Fire management & adaptation to global change in Mediterranean forests Results from Athens workshop Nora Berrahmoun

1. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Fire management & adaptation to global change in Mediterranean forestsResults from Athens workshop Nora Berrahmouni, WWF MedPOPedro Regato, IUCN-Med

2. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Mediterranean region among the most affected by CC Water availability Frequency, magnitude and severity of extreme weather events and impacts (i.e. Fires) • Land use change & poor management • South : Dependence of ruralpopulation on forest land & resources • North : Rural abandonment and higher risk of large scale disturbances (Forest fires) Changing Regimes in Extreme Weather Events are the Real Challenge!

3. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Addressing impacts of the wider environment Participatory planning process: The most resilient landscape pattern –distribution of land uses- against major disturbances Building “disturbance-smart” landscapes

4. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Fire risk reductionBuilding Fire-smart landscapes Enabling environment a) Fire management strategies & policies: Research on forest fire dynamics/ root causes Risk reduction & prevention Readiness Response Recovery

5. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Fire risk reductionBuilding fire-smart landscapesEnabling environment b) Collaboration between all sectors & actors c) Incentives for benefits sharing d) Awareness raising – living with fire e) Initiatives on the ground coupled with capacity building

6. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Encouraging Forest Landscape Restoration initiatives • Beyond trees /forest stands • The maintenance of basic ecological processes • Resilient habitats/species to large scale disturbances (i.e. fire) • Provision of a wide range of benefits for rural societies

7. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Building Mediterranean Cooperation Investing in the human capital Learning Med network balancing North & South Culture of continuous training, experiences exchange Med experts body Assessments & monitoring of changes Measures & policies to adapt build resilience

8. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Building Mediterranean Cooperation Investing in human capital Facilitate access to knowledge for decision makers, managers, users To Raise awareness of societies to relevance and services Med forest ecosystems provide

9. European Forest Week Event on Fire management in Europe Increase the perception of the values of Mediterranean Forests Demonstrate & market the wide range of good & services : social, economic & environmental roles Engage private sector, rural development sectors Countries to position forest conservation & sust. Management – priority at national, regional EU