Press release of August 25, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RFSB It calls on them to better anticipate the risk in public and private forests, to facilitate useful interventions, and to strengthen the sharing of information with emergency services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Recent fires remind us that Wallonia must prepare for a risk that is set to become more frequent and more difficult to control. Faced with this evolution, prevention cannot begin once the fire has already been declared. It is prepared upstream, in public and private forests, through a better knowledge of the massifs, adapted arrangements, responsible behaviors, and close coordination with emergency services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RFSB The Royal Forestry Society of Belgium () dedicated its general assembly of May 13, 2026 to this issue. Researchers, forest administration, landowners and managers presented the available knowledge, the devices currently under development and the experiences already implemented in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exchanges confirmed that the fire danger depends on several factors combined: the possibility of a fire starting, weather conditions, the type and distribution of combustible vegetation, the relief, the characteristics of the soil, but also the accessibility of the massif and the availability of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a fire breaks out, every minute counts. Emergency services must be able to quickly identify accessible access routes, paths suitable for their vehicles, turning points, obstacles, and available water sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RFSB She therefore advocates the provision of a Simple and shared platform<\/strong>, allowing public and private forest owners and managers to provide information on, among other things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Department of Nature and Forests (DNF) is currently working on developing this platform (opendfci_Wallonie) in collaboration with the emergency response zones, in order to structure the information useful for protecting forests against fires and to better target investments. At this stage, this tool is not yet accessible to private owners and managers, but they RFSB hope that it will become accessible soon so that they can complete and enrich the field data.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This approach also aligns with practical experiences in private forests. For example, the Forest Grouping of the Vall\u00e9e du Chavan has mapped the access routes according to the types of vehicles that can use them, identified turning points, and identified existing or potential water sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owners and managers already want to take action: maintain access that can be used by rescuers, create or adapt a water reserve, restore a pond or marsh, provide a turning area, or design a device to slow the spread of a fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These initiatives must naturally respect the issues related to water, soil, biodiversity and security. But they should not be hampered by complex or disproportionate procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He therefore calls on RFSB her to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal is not to indiscriminately build more infrastructure in the forest, but to identify, together with the relevant services, the arrangements that are truly relevant for each massif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this point, RFSB the concern expressed by NTF, the rural property owners\u2019 union, is shared: property owners who wish to carry out improvements that are useful for prevention must be able to benefit from a clear, consistent and facilitating framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prevention concerns all forest users. It also applies to landowners, managers, contractors and professionals who work there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Machines, thermal tools and work that may produce sparks or significant heat can become dangerous when the vegetation is very dry. It is therefore recommended to suspend cutting and work using thermal tools during periods of drought or heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A simple guideline can help to maintain this vigilance: the so-called 30-30-30 rule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When two of these criteria are met, increased caution is required. When all three are combined, extreme vigilance must be exercised and work that could cause a fire to start should be postponed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This rule is a practical indicator. It does not replace the official alert levels or the instructions of the authorities. In fact, Wallonia is working on validating meteorological indices and thresholds adapted to its territory, as well as on developing a reference framework for preventive measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the danger becomes exceptional, the temporary reduction of factors that could cause a fire to start must be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This may involve postponing certain forestry work, strengthening surveillance, limiting risky events or activities, and, when the situation requires it, temporarily restricting access to certain massifs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These measures must be targeted, proportionate, clearly communicated, and based on objective criteria. They do not call into question the principle of access to the forest. They respond to a temporary situation in which the slightest carelessness can endanger people, ecosystems, homes, and property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Foresters do not replace firefighters. However, their role is essential to help them intervene: knowledge of the terrain, guidance in the massifs, identification of access routes, information on environmental and heritage issues, and monitoring of any recovery efforts following the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prevention must therefore be built with public and private forest owners and managers, emergency response zones, the DNF, municipalities, scientists, forestry entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in the territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The priorities must be clear: better understanding of the massifs, preparation of access routes and water points, facilitating useful improvements, adapting activities to the level of risk and sharing the essential information with emergency services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through their complementary statements, the RFSB et NTF wish to contribute to the rapid progress of these measures, alongside public authorities and stakeholders on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to these urgent measures, it is also necessary, in the longer term, to adapt the forest stands and forestry practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Face au risque d’incendie, la for\u00eat publique et la for\u00eat priv\u00e9e doivent continuer \u00e0 avancer ensemble. La pr\u00e9vention se pr\u00e9pare avant la crise, et chacun peut y contribuer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La Royal Forestry Society of Belgium (RFSB)<\/strong> est une association cr\u00e9\u00e9e en 1893 qui agit pour la promotion et la protection de la for\u00eat, ainsi que sa gestion durable. Depuis plus de 130 ans, elle d\u00e9fend avec conviction les solutions et la r\u00e9flexion pour une for\u00eat d’avenir, multifonctionnelle et source de vie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Facilitating modifications that are useful for prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Adapting forestry work to the level of risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The ability to temporarily restrict access and risky activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Preparing public and private forests together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who are we?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n