Nodfyr was at Ourense for the conference ‘Os Lumes que Veñen: Preventive Forest Management’

On 20 October, researcher and technician Silvana Pais, representing NODFYR – Portugal, participated as a guest speaker on the training panel of the conference “Os Lumes que Veñen: Xestión Forestal Preventiva”, an event promoted by the Regional Government of Galicia that brought together more than 70 participants, including technicians, operational staff, academics and managers.

The event, focused on preventive forest management and wildfire risk reduction through landscape planning, provided a unique space for dialogue and cooperation between Iberian professionals committed to the transition to smarter, more participatory and sustainable land governance.

During her speech, Silvana Pais highlighted the importance of putting the landscape back at the centre of the discussion on fire, arguing that any prevention policy will only be effective if it is accompanied by active, integrated and territorially fair management that involves communities, landowners and institutions. At the same time, the head of the organisation sought to promote dialogue among participants, bringing together different perspectives on the landscape, wildfires and fire, emphasising the importance of building bridges between scientific, operational and empirical knowledge.

“More than discussing wildfires, it is urgent to talk about landscape, risk, people and how knowledge, trust and shared responsibility can transform the way we manage the territory,” she said.

Representing NODFYR – Portugal, the leader reinforced the Association's role in rehabilitating the culture of fire as a tool for management, conservation and protection. She stressed the importance of knowing how to use fire correctly, investing in forestry, ecological and conservation literacy, and valuing the traditional uses of fire as an ancestral practice adapted to the dynamics of the territory. ‘The real issue is not to eliminate fire, but to learn to live with it in an integrated and responsible way,’ she said.

With this participation, NODFYR - Portugal reaffirms its commitment to promoting a culture of responsible fire, territorial education, and the development of sustainable practices that integrate scientific and empirical knowledge in favour of living, safe and inhabited landscapes.