19 Projects approved in the 1st Call Research on Forest Fires

The final list of projects approved in Call 1st Call the R&D Mobilization Program for the prevention and fight against forest fires has been released.

Nineteen applications were approved, covering topics ranging from fire prevention to the rehabilitation of affected areas, including forecasting, communication, and aerial firefighting systems during the critical phases of the fire itself, as well as the health of the firefighters who combat them. The second edition of Call now open and will accept applications until February 26, 2019.

The Mobilizing R&D Program for the prevention and fighting of 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 for a financial envelope of €5 million and seeks to promote scientific research and innovation, strengthen scientific and technical skills, and produce new knowledge.

The approved research projects cover 10 scientific areas: Forest resource governance; Fire management and extreme fire behavior; Attitudes and behaviors towards fire prevention and fighting and land management; Land use planning and preventive forestry models; Meteorology, forecasting, and risk management; Sensor, information, and emergency communication systems and their integration into decision-making processes; Biomass management and valorization 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.