Wildfire governance and funding remain reactive and fragmented

Wildfire risk spans land management, emergency response, public health, infrastructure, housing, climate adaptation and recovery. Responsibilities and data are often split across institutions and ownership boundaries, while funding rises after disasters and falls during the long periods when prevention and maintenance must occur.

Projects may be selected using outdated risk information or evaluated by visible outputs rather than durable outcomes. Temporary treatment without maintenance can lose effectiveness before the next major fire.

This issue concerns the institutions, funding cycles, shared information and accountability needed across the full wildfire lifecycle.

Sources: FAO Integrated Fire Management and European Court of Auditors Special Report 16/2025.