Iceland - Toward an Integrated Wildfire Risk Management Diagnostic and Recommendations Report (TAFF)

This report is prepared as part of technical assistance financed by the European Commission (DG ECHO) through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and implemented by the World Bank and GFDRR. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the growing risk of wildfires in Iceland and of the country’s current capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to such events. Although Iceland has traditionally been associated with volcanic and geological hazards, changes in land use, expanding vegetation, and the accelerating impacts of climate change are creating new and significant wildfire risks.

Using the UCPM Wildfire Peer Review Assessment Framework and the principles of Integrated Wildfire Risk Management, the report reviews national arrangements across governance, risk understanding, prevention, early warning, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery. The analysis draws on desk research, stakeholder consultations, and expert input to identify key challenges and opportunities for improvement. It concludes with ten main findings and ten practical recommendations intended to guide policy discussions and concrete actions in the short, medium, and long term.