Knowledge note on integrated wildfire risk management in Europe: Understanding the approach and examples

This knowledge note examines Integrated Wildfire Risk Management (IWFRM) in Europe, outlining how a holistic, prevention‑centred approach can reduce disaster risk in the face of rapidly escalating wildfire hazards. It synthesises current evidence, analytical frameworks, and practical examples from EU institutions, Member States, and global partners. The publication explains why IWFRM is increasingly necessary due to climate change, shifting fire regimes, and rising exposure of people, ecosystems, and critical infrastructure. It describes how IWFRM is being operationalised through risk assessment, prevention, preparedness, response, and resilient recovery, drawing on tools such as the FAO 5Rs, the UCPM Wildfire Peer Review Assessment Framework, and emerging EU‑level strategies. The document is intended for policymakers, civil protection authorities, forestry agencies, researchers, and practitioners across Europe and neighbouring regions, and reflects work undertaken between 2024 and 2025 under World Bank technical assistance. Chapters also highlight cross‑cutting disaster risk reduction themes, including climate change adaptation, nature‑based solutions, governance reform, and the integration of science, technology, and community engagement.

The note recommends strengthening legislative and institutional frameworks, improving coordination across sectors and borders, and rebalancing investment toward prevention and preparedness. It emphasises the need for harmonised EU‑level guidance, shared datasets, and common key performance indicators to support monitoring and adaptive management. Lessons learned from country case studies and EU‑funded projects point to the value of landscape‑scale fuel management, early warning technologies, community‑centred approaches, and post‑fire recovery that builds long‑term resilience. The note concludes that sustained investment, knowledge exchange, and multi‑stakeholder collaboration are essential to scale up IWFRM and ensure safer, more climate‑resilient landscapes and communities across Europe.