On May 20 and 21, 2025, the Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia (ISIG) participated with great significance in the 3rd Wildfire Risk Management Clustering Event, held at the State Representation of Nordrhein-Westfalen in Brussels. The event, organized by the FIRELOGUE project, brought together some of the most important European projects funded by the European Union in the field of fire risk prevention and management: FirEUrisk, FIRE-RES, SILVANUS and TREEADS. The main objective was to present an integrated and multidisciplinary European strategy to effectively address the growing forest fire emergency in the context of climate change and new spatial challenges.
ISIG and the FirEUrisk participatory model: the value of community involvement
ISIG took center stage at the event through the talk by researcher Ramona Velea, who presented the FirEUrisk Participatory Model, a participatory governance model for fire risk management. The model, developed and tested by ISIG and partners in the FirEUrisk project, is based on solid theoretical foundations inspired by Elinor Ostrom’s governance framework and the European standards on civil participation promoted by the Council of Europe.
This approach places active community involvement at the center of fire preparedness and response strategies, recognizing that resilience is built from the bottom up and requires the informed participation of all local actors. The model has three basic phases:
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Assessment (Evaluation): analysis of risk perceptions and local capabilities, to understand the social and environmental context in which to operate;
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Contextualization: stakeholder mapping and networking of Citizen Scientists, i.e., citizen scientists active in collecting and sharing data useful for fire prevention and management;
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Implementation: design and application of customized engagement strategies, ranging from awareness and information to participatory co-creation of fire management plans.
Field experiences and European validation
The FirEUrisk participatory model has been successfully tested in several European areas characterized by fire risk, including Italy, Greece, and Portugal. Six demonstration events have allowed its effectiveness to be validated, underscoring how emergency resilience is a dynamic process that is built and strengthened over time through the active collaboration of local communities, institutions and experts.
An opportunity for dialogue and exchange between research, policy and practice
The FIRELOGUE event provided a valuable opportunity for discussion and networking among researchers, policy makers, practitioners and stakeholders from across Europe. The proposed integrated strategy aims to overcome traditional sectoral logics by promoting fire risk management that brings together environmental, social, economic and technological aspects to build resilient landscapes and safer communities.
Toward the future: the legacy of FirEUrisk and ISIG’s commitment
With the conclusion of the FirEUrisk project, ISIG is proud to have contributed to the creation of a proven participatory model ready to guide fire risk management policies and practices across Europe. The Institute confirms its commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable approaches to disaster risk reduction, putting the most vulnerable communities at the center of solutions.
To learn more about the FirEUrisk project and discover all of ISIG’s activities in the field of integrated fire risk management, please visit our dedicated page:
FirEUrisk – A holistic approach for smart fire risk adaptation in the EU
