Spain and Portugal have taken a new step forward in cross-border cooperation on wildfire prevention with the launch of FIREPOCTEP AVANZA, an initiative designed to strengthen the management of extreme forest fires across La Raya, the Iberian border region.
Coordinated by the Comunidade Intermunicipal da Região de Coimbra (CIM-RC), the project was officially presented in Lousã Municipal Theatre, Portugal, during a public event and the consortium’s first working meeting, bringing together public authorities, universities, technical organizations, and civil protection agencies from both countries.
High-level institutional participation included Nathalie Verschelde, representing the European Commission; Belén Muñoz from Spain’s Directorate-General for European Funds; Isabel Gonçalves from Portugal’s Agency for Development and Cohesion; and Portugal’s Secretary of State for Forests, Rui Ladeira. Speakers emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Iberian cooperation in tackling one of Southern Europe’s most pressing environmental challenges: extreme forest fires.
During the opening session, participants highlighted the strategic importance of cross-border cooperation projects in increasing territorial resilience against Large Forest Fires (LFFs), promoting innovative solutions, and improving coordination between administrations and emergency services.
A CROSS-BORDER STRATEGY FOR MORE RESILIENT TERRITORIES
FIREPOCTEP AVANZA builds on the work carried out through the previous FIREPOCTEP and FIREPOCTEP+ initiatives, consolidating a forest management model based on territorial resilience, innovation, and shared governance.
The project will promote actions focused on improving wildfire prevention, training, and operational coordination in response to extreme forest fires. It will also support nature-based solutions, the creation of resilient ecological corridors, and the reinforcement of Pilot Areas and Strategic Management Zones developed during earlier project phases.
In parallel, the consortium will work on training technical professionals and local communities, promoting environmental awareness, and encouraging sustainable rural development models aimed at reducing land abandonment and wildfire risk.
FIRST CONSORTIUM MEETING AND TECHNICAL VISITS
Alongside the public launch, the first technical consortium meeting was held on May 13 and 14, focusing on coordination activities, action planning, and project management strategies.
The program also included several technical visits related to wildfire prevention and research, including tours of the Laboratory for Forest Fire Studies and the Aerial Resources Center. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about operational infrastructure, technologies, and emergency response capabilities linked to forest fire prevention and management.
These activities further strengthened knowledge exchange between Portuguese and Spanish organizations while reinforcing the technical and institutional cooperation underpinning FIREPOCTEP AVANZA.
A STRATEGIC PROJECT FOR THE IBERIAN BORDER REGION
FIREPOCTEP AVANZA (0413_FIREPOCTEP_AVANZA_6_P) is co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal Programme (POCTEP) 2021–2027.
With a total budget of €4.3 million and implementation running through 2028, the project aims to contribute to the development of more resilient, sustainable, and climate-ready territories capable of responding to the growing threat of extreme wildfires.
FEUGA TO DRIVE INNOVATION, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PROJECT VISIBILITY
Following its participation in FIREPOCTEP and FIREPOCTEP+, FEUGA is reinforcing its role within FIREPOCTEP AVANZA by leading several strategic work areas focused on maximizing the project’s impact, visibility, and knowledge transfer.
In particular, FEUGA will coordinate the project’s communication and dissemination strategy, seeking to increase awareness of project activities and results, strengthen cross-border cooperation between Spain and Portugal, and raise public awareness about wildfire prevention and sustainable land management in the context of climate change.
The organization will also support the development of entrepreneurial and innovative solutions through technology monitoring, specialized advisory services, training initiatives, and connections to funding and investment opportunities designed to foster new initiatives with territorial impact.
Finally, FEUGA will coordinate citizen participation initiatives and activities involving children and young people, encouraging social engagement through environmental programs, volunteering activities, and reforestation campaigns aimed at strengthening public awareness and commitment to protecting natural ecosystems.
