A global outlook on increasing wildfire risk: Current policy situation and future pathways

Aim: to understand how wildfire risk policies are designed to mitigate1 the impacts of wildfires. Wildfires are a growing threat in many parts of the world, posing significant risks to human life, and the environment. In recent years, wildfires have increased, driven largely by climate change, human activity, and changes in land-use patterns. Wildfire risk adaptation and mitigation measures vary widely between countries and regions around the world. Therefore, it is essential to develop a comprehensive policy approach to mitigate wildfire risks and promote sustainable forest and land management practices. This article aims to provide insight into wildfire policies, implementation actions, and their effectiveness by describing wildfire policies centered mainly on exclusion and wildfire risk mitigation. Methodology: the article examines existing wildfire-related policies and relevant literature based on 10 systematic factors. Further exploring how these policies can be enhanced to meet the challenges of the coming years for six European countries (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK) as well as Australia, Canada, USA, and South Africa. Results: The status quo, perceived strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations from key-informants were presented to enhance wildfire policies in each country. Conclusions: The article analyses current wildfire policies in fire-prone countries, highlighting regional variations and the need for an integrated management strategy. It offers country-specific recommendations based on the participants viewpoints, for coordinated efforts to mitigate wildfire risks and promote sustainable forest management.