Fire ParadoxFire ParadoxAn innovative and integrated approachAn innovative and integrated approach

to wildland fire managementto wildland fire management

V ICFFR, Figueira da Foz, 28th November 2006

European Projects Session

6th Framework Programme for R & D

Priority thematic area: Mechanisms of desertification and natural disasters

Sub priority 6.3: Global change and ecosystems

Topic: Integrated forest fire management

Framework

Integrated project: research / development / dissemination

Duration: 48 months (March 2006 – February 2010)

• Learning to live with fire• The fire paradox

a highly destructive disturbance a powerful management tool

Poor management

Fire exclusion(Fire suppression)

Fuel build-up

High severity wildfire

Frequency of extreme weather events

Philosophy

The fire paradox

Upper limit of fire suppression effectiveness

Extreme

Very High

High

Moderate

Low

Fir

e d

ang

er

Pampilhosa da Serra, Portugal, 22 437 ha, August 2005

Vidauban I and II, France, 12 390 ha, July 2003

Solving the fire paradox

Wildfire hazard reduction and the sustainable development of natural and managed ecosystems in Europe require:

• fire use (prescribed burning and suppression fire) as a key fire management component

• transfer of knowledge and technology

The main goal of FIRE PARADOX

to set the basis for new fire management policies and practices in Europe

A sequential and comprehensive approach

Prescribed burning

Ignition

Propagation

Suppression fire

Integrated fire management

4 integration

axes

Structure: the FIRE PARADOX matrixD

om

ain

s

Specialities

Res

earc

hD

evel

op

men

tD

isse

min

atio

nPhysical mechanisms Module 2

Biological mechanisms Module 3

Social sciences & humanities Module 4

Risk assessment and mapping Module 5

Technological development Module 6

Policies & practices assessment Module 7

Real time fire monitoring and analysis of past fires Module 8

Demonstration of Prescribed Burning and Suppression Fire Module 9

Academic and professional trainings Module 10

Public awareness strategies Module 11

Decision support for policies Module 12

Pre

scrib

ed

Fire

Wild

fire

In

itia

tion

Wild

fire

Pro

pa

ga

tion

Su

pp

ress

ion

Fire

Module 13Integration for solving the fire paradox

Module 1Coordination

Research• Towards a physically-based 3D fire behaviour model

Interaction between fire fronts

• Fuel modelling• Fire effects prediction by coupling physical and biological

mechanisms• Social sciences & humanities

Main activities (1/3)

Development• Technological and software

developments on the various aspects of fire:

Fuel editor and fire effects visualisation systemEuropean Fire SimulatorHazard assessment tools

• New technologies for producing fuel maps• European field bases for fire monitoring

Main activities (2/3)

Dissemination and added value

• Training on prescribed burning and suppression fire

• Exchanges between professionals• Public awareness strategy analysis• Fire Paradox web site and

newsletter

• The Fire Paradox white book

http://www.fireparadox.org

Main activities (3/3)

Impact on policy making and initiatives related tointegrated wildland fire

management

Consortium

31 partners in 13 countries, including:

• Universities and forestry schools

• Research institutes

• Fire management agencies

• International networks

• Associations

• SMEs

MAIChOMIKRON Ltd.AUTH

UC3MINIA-CIFORDGESC-GRAFUCMXG-CIFALUL-UFFCTFC

INRAUNIVEMEDCEMAGREFEMMTDA

ARBOPAVE-UNINACFVA/RAS

ISA-CEABNISTUTAD

Consortium

ENFI

EFIVTT

FRI-FFPL

SFI

INRGREFWSL

UNZ

UBRISUE-SGSUE-DIN

GFMC

Consortium

Fire Paradox TTC: INCO extension

ArgentinaCentro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal

Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), Esquel

Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA),

Buenos Aires

South Africa Silva Forest Services CC (SFS), Sedgefield

Russia and Mongolia Pacific Forest Forum (PFF), Khabarovsk

Project extended to 4 countries in the frame of specific measures in support of International Cooperation (INCO)

Coordination TeamISA, Portugal INRA, France UTAD, Portugal MTDA, France

Executive boardISA, Portugal

International Advisory Committee12 members

Local expertsForesters and fire fighters

Cooperation with the whole European Fire Research Community

Coordination and cooperation

• European research Increased cooperation

• Forest and fire professionals Increased integration Wise use of fire Enhanced exchanges

• Citizens Better awareness and preparation Safer behaviour

• Stakeholders New view on the issue Evolution of regulations and policies

Fire Paradox expected benefits

Thank you !Thank you !

FireFire is unavoidable … but not is unavoidable … but not necessarily a catastrophenecessarily a catastrophe