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Perspectives on protected area and wildfire management in the Black Sea region

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Abstract

Protected areas are necessary for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. Wildfires are major threats to forests and other natural areas, because they may cause irreversible damages. The aim of this study was to analyze the perspective of experts (N = 284), from six countries of the Black Sea, on the current status and problems of protected areas and wildfires. Understanding their points of view could enhance future management on these issues in the region. Data collection was carried out for 9 months, using a web-based questionnaire. Wildfires were perceived as a serious problem in Turkey, Armenia and Greece but as a substantially less serious problem in Romania, Ukraine and Moldova. In Greece, Armenia, and especially Ukraine, the current designated protected areas are considered sufficient to maintain biodiversity, while in Romania, Turkey, and especially Moldova, more areas should be designated as protected. A major need in all countries (except for Turkey) is the increased use of information and communication technologies for both wildfire suppression and protected area management. Experts were divided on whether wildfire suppression and management of protected areas are interconnected. However, there is growing awareness of the adverse impacts of climate change in protected areas and the frequency of wildfires in the future. The most frequently suggested measures to alleviate these impacts were: changes in forest management and increasing public awareness for wildfire suppression, along with changes in forest management and increased staff training to enhance protected area conservation.

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Acknowledgements

The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and can, under no circumstances, be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology (EMaTTech), 1st km Drama, 66100, Mikrohoriou, Drama, Greece

    George N. Zaimes

  2. Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 227, 54 124, Thessaloníki, Greece

    Petros A. Tsioras

  3. 66100, Choristi, Drama, Greece

    Chrysovalantis Kiosses

  4. Artvin Coruh University, Artvin, Turkey

    Mustafa Tufekcioglu

  5. National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

    Sergiy Zibtsev

  6. Eco-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers, Chişinău, Republic of Moldova

    Ilya Trombitsky

  7. Prefect’s Institution of Braila County, Braila, Romania

    Razvan Uratu

  8. Zikatar Environmental Centre, Ministry of Nature Protection, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia

    Luiza Gevorgyan

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  1. George N. Zaimes
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  3. Chrysovalantis Kiosses
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  4. Mustafa Tufekcioglu
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  5. Sergiy Zibtsev
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  6. Ilya Trombitsky
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  7. Razvan Uratu
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  8. Luiza Gevorgyan
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Correspondence to George N. Zaimes.

Additional information

Project funding: This study was co-funded by the EU INTERREG IV “Black Sea Basin Joint Operational Programme 2007–2013” framework, and the Black Sea Basin Programme. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union.

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Corresponding editor: Hu Yanbo.

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Zaimes, G.N., Tsioras, P.A., Kiosses, C. et al. Perspectives on protected area and wildfire management in the Black Sea region. J. For. Res. 31, 257–268 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0857-5

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