Wildfire risk assessment and mapping – an approach for Natura 2000 forest sites

A novel wildfire risk assessment approach for Natura 2000 forest sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rila Monastery, demonstrates that spatially detailed fire risk maps can effectively support emergency response efforts. The study integrates 29 indicators across five thematic groups—hazards, vulnerability, and emergency capacity—to evaluate risk at the smallest forestry subdivision level using geospatial technologies. Tested in two Bulgarian sites, this methodology identified high-risk zones during a real fire event on October 30, 2022, enabling targeted interventions such as fire tower placement and visitor information systems. This scalable tool addresses gaps in regional-scale risk assessments, offering a practical framework for conservation and resource management in vulnerable natural heritage areas.

Borisova, B., Todorova, E., Ihtimanski, I., Glushkova, M., Zhiyanski, M., Georgieva, M., Stoyanov, T., Bozhilova, M., Atanasova, M., & Dimitrov, S. (2024). Wildfire risk assessment and mapping – an approach for Natura 2000 forest sites. Trees, Forests and People, 16, 100532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100532