Resilience against drought and fire

Strengthening ecosystem resilience to drought and wildfire is a key component of the NewLIFE4BioIslands restoration strategy. This task integrates nature-based solutions and adaptive restoration measures to improve the long-term survival of restored habitats under increasingly severe climate conditions across Mediterranean and Macaronesian landscapes.

The main actions include:

• Innovative water management solutions: Fog water collection systems, water-saving planting technologies, and efficient irrigation support measures will be deployed to improve water availability and increase the survival of native vegetation during establishment.
• Soil restoration and moisture retention: Organic soil amendments, mulching techniques, erosion control measures, and site-specific soil restoration solutions will be implemented to enhance soil fertility, water retention, and ecosystem recovery.
• Climate-adapted restoration infrastructure: Restoration designs will incorporate landscape features that improve water conservation, reduce erosion, and strengthen the resilience of restored ecosystems to prolonged drought.
• Wildfire risk reduction: Selective vegetation management and fuel-load reduction measures will be implemented to decrease wildfire risk, while the spatial design of biodiversity islands and surrounding habitats will help reduce fire spread and support ecological recovery after disturbance.

By integrating drought adaptation and fire resilience into restoration planning, this task will improve the durability of restoration actions and enhance the capacity of restored ecosystems to support pollinators and biodiversity under future climate scenarios.