A thematic peer review on the wildfire risk management system and capabilities of the Brandenburg state takes place this week (18 to 22 November 2024). Four experts (peers) from Spain, Italy and Portugal are taking part in the on-site mission.
The review week was kicked-off on Monday with welcoming remarks by representatives of the regional government, Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg (MIK) as well as the national level represented by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI).
With its extensive pine forests, low rainfall (precipitation) and light sandy soils, Brandenburg is the federal state with the highest risk of forest fires and the largest burnt area in Germany. In fact, one third of Germany’s forest fires occur here. On average, it burns several hundred times a year in Brandenburg’s forests. [1]
A peer review of disaster risk management provides a good opportunity to reflect on the readiness to cope with increasing wildfire risks. Fires have destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest in Brandenburg in recent years.
The preparation of the peer review for the Land of Brandenburg was entrusted to its School and Technical Facility for Fire and Disaster Protection, or “Landesschule und Technische Einrichtung für Brand- und Katastrophenschutz (LSTE)”. The LSTE is supported by the national civil protection authority, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). Brandenburg requested a thematic peer review with the following key focus areas:
For meetings and field visits during the week, LSTE had engaged more than 40 stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection, Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation, the State Forestry Office of Brandenburg, Brandenburg State Fire Brigade Association, several research and scientific organisations, forest owners. Also, the Polish region of Gorzow Wielkopolski, which shares a border with Brandenburg, was among those invited to engage in discussions (the two regions have a bilateral agreement on collaboration and assistance across the border).
The peers are expected to present their findings in a comprehensive report (including concrete recommendations) to the Brandenburg authorities in spring 2025.
The team is accompanied and supported by the European Commission and its Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), as well as the technical consultant CMCC, Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change.
Background
Through the Peer Review Programme, the European Commission and its DG ECHO support EU Member States, UCPM Participating States, eligible third countries and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partner countries to review their disaster risk management (DRM) policies and practices by taking stock of strengths and weaknesses and putting forward recommendations to increase their effectiveness.
Based on an independent analysis conducted by peers from UCPM countries, peer reviews are a strategic tool for strengthening resilience against disasters at the European, national, and sub-national level, with one of the main objectives to exchange knowledge.
More details on the analytical framework for conducting UCPM peer reviews and previous peer review reports can be found at: UCPM Peer Review Programme | UCP Knowledge Network: Applied knowledge for action (europa.eu)
[1] Source: Waldbrandgefahr in Brandenburg
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