Innovative Action for Forest Fire Prevention in Kythira Island, Greece, through Mobilization and Cooperation of the Population: Methodology and Challenges

Gavriil Xanthopoulos, Miltiadis Athanasiou, Alexia Nikiforaki, Konstantinos Kaoukis, Georgios Mantakas, Panagiotis Xanthopoulos, Charalampos Papoutsakis, Aikaterini Christopoulou, Stavros Sofronas, Miltos Gletsos and Vassiliki Varela
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Gavriil Xanthopoulos: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece
Miltiadis Athanasiou: Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Nikis 20, 10557 Athens, Greece
Alexia Nikiforaki: Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Nikis 20, 10557 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Kaoukis: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece
Georgios Mantakas: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece
Panagiotis Xanthopoulos: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece
Charalampos Papoutsakis: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece
Aikaterini Christopoulou: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece
Stavros Sofronas: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece
Miltos Gletsos: Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Nikis 20, 10557 Athens, Greece
Vassiliki Varela: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-26

Abstract: The island of Kythira in Greece suffered a major forest fire in 2017 that burned 8.91% of its total area and revealed many challenges regarding fire management. Following that, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature joined forces with the Institute of Mediterranean and Forest Ecosystems in a project aiming to improve fire prevention there through mobilization and cooperation of the population. This paper describes the methodology and the results. The latter include an in-depth analysis of fire statistics for the island, development of a forest fuels map, and prevention planning for selected settlements based on fire modeling and on an assessment of the vulnerability of 610 structures, carried out with the contribution of groups of volunteers. Emphasis was placed on informing locals, including students, through talks and workshops, on how to prevent forest fires and prepare their homes and themselves for such an event, and on mobilizing them to carry out fuel management and forest rehabilitation work. In the final section of the paper, the challenges that the two partners faced and the project achievements and shortcomings are presented and discussed, leading to conclusions that can be useful for similar efforts in other places in Greece and elsewhere.

Keywords: fire prevention; fire statistics; forest fires; public participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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