Perception and communication of the risk of forest fires on the northern side of the Alps

Global warming will increase the likelihood of forest fires on the northern side of the Alps. For this reason, human behaviour in dealing with outdoor fires is also becoming the focus of forest fire prevention in this area. In this article, the relevant factors for risk perception and action decisions of different stakeholder groups are presented and three types of recommendations for risk communication and thus for forest fire prevention are derived. First, steering recommendations become important when there is an increased risk of forest fires and include measures such as the targeted provision or removal of fireplaces in the forest. Second, recommendations for raising awareness should ensure that the target groups have the necessary skills for dealing with fire, obtaining information and recognising risks. This includes, for example, educational activities in agricultural and forestry training or the strengthening of skills for the correct extinguishing of barbecue fires. Third, organisational recommendations are aimed at strengthening the communication network and creating clearly defined roles for those involved in raising public awareness.