Technical experts from the Interreg Sudoe REMAS project, led by the Association of Forest Municipalities of the Comunitat Valenciana, presented in the municipality of Loulé (Portugal) the reports and progress made for the management and prevention of the emission risk of carbon accumulated in the ecosystem -vegetation and soil- after a forest fire. Thus, the Portuguese Algarve region brought together partners from Portugal, France and Spain and associates from Andorra.

It was two days of cooperative work in which results, methodologies and good practices in the study areas were discussed: Serra do Caldeirão (Quercus suber L. ecosystem) in Portugal; Landes de Gascogne (Pinus pinaster Ait. ecosystem) in France; Alto Tajo Natural Park (Pinus sylvestris L. ecosystem) and Chelva Forest District (Pinus halepensis Mill. ecosystem), both in Spain. On the first day, the participating entities presented the progress made and planned the actions to be implemented in the coming months. On the second day, the participants visited the Portuguese study plots located in the heart of the Serra do Caldeirão. The Association of Forest Producers also joined this visit and showed the work they do in defence of the forest heritage.

The REMAS project aims to quantify the carbon contained in forest ecosystems, both in vegetation and soil, in order to determine and map the CO2 emission risk after a forest fire. This “emission risk” is aimed at being included in risk prevention and management plans and sustainable forest management (SFM) and planning strategies in order to minimise greenhouse gas emissions from large forest fires and, consequently, their effects on climate change.

The REMAS project is co-financed by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Association of Forest Municipalities of the Comunitat Valenciana (AMUFOR, lead entity) works together with partners such as the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV-ITACA), the University of Valencia (UV-CIDE), the Provincial Council of Valencia (DIVAL), the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, National Centre of CSIC (INIA-CSIC), the Municipality of Loulé (CML), the Higher Institute of Agronomy (ISA), the Bordeaux National School of Agronomic Sciences (Bordeaux Science Agro), as well as with partner entities from different areas of the SUDOE territory.