Training and Operations
Specialized training in wildfires: practical learning for safer fire suppression.
In 2024, we strengthened our work in South America through two projects. With EGIIF Ecuador, we are supporting the development of an Integrated Wildfire Management strategy program. In Bolivia, we are implementing a “mini EGIF” program, where we continue to offer training in real-life wildfire scenarios. We apply a training model based on the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the field and through practical exercises with fire.
We have also organized and coordinated training sessions nationally and internationally, applying a methodology based on creating spaces of trust for the exchange of knowledge and experiences between professionals from different agencies, in order to improve firefighting capacity and safety in emergency scenarios. To this end, we have relied on our excellent training and operations team, and professionals from our international network of experts who assist us as trainers.
491
PARTICIPANTS
Knowledge and Applied Science
We facilitate projects that integrate the entire spectrum of wildfires: research, emergency services and society.
We are working to lead and participate in R&D&i projects to increase research excellence and drive advances in the field of wildfires.
In 2024, we launched the European project EWED (Extreme Wildfire Events Data Hub for Improvement Decision Making) to improve existing knowledge about Extreme Wildfire Events (EWEs) and the capacity to prepare for and respond to them. We continue the challenge of coordinating and advancing the FIRE-ADAPT project to improve understanding of the role of Integrated Fire Management (IFM) in preventing wildfires and improving natural and cultural ecosystem services in regions of the Mediterranean basin and Latin America. We also completed two very enriching projects, EduFire Toolkit and PyroLife.
We continue to connect the fire community, research, and society through collaborative projects, integrating the wildfire community into competitive international projects, and strengthening partnerships with companies and research & development centers to advance knowledge and create innovative tools for emergency management.
7
ACTIVE
PROJECTS
Resilient Landscapes and Societies
We propose strategic management actions to have landscapes and societies adapted to wildfires.
The Foundation promotes landscape resilience through territorial analysis and the proposal of specific management actions at key points, as well as risk awareness projects for the creation of societies resilient to wildfires.
2024 was a year in which we significantly increased our participation in projects for the creation of resilient landscapes and societies. Projects such as PREPAST, RUMIAR, and BIO FOR PIRI have allowed us to work with other proposals on objectives that we, as a foundation, carry out through the “Ramats de Foc” project, promoting extensive livestock farming, in addition to integrating an element such as biodiversity. Projects such as “Foc i Biodiversitat a l’Alta Garrotxa” (which we coordinate) have allowed us to work from a comprehensive perspective on wildfire risk.
Furthermore, with CARMINE and FIREPRIME, we have delved into the creation of societies and communities at the Wildland-Urban Interface to create materials and tools that contribute to their adaptation to wildfire risk.
And as always, “Ramats de Foc” has continued to join forces to recruit new shepherds and support and consolidate the presence of extensive livestock farming as a tool for sustainable forest fire risk management.
11
ACTIVE
PROJECTS
Education
and Awareness
We seek a change in the perception of wildfires, promoting sustainable management of fire and natural resources through education.
The Foundation contributes to changing social perceptions of wildfires through educational and outreach activities.
In 2024, we developed the Service-Learning project “How can we prevent major wildfires?” This is a learning methodology based on exploring concepts about wildfires and putting what we’ve learned into practice through action (service) to raise community awareness of the need to prevent and prepare the landscape and people for major wildfires. We also continued to run our MeFiTu environmental education workshop to raise awareness among children about the need to learn to live with fire. This project helps us raise awareness about the importance of forest management and a true rural economy to manage the risk of wildfires.
Furthermore, during 2024, we increased the creation of educational materials to disseminate knowledge about wildfires.
510
PARTICIPANTS IN
AWARENESS-RISING ACTIONS
Community
We foster participation and give the wildfire community visibility.
We have facilitated the participation of Foundation members through the opportunities we have offered them throughout 2024 in training events and awareness-raising activities at the local, national, and international levels. We have also given visibility to our community through our dissemination channels and through their participation in the media.
The Foundation also aims to support and give visibility to vulnerable and minority groups in the field of wildfires. In particular, we have carried out significant activities to support and give visibility to women working in the field of wildfires.
8
ACTIVE PROJECTS
