Forest fires have always had an important ecological role in southern Europe, that’s why many Mediterranean floral species have evolved to better resist them. However, climate change is causing these fires to spread more geographically and temporally, reducing our ability to deal with them and causing human, ecological and economic losses. The abandonment of rural areas due to lack of economic opportunities has led to a deterioration of forest masses and an increase of the fuel available for forest fires, makin this situation even more difficult.
The main objective of this project is to find a way to revalue forest residues in order to revitalize rural economy and create an economic incentive for more efficient forest management in terms of fire prevention. In the context of this project, pilot tests, legal and governance studies and the exchange of good practices will be carried out, as well as initiatives to promote innovation, such as startup awards. In addition, we will try to improve the practices for the recovery of burned soil for the prevention of desertification, which contributes to the conditions in which forest fires occur.