Prescribed burning—the carefully planned use of fire to meet specific forest-management goals—is gaining recognition as an essential tool in wildfire prevention. Conducted by trained professionals under strict conditions, it reduces excess vegetation that fuels large fires while supporting healthier, more resilient forest ecosystems.
In Greece, interest in the method has grown again over the past five years, following a pilot program on the island of Chios led by WWF Greece and the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (IMFE) of ELGO-DIMITRA. Their work revived discussion around a practice long familiar in Mediterranean landscapes, where fire has historically been used—sometimes informally—to manage vegetation and grazing areas.
Today, prescribed burning differs fundamentally from both uncontrolled private burning and firefighting tactics such as backburning, which are used only after a wildfire breaks out. Instead, it is a preventive measure applied according to scientific planning and official supervision.
As climate change intensifies wildfire risk, prescribed burns can help reduce fire intensity and slow their spread, making firefighting safer and more effective while limiting environmental and social damage. Research from the Chios project shows that low-intensity, carefully managed burns can maintain firebreaks without harming ecosystems and may even enhance biodiversity.
Greece explored similar approaches in past decades, but efforts stalled. The recent pilot project helped develop technical guidelines, strengthen cooperation among authorities, and support the method’s incorporation into forest policy—an important step toward expanding prevention tools.
Still, prescribed burning is no cure-all. Effective wildfire prevention also requires public awareness, better community preparedness, and systematic investigation of fire causes. Prescribed burns cannot eliminate wildfires, but they can create safer conditions for firefighting and help reduce their destructive impacts.
For the method to succeed, implementation must be gradual and carefully planned, with proper training, sound scientific criteria for site selection, and close cooperation among all responsible agencies. Used wisely, prescribed burning can become a valuable part of Greece’s long-term strategy to confront the growing wildfire threat.
