Ferran Dalmau–Rovira, Director of Medi XXI GSA, explains how the DesirMED Project is applying science and nature to tackle extreme wildfire events in the Mediterranean

As wildfires grow more frequent and severe due to climate change, regions like the Mediterranean are becoming increasingly exposed to large-scale disasters.

Could initiatives underway in Europe help prevent catastrophes such as the Los Angeles fires? The DesirMED Project, funded through the Horizon Europe Programme, is one attempt to answer that question.

Among its European partners is Medi XXI GSA, a micro-SME environmental engineering firm based in Spain.

Led by Director Ferran Dalmau–Rovira, the team contributes to the project’s efforts to improve wildfire resilience through Nature-based Solutions, new technologies, and better local governance.

DesirMED brings together experts from ten countries to develop practical climate adaptation strategies.

In this interview, Ferran Dalmau–Rovira explains how DesirMED approaches wildfire prevention and shares insights into what Mediterranean communities—and potentially others—can do to strengthen their defences.

What led to the creation of the DesirMED project and your involvement?

The Mediterranean is among the most climate-vulnerable and economically challenged European regions.

Diverse environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural characteristics increase exposure to environmental hazards, while adaptation policies are slow and uneven.

Though national strategies exist, gaps in funding, data, and monitoring delay implementation.

Europe’s Nature-based Solutions (NbS) approach lacks large-scale adoption, especially in southern areas.

DesirMED was formed to help eight Mediterranean regions lead long-term climate adaptation with transformative solutions.

Medi XXI GSA, with two decades of wildfire mitigation experience, joined via an invitation from the Generalitat Valenciana.

We saw this as an opportunity to apply our forestry engineering expertise to reduce wildfire risk and build climate adaptation capacity.

Climate change is a scientific fact.

Human activity, urban disconnect from nature, and unsustainable development have worsened wildfire conditions and EWE (Extreme Wildfire Events).

How does your sensor data support DesirMED’s strategies?

In our GUARDIAN project—now forming part of DesirMED—hundreds of meteorological and soil sensors collect data every five minutes.

These sensors inform our use of prescribed irrigation, grazing, and other tools to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risks.

The water used comes from urban wastewater systems.

The data supports precise climate modelling, essential for customising regional responses.

It helps simulate wildfire and drought conditions under different scenarios, enabling targeted action plans.

High-resolution data ensures interventions are science-based, reducing reliance on ineffective tools like household sprinklers.

What are Nature-based Solutions, and how is DesirMED applying them?

According to IUCN, Nature-based Solutions involve restoring or managing ecosystems to address climate and societal challenges while benefiting biodiversity and people.

They can include urban green infrastructure, wetland restoration, or, as in our case, green firebreaks using low-combustibility plants.

DesirMED is testing various NbS for hazards like wildfire and drought, measuring effectiveness across environmental, social, and technical criteria.

Our prescribed irrigation mimics rainfall to maintain vegetation.

Prescribed burning simulates natural fire cycles.

Grazing controls undergrowth.

These methods are inexpensive to maintain and align with natural systems.

In our GUARDIAN analysis, a €5.5 million investment in infrastructure yielded societal returns of €31 million.

Why is the Mediterranean particularly susceptible to wildfire risks?

The region is warming 20% faster than the global average, with increased heatwaves, droughts, and variable rainfall.

It also experiences compound events—like droughts followed by flash floods—that intensify disaster risks.

Wildfires are amplified by dry vegetation, urban sprawl, and reduced ecosystem management.

Events like the 2024 Los Angeles wildfires reflect similar patterns.

DesirMED promotes peer-to-peer exchanges, tailored data models, and regional empowerment to address these escalating challenges through better infrastructure, planning, and behavioural change.

How does international collaboration benefit DesirMED’s mission?

DesirMED unites 33 organisations from 10 countries—regional governments, research institutions, NGOs, insurers, and SMEs.

