First Call Forest Fire Research Projects

Today, December 28, FCT opened the first Call funding for research projects aimed at preventing and combating forest fires. The Call provides for a financial envelope of €5 million. Applications will be accepted until February 28, 2018.

This is the first of three Calls, with the next ones opening in July 2018 and July 2019, under the R&D Mobilization Program for the prevention and combating of forest fires, created by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 159/2017 of October 21, following the recommendations of the report by the Independent Technical Commission that investigated the Pedrógão Grande fires. A total of €15 million in funding is expected for research projects selected under the three Calls.

The Call to promote scientific research and innovation, strengthening scientific and technical skills and capabilities, ensuring the appropriation and incorporation of scientific knowledge in support of decision-making in operational systems, as well as the production of new knowledge geared towards problem solving. The areas of research will include:

– Forest resource governance; Post-fire restoration and forest management; Land use planning and preventive forestry models; Models for the organization and management of forest areas, in terms of protection, conservation, silvopastoralism, recreation, leisure, and production; management and valorization of biomass in rural areas;

– Fire management and extreme fire behavior; Attitudes and behaviors regarding fire prevention and fighting and land management; Occupational health and safety of firefighting technicians;

– Meteorology, forecasting, and risk management, including fire detection and optimization of early warnings, and development of intelligent observation and decision support systems; Sensor, information, and emergency communications systems and their integration into decision-making processes.

For more information, please refer to the Call page.