Protecting Forests from Fires in a Climate with Rising Temperatures

In an effort to combat the increasing threat of forest fires, Dryad Networks has selected Mediterranean regions in Europe, including parts of Spain, Italy, and Greece, for the deployment of their AI-driven drone, Silvaguard.

The Silvaguard drone, currently under development in Brandenburg, Germany, is designed to detect and potentially extinguish forest fires within minutes. According to Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO of Dryad, the need for quicker responses to fires is crucial due to their increased speed and aggressiveness.

Experts like Lindon Pronto, an expert in fighting wildfires at the European Forest Institute, agree that new measures are needed, both in terms of prevention and fighting forest fires. One such measure is the planting of green firebreaks, native deciduous tree species, around population centers and civil infrastructure. Healthy deciduous forests, with their shady and less flammable characteristics, are naturally resilient to fire.

However, conifers, which are common in many forests, can pose a risk due to their high flammability. The profusion of non-native eucalyptus trees in the Mediterranean region, for example, has increased the fire risk.

Firebreaks, areas kept free of vegetation, can slow or stop wildfires. Roads and rivers can serve as firebreaks if the roadside is kept free of combustible material. In some German states, fire surveillance cameras have been installed on various structures to help detect fires as early as possible.

Reducing fuel loads in forests, such as removing dry branches or using mechanical mowing, can help make forests more fire-resistant. Controlled burning in the cooler months can also help reduce fuel loads.

Tactical backfires, where firefighters run toward the existing fire and consume all combustible material in their path, can be used under the right wind conditions. Watering firebreaks can make it even more difficult for flames to cross them.

Wildfires are often caused by human activities, such as discarded glass, cigarette butts, or hot car exhaust pipes. Global heating caused by greenhouse gas emissions is a major accelerator of wildfires, with wildfires between 2001 and 2024 wiping out 152 million hectares of trees, a third of the total tree loss during the same period.

As the threat of wildfires continues to grow, with extreme wildfires expected to increase by about 14% by 2030 and 30% by 2050, the European deployment of the Silvaguard drone is planned for the next few years, but some technical challenges still need to be overcome. The drone system's development was partly funded by the EU and is set to be launched on the market in 2026, with an initial deployment outside Europe.

If a fire is confirmed, the responsible fire department is notified immediately. The drone is equipped with sensors that analyze the size and location of a fire, allowing the fire department to send the necessary vehicles directly to the fire's location.

In some regions, fires are breaking out in places once humid enough to prevent them, such as rainforests in the Amazon and Indonesia. The endemic pines on the Canary Islands, however, are well-adapted to regular fires and volcanic eruptions.

As the fight against forest fires continues, the Silvaguard drone offers a promising solution, demonstrating the potential of technology to help combat the effects of climate change on our forests.