LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE

Southern Europe has long battled the growing threat of increasingly large and intense wildfires, driven by rural depopulation, landscape homogenisation, and fire-prone forests. The catastrophic 2017 fire season, which scorched nearly 680 000 hectares across Portugal and Spain combined, underscored the urgent need for innovative and effective fire prevention measures.

The LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE project has risen to this challenge, focusing on fire prevention in Portugal’s Viseu Dão Lafões region and Spain’s Sierra de Gata, Las Hurdes, and Sierra de San Pedro in Extremadura. Building on successful methodologies from Andalusia and Catalonia, the project combined traditional prescribed burning with modern grazing techniques to reduce forest fuel loads and create more resilient landscapes.

Over 3 300 hectares were directly impacted by pilot actions, which included training around 300 local operators and technicians in prescribed burns, grazing, and pasture management. These efforts aimed not only to reduce fire risk but also to restore soil health, promote carbon sequestration, and support sustainable rural economies.

Demonstration activities incorporated cutting-edge strategies such as mobile sheepfolds and virtual fencing to efficiently manage livestock grazing, keeping biomass levels in check and maintaining vital firebreaks. The project also tackled invasive species like Acacia dealbata, restoring native habitats and boosting biodiversity.

The results speak for themselves: prescribed burns and grazing lowered fuel accumulation, reducing fire intensity and spread, while creating diverse landscape mosaics that support ecosystem resilience. Notably, these methods proved far more cost-effective than traditional manual labour, with grazing costing as little as €60–80 per hectare compared to €1 000 per hectare for manual fuel management.

Crucially, the project engaged local communities, farmers, and shepherds, integrating fire prevention with economic activities and rural revitalisation. The success of LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE has secured ongoing implementation of these strategies in both Portugal and Spain, offering a replicable model for other fire-prone regions across Europe.

The project was a finalist in the LIFE Awards 2025.