LIFE projects aim to reduce deadly forest fires across Europe

Several LIFE projects across Europe are trialling innovative ways both to reduce the number of fires and their impact. In northern Italy, for example, GreenChainSAW4LIFE aims to tackle climate and environmental risks, including fires, in the Po, Bronda and Infernotto valleys. The EUR 5.5 million project, which runs until 2024, hopes to save around 200 tonnes of CO2 a year by reducing the incidence of forest fires. The project uses a combination of climate-smart forest supply chains, which creates a low-emission energy community and an open-access digital planning platform.

Meanwhile, in Spain and Portugal – two of the worst-affected countries – LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE aims to prevent fires by allowing goats to roam free and eat the dry grass and shrubs which fuel wildfires. The EUR 1.6 million project piloted the technique at three burnt-out forest sites in north-west Spain and central Portugal, two of Europe’s worst-affected wildfire zones. Among the more significant results were 70% less soil erosion and up to 90% less downstream water pollution. As a result, soil recovery time was halved.

The GreenChainSaw4LIFE project targets the EU Adaptation Strategy and the “2020 Climate & Energy Package”, the 7th Environment Action Programme and the Common Agriculture Policy. LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE targets the EU Forest Strategy, the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, the EU Action Plan for Circular Economy, the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Habitats and Birds Directive.

Source: Relief Web