established inSpain

Figure 3-10b. Areas of the information collected inSpain

At national and local level, the database was completed with the result of several searches on line.

The following visits EIMFOR scheduled to different parts of Spain in order to have access to data,studies and other relevant information:

Autonomous Region of Madrid (1 day June-). EIMFOR visited the most recent preventiveinfrastructures actions implemented. EIMFOR was accompanied by public managers and agroup of fire prevention workers.

Ministry (MARM), (1 day- July-) The Ministry is very interested in the project and accepts tocollaborate with it. They contribute with some material to be analyzed and then uploaded inthe database.

Some of the Autonomous Regions keep in contact with us to contribute with more information to theproject and update the database with new technological material.

The quantitative analysis of Tables is shown below with its corresponding graphics. At the moment ofwriting this report, EIMFOR has gathered in the database 244 items from almost all regions of Spainand that correspond to all topics defined and presented in Table 2-2.

The pri

R1 Prevention Knowledge and Practices

Documents

Transcript of R1 Prevention Knowledge and Practices