Assessment of RDP sub-measure 8.3 'prevention of damage by forest fires' on climate change in the Balearic Islands

This thematic analysis addresses sub-measure 8.3 (prevention of damage to forests caused by forest fires, natural disasters and disasters) of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP), focusing on the line of support to private beneficiaries.

Measure 8 aims to contribute to the plan for defence against forest fires in the Balearic Islands, Spain, developed in a context in which increasingly extensive, intense and dangerous fires are expected. Therefore, its general objective is to reduce the incidence of these fires.

This sub-measure supports actions carried out by forest managers that pursue the defence and protection of forest masses, respecting the ecological processes typical of the series of natural vegetation.

The level of financial execution achieved to date by sub-measure 8.3 amounts to 34.73% of the planned budget, corresponding to EUR 3 025 914.51, associated with a single file entrusted to the Balearic institute of nature (IBANAT) for forest fire prevention actions. This file feeds the specific Target Indicator AD_5_5C (area of forest strips), which is expected to reach 800 hectares (ha). As of 31 December 2019, the affected area is 269.34 ha of forest strips. However, nine additional actions have received payments from the sustainable tourism tax totalling EUR 71 520.8. Monitoring the numerical figures from the planned indicators does not provide sufficient information to understand the RDP's effect on the issues addressed, so it was considered necessary to deepen the analysis.

In order to deepen the analyses of the results of Measure 8.3 on climate change, two types of interviews were held: (1) interviews with private owners benefiting from the support; (2) interviews with the technical staff in charge of the management of the support line.

The support line is highly demanded by the private forest owner sector, which does not receive support through other channels. Thanks to this support line, the risk of forest abandonment has decreased significantly, and with it, the potential adverse environmental consequences.

The management of private forests is essential to reduce fires in areas with a Mediterranean climate, such as the Balearic Islands, given that 92% of the islands' forest area is in private hands. Forest interventions covered by this support are useful not only as tools for firefighting but also for restoring ecosystems damaged by adverse weather events, which occur frequently in the Mediterranean climate and are exacerbated by climate change.

The collaboration between different parts of the administration involved in support management is a key factor in the success of this measure.

With regard to beneficiaries, a general satisfaction is perceived with the support received, while pointing out some potential improvements that include adjustments to the amounts of the modules, more frequent calls for support, temporary adjustments to the support received (which are adapted to the times of the year when these works are carried out) and improvements in bureaucracy.