Forest fires are no longer a temporary environmental threat but one of the greatest and most complex resilience crises facing the European Union. Wildfires increasingly threaten not only forests, but also human lives, settlements, infrastructure, water resources, the rural economy, biodiversity, cultural heritage and the social cohesion of local communities. Addressing this challenge requires four key actions: transforming wildfire management from an emergency policy into a policy of strategic resilience; placing greater emphasis on prevention; strengthening the role of local and regional authorities; improving the use of knowledge, technology and funding; and ensuring the active participation of society as a whole.
Presenting his views on the upcoming Committee of the Regions opinion on Integrated Wildfire Risk Management, Dimitrios Kafantaris, Municipal Councillor of Pylos–Nestoros, stressed that: "The fires of the future will not be confronted merely with more suppression resources, but with better-prepared communities and more resilient landscapes." A central pillar of the approach is the stronger involvement of municipalities and regions in wildfire risk management. Local and regional authorities possess first-hand knowledge of vulnerable areas, local needs and operational challenges on the ground. Their active participation in the design, implementation and monitoring of wildfire risk management strategies is essential to ensure that policies are effective and adapted to local realities.
The opinion also highlights the importance of landscape resilience as a prerequisite for reducing wildfire risk. This requires active land management, the preservation of agricultural and livestock activities, sustainable forest management and support for local land managers. Farmers, livestock breeders and foresters play a vital role in maintaining resilient landscapes through their practical knowledge and day-to-day stewardship of the land. In this context, the abandonment of rural areas is not only a social or demographic challenge but also an increasing civil protection concern.
Another key challenge concerns technological and administrative preparedness. Many local and regional authorities still face limited access to modern data tools, risk forecasting models, digital monitoring systems and artificial intelligence applications. Smaller municipalities and remote regions often lack the personnel and technical support necessary to make full use of advanced tools such as the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Destination Earth and sophisticated risk-modelling systems. Strengthening local administrative capacity and ensuring access to these technologies will therefore be critical for improving preparedness and prevention.
The proposed approach covers the entire cycle of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. It recognises that resilience against wildfires is not solely the responsibility of public authorities but requires the engagement of local communities, citizens and stakeholders across society.
The Committee of the Regions is expected to discuss and adopt the opinion on Integrated Wildfire Risk Management in the NAT commission on 1–2 October 2026, before its final adoption at the 2–3 December 2026 plenary session.