Green Firebreaks: Potential to Proactively Complement Wildfire Management

Green Firebreaks (GFBs), strips of strategically placed low-flammability vegetation, represent a proactive complement to other approaches to wildfire management. This review, which summarises the literature to elucidate GFBs’ potential to reduce fire spread and intensity, revealed that empirical studies validating their effectiveness remain scarce. It also revealed that comparisons of GFB techniques are challenging due to spatial and temporal complexity combined with inconsistent methods and terminology. Several researchers note that GFB effectiveness requires that their design is appropriate for the site conditions. Furthermore, GFBs are not a stand-alone solution to the wildfire problem, and a lack of consideration for trade-offs may undermine their effectiveness, particularly under extreme weather conditions. As climate change intensifies drought and heat, vegetation moisture content must be a key design factor given that even low-flammability vegetation becomes fuel under extreme drought conditions. In addition, poorly designed GFBs may unintentionally alter wind dynamics and increase ember transport and fire spread. There is a broad consensus in the literature that appropriately designed GFBs can complement wildfire management while providing additional biodiversity and other benefits. To achieve their potential, research is required for GFB designs to be site-specific, responsive to trade-offs, and effective in providing multiple benefits under different climate change scenarios.