FireWatch automated fire detection – Case study report
The evaluation aims to assess the funding data available to date and other documents for the forestry support measures (M) M08 ‘Investments in the development of forest areas and improvement of the viability of forests’.
- Germany
- 2014-2022
- Environmental impacts
As part of the evaluation of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) 2014-2022 programme, the funding data available to date and other documents for the forestry support measures M08 ‘Investments in the development of forest areas and improvement of the viability of forests’ were analysed and evaluated. This report focuses on Measure 3 ‘Prevention of forest damage’.
The automated forest fire early warning system ‘FireWatch’ was developed as part of sub-Measure 8\.3 of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for Brandenburg and Berlin, 2014 to 2022, and is also the subject of this report.
As a first step, sub-Measure 8.5 'forest conversion' is analysed in more detail. The funding sub-measure and its implementation to date are described. This is followed by a summary of the results from the last and current funding periods.
To process the case study, desktop research was conducted on available literature and current information regarding ‘FireWatch’. At the same time, the monitoring data as of the end of 2022 was analysed. In addition, an interview was conducted with the forest fire protection officer.
Regarding sub-Measure 8.5, the difficult forest damage situation has worsened further in 2022. The renewal of the ‘Firewatch’ early detection system is helping to reduce the risk of major forest fires across the entire forest area of Brandenburg. The increased promotion of extinguishing water extraction points through the tenant-landlord scheme has met with great acceptance. More than twice as many applications were submitted for the originally planned extinguishing water extraction points. In general, the funding programme fully contributes to strengthening sustainable forest management as well as climate and environmental protection.
The case study shows that in a national comparison, Brandenburg, the state most at risk of forest fires in Germany, has succeeded in being comprehensive, efficient and thus unique at the national level with FireWatch.
Author(s)
Lauren Mityorn, Manfred Bathke