[ERT]
Greece is moving to legalize prescribed burning as a wildfire-prevention tool under a draft law by the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry titled “Active Fight.”
Drawing on models from Spain, Italy and the United States, the bill would, for the first time, define the “programmed and controlled use of fire” under strict conditions.
Forestry services and the fire brigade would jointly plan and carry out burns, with room for cooperation with scientists, NGOs and private actors.
Authorities say prescribed burning would be used to manage forest fuel, prevent fires, improve habitats and grazing land, protect biodiversity, control pests and invasive plants, and train firefighters.
Plans would require approved studies, and be implemented following a request by either the local fire brigade or the forest authority, provided no objection is raised within five working days.
Burns would occur outside the fire season and be banned on high-risk days.