Incorporating fire-smartness into agricultural policies reduces suppression costs and ecosystem services damages from wildfires

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117707
• Publication Date: 2023-03-27T22:46:42Z
• Authors: Judit Lecina-Diaz; María-Luisa Chas-...; Núria Aquilué; Ângelo Sil; Lluís Brotons; Adrián Regos; Julia Touza
• Keywords: Abandonment (legal)

In southern Europe, land abandonment and an unbalanced investment toward fire suppression instead of prevention has gradually increased wildfire risk, which calls for a paradigm change in management policies. Here we combined scenario analysis, landscape modelling, economic tools to identify land-use policies would reduce the expected wildfire-related losses Transboundary Biosphere Reserve 'Gerês-Xurés' (Spain-Portugal). To do so, applied least-cost-plus-net-value-change approach estimated net changes damages based on their implications 2010–2050 period five ecosystem services: agriculture, pasture, timber, recreation climate regulation. Four scenarios were considered: (1) Business as Usual (BAU); (2) fire-smart, fostering more fire-resistant (less flammable) and/or fire-resilient landscapes (fire-smart); (3) High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf), wherein extensive agriculture is reversed; (4) combination HNVf fire-smart. best cost savings, but it generates lowest present value societal benefits from fact, most efficient with discounted costs services + fire-smart scenario, also savings agricultural expansion, lead significant reduction timber recreational benefits. Therefore, reverting through recultivation promoting tree species way hazard. this sense, payments should reward farmers landowners role prevention. This study improves understanding financial derived reducing spending damage by undertaking strategies, can be essential enhance local stakeholders' support Payments Ecosystem Services