DIPLOMACY FACING THE CHALLENGE OF FOREST MANAGEMENT AND FIRES: FIREPOCTEP+

DIPLOMACY FACING THE CHALLENGE OF FOREST MANAGEMENT AND FIRES: FIREPOCTEP+

Ana Gallego - Specialist in European Projects and Master's degree in International Relations 

Paulina Menem - Lawyer and Master's degree in International Relations 

Friday 27 December 2024 - The Interreg FIREPOCTEP+ project stands as an exemplary model of regional diplomacy between Spain and Portugal, demonstrating how public-private cooperation can serve as an effective tool for the prevention, combat, and recovery of areas affected by fires. Its innovative methodology positions it as a reference applicable to the needs of Latin America.

I. Introduction

A new year, a new agenda. The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment for the States of Latin America and Europe to strengthen their collaborative ties in the face of global challenges such as the climate crisis and natural disasters. These phenomena, driven by climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable human practices, are no longer sporadic or localized but have become a global threat. Currently, between 3% and 4% of the world's land surface¹ is affected annually by disasters such as wildfires, impacting millions of hectares, communities, and ecosystems.

An emerging and particularly complex challenge is sixth-generation fires, characterized by their high intensity, speed, and ability to create their own extreme weather conditions, such as firestorms. This type of fire represents a new threat driven by the effects of climate change and the abandonment of forest management practices. Its impact is devastating, compromising community safety and ecosystem integrity in vulnerable regions like Latin America and Europe.

In Europe, prolonged heatwaves exacerbate the frequency and severity of fires. In 2023, Portugal faced 7,523 fires² that burned 34,510 hectares³, resulting in seven fatalities and fifty injuries, while Spain experienced 2,265 fires that devastated 86,689 hectares⁴, causing 249 deaths⁵. Meanwhile, Latin America faces an equally alarming crisis, worsened by deforestation and agricultural expansion. In Argentina, 95% of fires are caused by human activities⁶, while Bolivia lost over 696,000 hectares of forest in 2023, including 490,544 hectares of primary forest⁷. The trend continued in 2024, with 13 million hectares destroyed by fire in December.

In this context, 2025 offers a strategic opportunity to promote biregional cooperation. The upcoming EU-CELAC Summit⁸ and the recent Europe-MERCOSUR agreement⁹ (signed in December 2024) are fundamental platforms to jointly address climate challenges. Europe and Latin America share a strategic interest: while Europe depends on imports of Latin American products, countries in the region need to protect their forest soils essential for production and export. 

Additionally, initiatives can focus on sharing best practices, developing enterprises, training youth, and leveraging advanced technologies such as satellite monitoring and predictive models to anticipate fires, protect lives, and enhance decision-making. Regional economic and environmental diplomacy, combined with technical cooperation and public-private partnership collaboration, emerge as essential drivers for strengthening environmental governance and building a more resilient and sustainable future.

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