How 292,000 hectares of forest could shape Germany’s wildfire strategy
Iain Hoey
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Peer review evaluates Brandenburg wildfire governance
The Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network has reported that the German state of Brandenburg has received the final report from a wildfire-focused peer review led by the European Commission.
The handover took place on 14 July 2025 in Potsdam, where the Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), Maciej Popowski, formally presented the findings.
The review, which ran from 17 to 23 November 2024, was conducted by four wildfire experts from Portugal, Spain, and Italy, supported by DG ECHO and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.
It marked the first time a German region has participated in the UCPM Peer Review Programme.
According to the Knowledge Network, the review focused on Brandenburg’s legislative structures, risk management planning, and wildfire response preparedness.
Wildfire risk in Brandenburg presents complex challenge
The peer review team found that Brandenburg’s wildfire risk is shaped by intersecting factors including climate conditions, historical land use, and governance responsibilities.
One major issue identified was the presence of unexploded ordnance across an estimated 292,000 hectares of the region’s forested area.
The team concluded that this hazard complicates forest management, emergency planning, and suppression operations.
The review recommended a comprehensive wildfire risk management strategy tailored to Brandenburg’s land profile and institutional setup.
Additional proposals included strengthening wildfire prevention in forestry policies and providing targeted support to local fire services and municipalities.
New wildfire competence centre to support coordination
The Knowledge Network stated that Brandenburg is currently developing a dedicated Wildfire Competence Centre.
The centre is expected to facilitate cross-sector knowledge exchange and technical collaboration on wildfire governance.
Its remit will include coordinating with forest authorities, environmental agencies, researchers, and fire services.
The development of the centre is one of several steps intended to respond to the peer review’s findings and build long-term resilience.
Workshop participants in Potsdam noted that certain recommendations extend beyond the remit of local authorities and may require action at the federal level.
Stakeholders reflect on peer review process
DG ECHO Director General Maciej Popowski said: “This is more than a simple equipment upgrade, it’s a major leap forward for collaborative wildfire risk management in the region.”
He added: “I would like to congratulate Brandenburg for volunteering to undergo a peer review and thank all authorities involved.”
Dr Sascha Dietel, representing the Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg, received the report on behalf of the state.
Dr Dietel said: “We appreciated the very good work of the peers involved and the collaborative approach taken throughout the process.
“The report will be reviewed by an advisory board in October to inform future actions.”
Cross-border and multi-agency involvement in review
The peer review was requested by the Brandenburg State School and Technical Facility for Fire and Disaster Protection and supported by the state interior ministry.
According to the Knowledge Network, over 40 organisations participated, including state forestry and agricultural departments, research bodies, and private forest owners.
National agencies such as the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) supported the initiative.
International cooperation also featured in the review, with the neighbouring Polish region of Gorzow Wielkopolski contributing insights as part of a joint assistance agreement with Brandenburg.
This cross-border perspective was considered essential given shared environmental and fire-related risks in the area.
EU wildfire peer review completed for Brandenburg region: Summary
Brandenburg received the final report from a wildfire-focused peer review on 14 July 2025.
The review was coordinated by DG ECHO and supported by experts from Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
It was the first regional-level wildfire peer review under the UCPM Peer Review Programme.
The review mission took place in November 2024.
Key focus areas included risk governance, planning, preparedness, and institutional coordination.
One major challenge identified was unexploded ordnance across 292,000 hectares of forest.
The review recommended a long-term wildfire management strategy and better integration of fire prevention in forest planning.
A Wildfire Competence Centre is being established to support knowledge exchange and coordination.
DG ECHO Director General Maciej Popowski presented the report in Potsdam.
Dr Sascha Dietel received the report on behalf of Brandenburg authorities.
Stakeholders expressed support for the findings and noted the need for federal-level consideration of some recommendations.
Over 40 organisations and agencies participated in the review process.
The final report is published in English and German on the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network website.