FCT promotes session on “Rural Fires: Better management based on scientific evidence”

The FCT, together with ForestWISE – Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest and Fire Management and the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF), will organize a session on “Rural Fires: Better management based on scientific evidence” (program) on November 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the Auditorium of the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), in Algés. The event will present and discuss the projects supported by FCT under the Call Scientific Research and Technological Development Projects in the Field of Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting.

The Call already completed two editions, having funded 37 research projects in various scientific areas, for a total amount of €10 million. The opening of this Call, which will have a third edition, was determined by Resolution No. 159/2017 of the Council of Ministers, which, among a wide range of measures to improve the prevention and fighting of rural fires, included the creation of a mobilizing Research and Development program geared towards these purposes. The need to promote scientific research and innovation in this area was identified by the Independent Technical Commission set up by the Assembly of the Republic to analyze the fires that occurred in June 2017.

The aim of this event is to stimulate interaction between researchers working in different scientific fields on the prevention and fighting of rural fires, seeking to establish scientific cooperation networks, promote multidisciplinarity, and identify knowledge gaps. The goal is to contribute to the design and implementation of scientifically based forms of governance and risk management for rural fires.

The initiative is open to the entire scientific community and all interested parties, with free participation upon prior registration. The FCT has produced a brochure on IC&DT Projects in the field of Forest Fire Prevention and Control, from Calls 17 and 2018 Calls , which can be consultedhere.

Program and Registration.