Productive fuelbreaks: An integrated climate-resilient approach to landscape management for preventing forest fires and rural depopulation in Extremadura (Spain)

Climate change and rural depopulation present significant challenges exacerbating wildfire risks in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. This thesis explores how these factors contribute to conditions conducive to wildfire spread and proposes an integrated climate-resilient approach to landscape management to mitigate these risks while revitalizing rural economies and reducing rural abandonment. Climate change intensifies extreme weather events, leading to prolonged droughts and heatwaves that dry out vegetation, rendering landscapes more susceptible to ignition and rapid fire spread. Simultaneously, rural depopulation has resulted in the abandonment of agricultural lands and forests, leading to the accumulation of combustible biomass and increasing fuel loads and wildfire severity. The proposed solution involves implementing productive fuelbreaks—zones where land and vegetation is managed to reduce wildfire intensity and spread. These fuelbreaks integrate traditional farming practices such as low-intensity agriculture, agroforestry and controlled grazing. Actively managing these landscapes reduces fuel loads, thereby enhancing fire resilience. Moreover, reintroducing these practices can revive traditional knowledge systems and diversify rural economies. Activities such as agroforestry, livestock grazing, sustainable agriculture and resin extraction not only help control vegetation and reduce fuel loads but also provide economic opportunities for local communities, promoting rural development. This investigation is based on a successful case study in Extremadura, Spain, a region with high wildfire incidence and ongoing rural depopulation. As one of the warmest regions in Spain, Extremadura is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which has intensified heatwaves and droughts, adversely affecting the landscape and vegetation cover. Additionally, the region faces significant environmental and socioeconomic challenges that exacerbate the impacts of climate change. The implementation of productive fuelbreaks within the MOSAICO project has reduced wildfire risk over the past decade and incentivized land cultivation, rural repopulation and economic returns. The methodology employed to assess the economic, social and environmental benefits included 5 semi-structured interviews with key project stakeholders and a questionnaire aimed at evaluating the perceptions of 30 individuals who have implemented productive fuelbreaks. The evaluation focused on benefits related to wildfire mitigation, rural development and economic advantages. This thesis underscores the importance of adaptive strategies in forest and landscape management that consider local contexts, empower communities and foster climate-resilient landscapes capable of withstanding environmental pressures. Through these efforts, regions like Extremadura can aspire to a future where wildfire risks are minimized, rural livelihoods are enhanced and traditional practices are preserved.