This diversity ensures science, governance, engineering, finance, and communication are all represented.

SMEs like Medi XXI GSA contribute technical expertise, while regional authorities bring local knowledge.

Collaboration strengthens the scaling of site-specific solutions across Europe.

What do “Demonstrating” and “Replicating” regions mean in DesirMED?

Eight Mediterranean regions are split into two categories.

Demonstrating Regions have advanced adaptation plans and are ready to test innovative solutions.

Replicating Regions are earlier in their adaptation journey and will adopt proven practices from their counterparts.

Each region addresses a specific climate hazard.

In Valencia, our focus is wildfires.

We’re enhancing predictive wildfire models and implementing green firebreaks in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones using treated urban wastewater.

Why aren’t sprinklers enough for wildfire protection?

Sprinklers alone do not address wildfire complexity.

They may reduce ember impacts but don’t manage fuel loads or ensure strategic defence.

Our approach uses green firebreaks, prescribed irrigation, and integrated planning, including community training and pyrogardening.

This approach also strengthens ecosystems, reduces temperatures, supports native species, and improves water retention.

Using reclaimed water creates a circular water system that supports fire defence during droughts.

We simulate fire scenarios using software that calculates fire intensity thresholds, helping communities prepare in advance.

How does DesirMED tackle wildfire defence across different levels?

DesirMED applies a multi-layered approach.

Individually, WUI residents must maintain fire-safe gardens and understand self-protection.

Municipally, regulations must be enforced, and water treatment facilities maintained.

At the landscape level, firebreak maintenance can involve grazing, prescribed burns, or silviculture.

This systemic management ensures long-term fire preparedness.

How does DesirMED share lessons and strategies among regions?

It is extremely important to ensure an adequate cross-learning among regions to accelerate their transformation.

To effectively do so, an exchange and engagement programme is foreseen in the project where peer-to-peer virtual and in-person workshops and visits between regions will be carried out to foster cross-pollination of ideas, innovations, and best practices between.

As an example, regions meet virtually on a monthly basis to discuss about their progress and resolve main challenges.

Additionally, “Regional Adaptation Days” meetings are held annually with the exclusive goal of promoting this peer-to-peer exchange by organising capacity building activities.

Finally, once the project is more advanced, documentation will be developed where beset practices, lessons learned and scaling-out tips from solution portfolio implementation will be shared to ensure the efficient scalability and transferability from Demonstrating to Replicating regions.

What challenges and opportunities exist in scaling DesirMED solutions?

Scaling depends on changing both public attitudes and policymaker habits. Many still favour traditional, reactive approaches.

DesirMED promotes local ownership, inclusive governance, and flexible adaptation to different regional contexts.

These strategies can also apply in areas like California that face similar hazards.

The most dramatic thing that can happen to us is to learn nothing from what is happening.

A wise American (William Deming) said that without data, we are just another person with an opinion.

In our view, based on more than 20 years of experience and scientific evidence, on data, lots of data, the human species (and I am talking on a species scale) has nothing more important to do than to face the disaster we have caused.

Especially for our daughters and sons. And we need to articulate social majorities.

And people of science, technicians, must understand that being right is not enough. We need to convince. Not to conquer.

The Inquisition provoked with its power that Galileo Galilei or Copernicus had to deny what they knew.

The sun did not revolve around the earth. It was the other way around. But if they didn’t deny it, they were going to be killed…

they were right, but the power based on religion and beliefs condemned them.

We must learn from what happened to them, and work to make people understand the problem.

We can all be part of the solution, or part of the problem.

Perhaps the most important question is: Which do we prefer? When we are judged by the generations to come, we have a clear defense.

We try with all our heart, soul and all the little or much knowledge of years of study and practice, despite those who chose inaction or denial.

It is clear to me that I will tell them. What will you tell them?

This article was originally published in the May 2025 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal – to read your FREE digital copy, click here.