19 projects approved in the 1st Call Research into Forest Fires

The final list of projects approved in the 1st Call for the R&D Mobilizer Program for preventing and fighting forest fires has been released.

Nineteen applications were approved, with topics ranging from fire prevention to the rehabilitation of affected areas, as well as forecasting, communication and air combat systems during the critical phases of the fire itself and the health of firefighters. The 2nd edition of the Call is currently open, and will receive applications until February 26, 2019.

The R&D Mobilizer Program for preventing and fighting forest fires was created by Council of Ministers Resolution no. 159/2017, following the recommendations of the report by the Independent Technical Commission that investigated the Pedrógão Grande fires. This Call, which is organized by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), provides a financial envelope of 5 million euros and seeks to promote scientific research and innovation, strengthen scientific and technical skills, as well as the production of new knowledge.

The approved research projects are spread across 10 scientific areas: Forest resource governance; Fire management and extreme fire behavior; Attitudes and behavior towards fire prevention, firefighting and land management; Planning and preventive forestry models; Meteorology, forecasting and risk management; Sensing, information and emergency communications systems and their integration into decision-making processes; Management and valorization of biomass in rural areas; Models for the organization and management of forest areas, in terms of protection, conservation, silvopastoralism, recreation, leisure and production; Occupational health and safety of firefighting technicians; Post-fire restoration and forest management, at different temporal and spatial scales.