Wildfires across the European Union are increasing in frequency, extent, and severity, driven by climate change, prolonged droughts, and shifting land-uses. Although substantial progress has been made in prevention and suppression, post-fire management remains the least developed component in the fire management cycle, despite its critical role in mitigating cascading impacts such as soil erosion, nutrient losses, invasive species expansion, and the degradation of ecosystem services. This work synthesizes current knowledge, operational practices, and policy frameworks related to post-fire management in the EU, drawing on scientific literature and expert experience from Greece, Portugal, and Spain. We review available tools, such as stabilization measures, restoration techniques, and monitoring, and identify a persistent implementation gap between scientific knowledge and on-the-ground practice. Building on this analysis, we propose a strategic pathway toward a EU-level post-fire management framework grounded in risk-based prioritization, coordinated monitoring, and stronger integration between science and policy. The roadmap highlights common assessment procedures, multidisciplinary operational teams, long-term funding structures, and knowledge exchange across Member States, while retaining the flexibility required to reflect regional ecological and institutional diversity. We emphasize that Europe already possesses the scientific and technical foundations necessary to implement effective post-fire management. The key challenge now lies in institutionalizing these tools within coherent governance structures. Advancing a coordinated, evidence-based framework would not only enhance recovery after wildfires but also strengthen landscape resilience, climate adaptation, and the long-term sustainability of European ecosystems.

VIEIRA Diana;  GIRONA-GARCÍA Antonio;  KASTRIDIS Aristeidis;  MARTINS Martinho; 

2026-07-16

SPRINGER

JRC144545

1933-9747 (online),   

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42408-026-00481-9,    https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-026-00481-9,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC144545,   

10.1186/s42408-026-00481-9 (online),