The workshop was attended by experts in nature conservation, crisis management, fire and rescue services, and research institutions.
Participants were briefed on the current progress of the Wildfire CE project, which aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation in assessing and managing forest fire risks in Central Europe. The project responds to the growing risk of fires associated with climate change and the need for better coordination between institutions and emergency services.
A significant portion of the workshop was devoted to introducing the Wildfire CE platform https://wildfirece.czechglobe.cz/, presented by Jakub Dvořák from CzechGlobe. The discussion focused primarily on the potential uses of the platform’s individual layers, map data, and information for planning interventions and preventing fires in cross-border regions. The presentation also included project results, such as fire risk maps, fire behavior models, and materials for developing joint action plans.
Another important topic was prescribed burning as a tool for prevention and landscape management. Lenka Reiterová from the Podyjí National Park presented experiences with prescribed burning in the Czech Republic, including practical demonstrations of operations carried out in the Havraníky and Hnanice areas. The presentation highlighted not only the burning process itself, but also the long-term preparation, monitoring, cooperation with firefighters, and the benefits for the conservation of steppe and forest-steppe habitats.
Following the Czech experience, Katrin Kuhnen from BOKU University Vienna gave a presentation on prescribed burning in Austria. The lecture focused on the use of controlled burning to reduce the amount of flammable material, train firefighting tactics, and collect data on fire behavior. The importance of linking scientific research with practical field experience was also emphasized.
In the final part of the workshop, a discussion took place regarding the preparation of action plans for the individual regions involved in the project. Participants identified key needs in the areas of communication, data sharing, intervention planning, and joint training. The resulting action plans are intended to serve as a basis for coordinated forest fire prevention and management in cross-border areas in the future.
Presentations
- News from Wildfire CE project – Harald Vacik (BOKU)
- Wildfire CE platform – Jakub Dvořák (CzechGlobe)
- Prescribed burning CZ – Lenka Reiterová (NP Podyjí)
- Prescribed burning AT – Katrin Kuhnen (BOKU University Vienna)
- Action plans in Wildfire CE – Harald Vacik (BOKU), Martina Sálová (CENIA)