Wildfire risk in Europe is intensifying and expanding geographically due to climate change and land-use shifts, bringing growing environmental, economic, and social impacts.
The devastating 2025 wildfires across several EU countries have reinforced the urgency of transitioning from reactive response to preventive, resilience-based approaches. Nature-based solutions--such as ecosystem restoration and diversified landscape management--offer integrated benefits by reducing fire risk while advancing climate adaptation, carbon storage, and rural revitalization. European policy frameworks and funding instruments increasingly support this shift, creating opportunities to scale effective solutions across regions.
The event will:
- Highlight the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in wildfire prevention and management
- Showcase successful projects across Europe
- Identify policy and funding mechanisms to apply these solutions locally
- Generate concrete recommendations to strengthen resilience and community safety
PROGRAMME
15:00 - 15:05 Welcome and introductory remarks
- Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES - MEP and member of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)
15:05 - 16:30 Panel discussion on Nature-Based Solutions against Forest Wildfires
Moderated by Anastasia PANTERA
- Ine VANDECASTEELE - Expert in in the Climate Risk and Resilience Unit, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Philippe TULKENS - European Commission, DG RTD, Head of Unit on 'Climate and Planetary Boundaries' and Deputy manager of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, Brussels, Belgium
- Juan PICOS - Professor, University of Vigo, Spain
- Anastasia PANTERA - Professor, Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Greece
- Ragni FJELLGAARD MIKALSEN - RISE Fire Research, Norway
16:30 - 16:55 Q&A session
16:55 - 17:00 Closing remarks
- César LUENA - MEP and member of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI)
The event will be webstreamed. The link will be soon available below.
The event will be held in English only, without interpretation.
English
