In recent years, Poland has ranked among the leaders in terms of the number of wildfires, just behind Portugal and Spain, and is in the top ten in terms of the area affected. The frequency of wildfires is influenced by climate change (prolonged droughts, low precipitation) and the composition of our forests, where coniferous species, especially pine with its highly flammable essential oils, predominate. Unfortunately, the majority of wildfires are still caused by human activity, including deliberate arson, burning of grasslands, or careless handling of fire.

The threat of forest fires in Poland is among the highest in Europe. In 2015 alone, areas managed by State Forests experienced 3,732 wildfires, affecting nearly 880 hectares. Given the substantial resources required for prevention, State Forests also seek funding from EU sources to combat this dangerous phenomenon.

The coordination of the undertaking titled "Comprehensive project for adapting forests and forestry to climate change – prevention, mitigation, and limitation of forest fire hazards" was entrusted to the Coordination Centre of Environmental Projects by State Forests National Forest Holding. This project was implemented under Priority Axis II of the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment (Action 2.1 Adaptation to climate change with ensuring and increasing resilience to natural disasters, especially natural catastrophes and environmental monitoring).

Project title:

"Adaptation of forest and forestry to climate change fire protection".

Implemented under Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020, Action 2.4 Nature Conservation and Environmental Education.

Implementation period:

2016-2023

Project goal:

To reduce the negative effects caused by wildfires in forests, efficiently locate the source of danger, minimize losses, and ultimately reduce the average fire area and expand forest surveillance, especially in forest districts classified under the highest fire risk category.

Additional objectives:

• Expand forest surveillance areas.
• Faster and more precise determination of fire origin.
• More accurate forecasting of fire risk based on meteorological data.
• Shorten response time for State Forests units to reach fire sites.

Allocation of funding:

The funding was allocated for:

• Development and modernization of early warning and threat forecasting systems, including:
• Construction and modernization of fire observation towers (138 units).
• Acquisition of modern equipment for fire detection and localization (183 units).
• Equipment upgrades for emergency dispatch points (42 units).
• Construction of meteorological stations (12 units).

Technical support for the firefighting and rescue system in case of forest fires, including:

• Purchase of firefighting patrol vehicles (67 units).

This project encompassed a comprehensive approach to adapt forests and forestry to climate change, specifically targeting prevention, mitigation, and reduction of forest fire risks. Key aspects of implementation included:

• Early warning and forecasting systems: Construction and modernization of fire observation towers, acquisition of advanced fire detection equipment, upgrades to emergency dispatch points and establishment of meteorological stations to enhance fire risk prediction.
• Support for firefighting and rescue: Deployment of firefighting patrol vehicles to improve response capabilities during forest fire incidents.

These measures aimed to strengthen the capacity to prevent, combat and mitigate the impacts of forest fires, thereby enhancing the resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change-related risks. The project's activities were crucial in safeguarding biodiversity, protecting natural resources and ensuring the safety of both forests and communities.

Realization of the project contributed to:

• Increasing forest resilience to natural disasters such as wildfires, which are becoming more prevalent with climate warming.
• Enhancing the effectiveness of the early warning system for fires in State Forests.
• Expanding the forest areas under monitoring and reducing the time to detect and respond to threats.
• Limiting the extent of fires and mitigating associated negative impacts (e.g., soil depletion, ecosystem destruction, loss of biodiversity and material losses).
• Improving fire protection in areas adjacent to those managed by State Forests, such as national parks and inhabited areas, thereby enhancing safety for residents and tourists.
• Reducing CO₂ emissions by decreasing the frequency and extent of wildfires.

Project value:

• Total project cost: 88,029,674.40 PLN
• Amount of eligible expenses: 59,472,181.08 PLN
• Amount of funding from European funds: 50,551,353.92 PLN

This project not only aimed to mitigate the immediate threats posed by wildfires but also contributed to long-term environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions and protecting vital forest ecosystems and human settlements.