Background

Following the dry summer of 2018, the Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MR-FJLS) decided to establish a working group to assess the challenges faced by Nordic forestry in a future characterised by increasingly extreme weather conditions. The group included representatives from Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden. Sweden led the group, with operational support from the secretariat of Nordic Forest Research (SNS) and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

As a result of this initiative, the report Nordic Forestry – Challenges in a Future Shaped by Extreme Weather was finalised in the summer of 2019. The report proposed specific  areas for Nordic cooperation that could contribute to a more resilient Nordic forest sector.

Based on the report’s findings, the Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Fisheries, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ÄK-FJLS) assigned SNS the task of establishing a permanent Nordic network for the prevention and management of forest fires: the Nordic Network for Forest and Vegetation Fires. The network was launched in 2020 and meets twice a year – once before and once after the fire season.

 

Purpose and Vision of the Network

The Nordic countries share similar environmental conditions, languages, and cultures, as well as a long tradition of cross-border cooperation. The network consists of around 30 members representing ministries, relevant authorities, academia, industry, governmental agencies, and operational fire and rescue services from across the Nordic region.

The purpose of the network is to establish and maintain a permanent Nordic preparedness and cooperation platform. By facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience across borders, the network aims to strengthen the capacity to manage forest and vegetation fires effectively in the future.

The network aims to be the leading meeting point for Nordic cooperation on forest and vegetation fires. It will serve as an important knowledge hub, enabling the Nordic countries to benefit from each other’s experiences in forest fire prevention and management. Additionally, the network will work towards adapting forests to future fire regimes – helping to safeguard lives, the environment, biodiversity, and economic competitiveness while contributing to a sustainable bioeconomy in the Nordic region.