Volunteers for wildfire prevention and suppression in Catalonia

Forest Defence Groups (ADF) are volunteer wildfire prevention and suppression organisations in Catalonia, Spain, established in 1986 following a major wildfire on Mount Montserrat. Comprising over 3,000 volunteers, ADFs operate across rural Catalonia, focusing on fire suppression, prevention, post-fire reforestation, and community engagement. Rooted in historical mutual aid networks among farmers, they are formally integrated with regional fire and forest management bodies, enhancing wildfire resilience in Mediterranean regions through local knowledge and institutional collaboration. The ADF model is a governance intervention promoting community-based forest protection against biotic and abiotic hazards.