Capitalizing on integrated landscape approaches for wildfire risk mitigation in the Mediterranean region

Wildfires in the Northern Mediterranean are increasing in frequency and intensity, driven by climate change, land abandonment, and fuel accumulation. Traditional fire suppression approaches are insufficient to address the complex social-ecological drivers of wildfire risk. This paper advocates adopting landscape approaches as an integrated and adaptive framework for mitigation. We assess ten wildfire mitigation initiatives in four countries, using five dimensions: multifunctionality, synergies and trade-offs, cross-sectoral integration, participation, and adaptive management. High-performing initiatives showed integrative planning, multi-actor governance, and adaptive learning. Key enablers of landscape coherence include strong leadership, institutional support, and participatory governance. However, gaps emerged in monitoring trade-offs and aligning strategies across sectors and spatial scales. Advancing landscape approaches in wildfire policy requires greater investment in collaboration, shared learning, and long-term governance capacities. Our findings offer insights to scale multifunctional, adaptive, and socially legitimate wildfire mitigation strategies in Mediterranean landscapes and beyond.