OPEN-DAYS Workshop Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions Paulo Mateus (National Director) National Forest Authority.

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

Paulo Mateus(National Director)

National Forest Authority - Portugal

Forest fires:global challenge, local solutions

Every year, forest fires release 3 431 million tonnes of CO2into the atmosphere, contributing to global greenhouse gas

emissions and thus to climate change.

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

1. FOREST FIRES IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT 1.1 Global Fire Geography 1.2 Wild fires in Portugal

2. CAUSES OF WILD FIRES 2.1 Anthropogenic causes 2.2 Causes behind causes 2.3 Starting point conditions

OVERVIEW

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE: National and local solutions 3.1 National Fire Plan and the Portuguese National Forest Strategy 3.2 National System for forest fire prevention and suppression 3.3 Structural Prevention

4. GUIDELINES FOR AN EUROPEAN RESPONSE

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

1. FOREST FIRES IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

1.1 Global Fire Geography

NASA satellites – MODIS hot spots (Summer 2005)

“Forest fires are increasing as a result of climate change, and they are affecting larger areas and becoming more severe in several regions of the world” (FAO, 31.5.2007).

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

FAO (2007) – fire management global assessment 2006:“ Fire is the main cause of forest destruction in the countries of the Mediterranean basin. About 50.000 fires sweep through 700.000 to 1 million hectares each year”

NASA - MODIS Rapid response system

Portugal, 3 August 2003

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1. FOREST FIRES IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

1.3 Wild fires in Portugal

Last 10 years average: 162.500 ha

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

2. CAUSES OF WILD FIRES

2.1 Anthropogenic causes

Pasture renewal and agricultural burningsare the most important fire causes in Portugal

Portugal, 2008

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

The breakdown of the steady state :

1) Lack of forest management due to rural exodus and agricultural set-a-side;

2) Lack of citizens response in managing and preventing fires

3) Inappropriate forest land use planning and lack of investment on fuel management programs;

4) Extreme weather conditions;

According to the European Parliament report (Fev.2008)“Forest fires: causes and contributing factors in Europe”

2. CAUSES OF WILD FIRES

2.2 Causes behind the causes

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

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Be aware of paradox:As time goes by after a disaster increases the probability of a new disaster.As time goes by after a disaster decreases the goodwill to avoid new disaster.

More than the announcement of new reforms, you have to persuade the community of assure conditions to improve changes in a long term period

2. CAUSES OF WILD FIRES

2.3 Starting point conditions

Magicmoment

1. People are humble to follow the best examples around the world2. Politicians goodwill is very high after such a disaster3. Technicians are devoted to improve knowledge in fire behavior

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

2003-2006 forest sector structural reform

• Reorganisation of the public forest service and the forest fire fighting system

• Different forest planning and management methods (e.g. National Forest Strategy; Regional Forest Management Plans; Forest Intervention Zones, for regions with small private holdings)

• Innovative financing models for the forest sector (Permanent Forest Fund, with money from car fuel taxes)

• New legislation on forest fire protection (new fire protection system, with National and municipal fire protection plans and a new set of goals and regulations)

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE : National and local solutions

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”Workshop “Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Region: Prevention and Regional Cooperation”

2006 – The effective start of long term changes based on 2 main paradigms:

- Responsibility of wild fire is shared by all community- Fire in a part of the ecosystem, not a enemy but , many times, an ally

NATIONAL FOREST STRATEGYThe mitigation of wild fires is identified as the main priority to achieve the sustainability of the forest sector in Portugal.

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE: National and local solutions

3.1 National Fire Plan and the Portuguese National Forest Strategy

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”Workshop “Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Region: Prevention and Regional Cooperation”

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE: National and local solutions 3.2 National System for forest fire prevention and suppression

NATIONAL FIRE PLANMID-TERM ACTION PLANNING (2006/2012)

FIVE STRATEGIC AXES:

1 – increase forest landscape resilience;

2 – reduce the incidence of forest fires;

3 – improve the efficiency of forest fire suppression;

4 – promote the reestablishment of forest ecosystems;

5 – adoption of the adequate structure.

NATIONAL SYSTEM FOR FOREST FIRES PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSIONTHREE MAIN COORDINATION RESPONSABLES:

Forest services – structural prevention National Guard – law enforcement and surveillance Civil protection services - fire suppression

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

234 Municipal Plans on Forest Fire Defense

246 municipalities forest offices(out of 278 municipalities)

1. municipal planning level

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE: National and local solutions

3.3 structural prevention

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

2. awareness raising campaigns

i. Common slogan

ii. Active participation of the society and private companies iii. Awareness of specific target-groups

Portugal without firesdepends on everyone

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE: National and local solutions

3.3 structural prevention

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

3. Strategic management of forest fuels

i. Over 250.000ha protected with fuel management activities each year

ii. Average of 1.600ha prescribed burns

Forest biomass for energy

Network of new power stations (goal: 2 Mtons/year by 2012)

Forest biomass for the local production of energy pasturing

prescribed fire

263 hand-crews

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE: National and local solutions

3.3 structural prevention

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

action

knowledge

training

4. Training and knowledge

Fire behaviour 21 specialists in fire behaviour and in use of fire (prescribed or technical)120 foresters trained in prescribed burning

MAIN GOAL: Develop the scientific and technical basis for the definition of new practices and polities of integrated fire management in Europe

3. THE PORTUGUESE RESPONSE: National and local solutions

3.3 structural prevention

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

FIVE remarks for discussion: 1) Sustainable forests: Promotion of forest sustainability integrated in the Rural Development of European Regions;

2) Public awareness: Establishment of a common European campaign for forest protection, specially for forest fires prevention;

3) Community based programmes: Improvement of an European programme for community based actions on forest management, fires prevention, correct usage of fire (prescribed burns) and on houses protection;

4) European directive: Preparation of a common scheme in regional forest planning, taking in consideration aspects like: climate change scenarios, forest protection, biodiversity and nature conservation and people fixation in rural areas.

5) European regulation: Preparation of a European Regulation, for forest protection purposes, funded by eco-tax from the usage of fossil fuels.

4. GUIDELINES FOR AN EUROPEAN RESPONSE

OPEN-DAYS Workshop “Prevention of natural and man-made disasters: global challenge, local solutions”

Thank you for your attention!

“Fire in the Mediterranean is an unavoidable cultural and ecological

phenomenon, but an avoidable catastrophe” (Montiel)Workshop on Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Region: Prevention and Regional Cooperation (Sabaudia – Italy, 13-15 May 2008)