Forest fire protection. NFOŚiGW allocated over PLN 90 million

Forest fire protection is becoming a priority in the era of climate change and increasingly frequent droughts. Thanks to support from the FEnIKS program, granted by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), the State Forests will receive nearly PLN 93 million for the PPOŻ2 project, which will involve expanding the early fire detection system across an area of 2 million ha.

Drought fuels fires

Climate change, by intensifying drought phenomena, significantly increases the risk of forest fires both in Poland and globally. Dried-out vegetation becomes highly flammable, facilitating the rapid spread of fire and amplifying the scale of destruction. This process not only increases the area affected by fires but also extends the fire season beyond the traditional summer period and leads to fire outbreaks in regions previously considered less vulnerable.

The EEA’s 2024 report Drought impact on ecosystems in Europe indicates that in 2023, drought affected an area of 143,513 km² in Europe, which is higher than the 2000–2020 average (141,229 km², or about 3.5% of the EU’s territory). In Poland, drought covered 24,000 km², placing the country among the hardest hit, alongside Spain (34,000 km²) and Lithuania (20,000 km²).

Forest fire protection – the PPOŻ2 project with PLN 93 million in funding

To counteract the growing fire threat, the State Forests – Environmental Project Coordination Center – will receive nearly PLN 93 million under Measure 2.04 Adaptation to climate change, disaster prevention and management of the FEnIKS program. The total cost of the PPOŻ2 project exceeds PLN 160 million, and its implementation will cover at least 2 million ha of forested land across the country. The funding agreement was signed by Robert Gajda, Vice President of NFOŚiGW, and Karolina Paulewicz-Bazała, Director of the Environmental Project Coordination Center of the State Forests.

The rapidly progressing climate change and increasingly frequent droughts make forest fires a growing threat. The PPOŻ2 project is a response to these challenges, introducing a modern monitoring system that will allow for faster detection of fires not only in forests managed by the State Forests but also in neighboring areas. – Thanks to funding from the FEnIKS program, it will be possible to prevent and counteract these threats – emphasized Robert Gajda.

Modern infrastructure and firefighting equipment

The PPOŻ2 project includes a wide range of activities aimed at improving the early warning and fire response system. Seventy-seven new fire protection facilities will be built, including lookout towers, meteorological masts, and fire location systems. In addition, 199 devices supporting monitoring and fire protection will be purchased. A key element will be the creation of 151 water drawing points, enabling emergency services to quickly access water resources in the event of a fire.

An important part of the project is the purchase of modern firefighting equipment, including patrol-fire trucks capable of effective operation in difficult forest terrain. All planned works are scheduled for completion by 2028.

Benefits for nature and society

The PPOŻ2 project aims not only to protect forests from destruction but also to increase people’s safety. The improved fire protection system will provide better security for residents of nearby areas and tourists visiting the forests. Reducing the fire risk will also help preserve ecologically valuable areas that are key to biodiversity and ecosystem balance.

In addition to its protective functions, the project has socio-economic significance by supporting the country’s sustainable development. Forests, as natural carbon dioxide reservoirs, play an important role in combating climate change, and protecting them from fires contributes to the long-term stability of the environment.

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