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Short Abstract

The Wildfires Citizen Observatory enables Sicilian citizens and municipalities to co-create the Wildfire Registry, enhancing data literacy and legal compliance. This participatory platform allows citizens to gather wildfire data, strengthening legal compliance and fostering participatory governance.

Abstract

Sicily faces an escalating wildfire crisis, with incidents and burned land vastly exceeding comparable Mediterranean regions. Over two-thirds of wildfires are intentional and human-induced, highlighting the urgent need for prevention, environmental compliance, and overall improved governance. The association Fenice Verde has established the Wildfires Citizen Observatory, with the support of Sicily Environment Fund, to fill a gap in operational tools with an interactive and participatory platform that supports public administrations and local communities in monitoring, preventing, and managing intentional fires (osservatorioincendi.org).

The Observatory enables communities to report fires and possible outbreaks, contributing data that can be used by municipalities to compile the Wildfire Registry annually, as demanded by Italian Law 353/2000. Despite its pivotal role in regulating post-fire land exploitation, around 70% of Sicilian municipalities fail to compile the Registry annually due to a lack of capacity.

In 2025, the framework was piloted in collaboration with two municipalities. Citizens reported 122 wildfires, and 11 associations joined the Observatory, establishing a network. The project is part of the EU Citizen Observatories network under the EU-funded CitiObs Horizon project, promoting equitable access to environmental data and integration of participatory science into policy implementation.

By aligning citizen-generated data with municipal responsibilities, the project demonstrates how Citizen Observatories can reinforce environmental governance, foster community resilience, and contribute to wildfire prevention across the Mediterranean. This model strengthens both data literacy and institutional accountability by linking public participation with enforceable legal outcomes. Its innovative approach transforms citizen awareness into actionable policy engagement, bridging the citizen–policy–research interface.