Prioritizing areas for post-fire restoration in Greece using mixed-methods spatial analysis

Abstract

The Mediterranean region will likely face an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires due to climate change. Despite being fire-prone, Greece lacks a developed standardized system for identifying and prioritizing burned areas in relation to their restoration needs. Prioritization of areas for post-fire restoration efforts using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing is a powerful decision-making tool, which, however, can be insufficient in effectively integrating socio-ecological criteria and perspectives from multiple stakeholders. Combining qualitative methods such as interviews with remotely sensed data can enhance the understanding of nuances in a local context. We designed an approach to identify high-priority areas for post-fire vegetation restoration. The identification was based on stakeholder interviews and the subsequent integration of their responses with subsequent multi-criteria overlay analysis. We selected criteria to rank the areas by interviewing 15 stakeholders working on post-fire issues. The expert interviews revealed the key characteristics respondents consider essential for prioritizing burned areas for restoration. Areas covering 77.25 km² were selected for restoration depending on the fire history, slope, and designation as part of the protected areas. Outcomes of the analysis helped to highlight three locations that potentially need special attention, with the total area of 31 km². We propose a prioritization system that is flexible, scalable, and can help government agencies, local foresters, private consultancies, and NGOs plan restoration actions and optimize the effectiveness of restoration programs in various ecosystems.