Promoting Fire-Smart Territories (FST) Initiative for harmonised and effective forest fire prevention and management strategies

FIRESMARTER tackles the rising wildfire threat in the Greece – Albania cross-border region, where climate change, land abandonment and biomass build-up are increasing forest vulnerability. As wildfire intensity and frequency increase, ecosystems, rural livelihoods, and communities face mounting risks— demanding urgent prevention and coordinated, cross-border action.
The project promotes the innovative Fire-Smart Territories (FSTs) concept, combining sustainable land use, fuel management and smart fire detection technologies. It develops joint Forest Management Plans (FMPs) in seven high-risk areas, aiming to reduce fire exposure and enhance forest resilience.
A key feature is the integrated surveillance system, with UAVs and smart cameras enabling real-time monitoring and early warning. This cross-border infrastructure enhances emergency coordination and decision-making across territories.
FIRESMARTER also pioneers a Forest Carbon Credit System (FCCS) to incentivise sustainable forestry and carbon sequestration, while supporting bioeconomy clusters focused on wood and non-wood forest products— stimulating green entrepreneurship in remote, fire-prone areas.
To ensure long-term impact, the project delivers:
•             a Fire-Smart Territories Strategy and action plan
•             a Joint Early Warning ΚΑΙ Detection Strategy
•             a Transferability ΚΑΙ Capitalization Plan
•             a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) for prioritising fuel treatment and resource use
Through training, stakeholder engagement and knowledge transfer, FIRESMARTER builds institutional capacity and embeds its results into everyday governance.
Expected results include stronger climate adaptation policies, better wildfire prevention, revitalised rural economies and scalable models for broader EU application —making FIRESMARTER a smart, sustainable and cooperative response to a growing environmental challenge.