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Smoke produced by landscape fires represents one of the most significant yet often overlooked environmental threats to ecosystems and public health in the Western Balkan region. When forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas burn, enormous quantities of smoke...

Landscape fires have become an increasingly significant environmental hazard across the Western Balkan region, affecting forests, agricultural land, infrastructure, and communities. Beyond the direct ecological damage, these fires also have substantial consequences...

In 2025, landscape fires emerged as one of the most persistent and underestimated systemic risks in the Western Balkans. Prolonged heatwaves, drought conditions, land abandonment and limited institutional capacity combined to produce one of the most severe regional...

Alongside sustainable grazing practices, the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans Programme emphasizes agroforestry - the intentional integration of trees, shrubs, and crops into farmland and pasture systems, as a vital approach to building fire-resilient...

Landscape fires - including wildfires, landscape fires, forest fires, and grassland fires - are becoming more frequent, intense, and unpredictable as a result of climate change, unsustainable land-use practices, and human activities. While fire is a natural ecological...

Landscape fires are becoming an increasingly urgent challenge in the Western Balkans. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and shifting rainfall patterns caused by climate change are creating conditions that make fires more frequent, more intense, and more...

Landscape fires are an increasing concern in many regions, including the Western Balkans, where hot, dry summers create the perfect conditions for fires to ignite and spread. When it comes to managing these fires, there are two very different approaches: prevention...

Key messages Nearly 70,000 hectares burned across the region in the first half of 2025. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia experienced the most severe fire conditions to date. 90% of fires human-caused; weak early-warning systems persist. Urgent need to shift from...

In the face of increasing landscape fire risk across the Western Balkans, one of the most promising solutions lies not in hoses or helicopters - but in hooves and hedges. Grazing and agroforestry, long-standing traditional practices in the region, are being...

Creating fire-resilient landscapes in the Western Balkans requires a strategic blend of ecological, social, and policy-driven approaches. The increasing frequency and severity of landscape fires in the region, largely driven by climate change and human activity, call...

Landscape fire is a growing threat in the Western Balkan region and effectively addressing this challenge requires a multi-faceted approach. Two key elements in this approach are Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) and landscape fire management. While...

Landscape fire resilience is a crucial concept, particularly in regions facing increasing landscape fire threats like the Western Balkans. Understanding how ecosystems withstand and recover from fire disturbances is paramount for effective landscape fire management....

The Western Balkan region is particularly vulnerable to landscape fires. Seasonal droughts, high temperatures, and strong winds create conditions conducive to the rapid spread of fires. This susceptibility is exacerbated by anthropogenic factors such as land-use...

A fire-resilient landscape is an intentionally designed and maintained environment to reduce the risk of landscape fire damage while promoting ecological balance. It incorporates adaptive landscape management practices to enhance the landscape's ability to withstand,...

Awareness is a cornerstone of effective landscape fire management. The increasing frequency and intensity of landscape fires, driven by climate change and anthropogenic activities, demand proactive strategies that prioritize awareness at individual, community, and...

Education plays a pivotal role in effectively managing landscape fires, which pose significant global ecological, economic, and social challenges. With increasing frequency and intensity due to climate change and land-use changes, landscape fires necessitate a...

Landscape fires are a growing concern for public safety in the Western Balkans, a region characterized by diverse ecosystems, rugged terrain, and a complex mix of human activities. The frequency and intensity of landscape fires in this area have increased in recent...

Landscape fires are a natural phenomenon that can profoundly impact forest ecosystems. Today they are one of the main reasons for the degradation of the global forests. Although in some parts of the world and in specific ecosystems, the landscape fires play a critical...

Landscape Fire Management (LFM) is a crucial approach in today's world, where the increasing frequency and intensity of fires pose significant threats to both natural landscapes and human communities. LFM represents a holistic approach that goes beyond simply reacting...

Landscape fires are a growing concern worldwide, and the Western Balkans are no exception. These fires have a profound impact on biodiversity, threatening both flora and fauna that make these regions unique. The Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB)...