Iceland - Towards an integrated wildfire risk management diagnostic and recommendations report

This report summarizes the results of a diagnostic review of wildfire risk and management capacity in Iceland, and includes technical recommendations that can guide policy discussions, decisions, and actions in the immediate/short term as well as the medium to long term. The review considers capacity across multiple dimensions, including governance, planning, understanding of risk, prevention, early warning and public awareness, preparedness and emergency response, recovery and post-disaster financing. Drawing on desk reviews, consultations with stakeholders, and expert analysis, each chapter reviews current status, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

The report provides ten key findings and ten key recommendations, the later of which are sub-divided into governance and planning, analysis and communication, prevention, and preparation and response. An example of each is given below:

1. Agree on a strategic roadmap with key immediate/short- and medium to long term priorities among stakeholders.
2. Improve understanding of wildfire risk by consolidating and leveraging various sources of data, research, and tools.
3. Adapt landscape management, land use planning, and climate change adaptation (CCA) actions to reflect wildfire risk information and risk management tools.
4. Increase capacities for preparedness and response, including basic and specialized training, human resources, and equipment.