Getting to know our forests, understanding how they are managed and discovering the opportunities they offer for the future. With these objectives in mind, the European BIO4RES project has developed an awareness-raising programme aimed at secondary school and sixth-form pupils in Navarre, with the aim of helping the younger generation understand the importance of sustainable forest management and the responsible use of biomass.
The initiative has been carried out in three schools in the Autonomous Community of Navarre: BHI Eunate in Pamplona and schools in Lumbier and Aoiz. The activities, which took place between the end of the last academic year and the start of the current one, involved pupils in Years 3 and 4 of ESO and at sixth-form level.
To this end, BIO4RES has designed and produced specific teaching materials, available in Spanish and Basque, which combine theoretical content with practical and participatory activities. The aim is for pupils to understand the environmental, social and economic functions of forests and to discover how their responsible management can contribute to the conservation of ecosystems, fire prevention and rural development.
THREE SESSIONS TO DISCOVER THE VALUE OF OUR FORESTS
The educational programme is structured around three teaching sessions which enable some of the main challenges related to forest management to be addressed in a progressive manner, tailored to the pupils’ ages.
The first session, entitled ‘Forests as living, multifunctional systems’, invites participants to reflect on our perception of forests and to understand that these spaces fulfil fundamental ecological, social and economic functions.
The second, ‘Forest biomass and fire prevention’, explores in depth the relationship between active forest management, fire risk reduction and the sustainable use of biomass as a source of renewable energy.
Finally, the third session, ‘Resilient Forests and Green Jobs’, looks to the future, introducing the concept of forest resilience and highlighting the various professions and employment opportunities linked to the sector.
Through a participatory approach, the sessions aim to spark pupils’ curiosity, encourage critical thinking and foster a more comprehensive understanding of the role that forest resources play in our society.
CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT
One of the main objectives of this initiative is to help overcome certain preconceptions about forestry activities, particularly those that equate any timber harvesting with the destruction of forests.
The programme explains the differences between unsustainable exploitation and responsible forest management, demonstrating how certain measures, when properly planned, can promote the conservation of ecosystems, improve the health of woodlands and reduce their vulnerability to fires.
It also provides an insight into the work of the various professionals involved in land management, ranging from forest rangers and forestry engineers to companies in the sector and stakeholders linked to rural communities.
The initiative also pays particular attention to the opportunities for economic development and job creation associated with forest biomass, with the aim of encouraging younger generations to see this field as a potential career path.
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS-RAISING FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Beyond the classroom, the programme aims to ensure that the knowledge gained also reaches households and helps to raise greater social awareness of the importance of caring for and managing our forests responsibly.
The educational materials have been designed with Navarre’s forestry context in mind, although their content can be adapted and applied to other areas within the SUDOE region, thereby promoting the continuity and dissemination of this initiative.
Through this initiative, BIO4RES reinforces its commitment to training, raising awareness and knowledge transfer as fundamental tools for improving the resilience of forest ecosystems and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.
The initiative also demonstrates that fire prevention and forest conservation begin in the classroom, equipping future generations with the knowledge and tools needed to build a more sustainable future.
The BIO4RES project, ‘Forest biomass and fire prevention: an opportunity for rural resilience’, is being carried out within the framework of the Interreg Sudoe Programme 2021–2027.