- Finnova is partner in the projects CILIFO, FOIL-CILIFO, FIREPOCTEP and FIREPOCTEP +, FIPAS, and SETOFF initiatives that strengthen the prevention and extinction of forest fires
- This day aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting and preserving forests to ensure biodiversity and the planet’s health
Every year, thousands of hectares of forests burn across Europe, endangering biodiversity and contributing to climate change. On the International Day of Forests, Finnova Foundation reinforces its commitment to wildfire prevention and management through innovative initiatives that combine technology and cross-border cooperation.
One of the most significant threats to forest well-being is wildfire. According to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, nearly 500,000 hectares burned in Spain in 2024. Elsewhere in Europe, Greece experienced devasting scenes with columns of black smoke looming over the Parthenon, while northern Portugal suffered a wave of wildfires in September.
Wildfires increase CO₂ levels, contributing to the greenhouse effect and polluting water. In response to the issue, the European Union promotes initiatives such as the EU civil protection mechanism and programs like NTERREG, LIFE and ERASMUS+ for prevention, early detection, rapid response and rehabilitation of affected areas.
Finnova and Its Commitment to Forest Management
Since 2019, the Finnova Foundation has developed NEXT FOREST GENERATION strategy, promoting European projects within the frameworks of INTERREG, ERASMUS+, LIFE, EIT Climate-KIC, and HORIZON programs, with an estimated investment of €35 million. Within this strategy, the foundation is a partner in several projects.
Currently, FIREPOCTEP+ aims to strengthen wildfire prevention and extinction systems in the cross-border region between Spain and Portugal, known as La Raya, with a budget of €3.3 million under the INTERREG program. This project is on the results of FIREPOCTEP.
FIREPOCTEP, in turn, originated under the umbrella of CILIFO (Iberian Center for Research and Fighting Wildfires). Its focus was on prevention and climate change mitigation in the Alentejo-Algarve Euroregion. Co-financed at 75% by the ERDF Fund through the Interreg V-A Spain-Portugal 2014-2020 (POCTEP) Program, with a €24.6 million budget, it was the largest Interreg project in the EU for wildfire prevention and extinction.
Created in 2019 under CILIFO, the FOIL-CILIFO (Firefighting Open Innovation Lab) accelerator was the world’s first accelerator dedicated to wildfire prevention and extinction. In 2021, it received the EEPA award from the European Commission in the category of business internationalization.
The SETOFF project was a training program in crisis management, protection and rescue, developing a curriculum based on simulations and scientific advancements. Funded by ERASMUS+ with a €312,307 budget, it involved partners from Greece, North Macedonia, Belgium and Spain.
Lastly, Finnova participated in the FIPAS (Forest Fire Prediction Alarm System) project, aimed at developing a wildfire prediction alarm system. This initiative implemented a faire risk index in 1 km² grid areas, optimizing prevention and management through a centralized platform. FIPAS had a budget of €144,500, 80% of which was financed by EIT Climate-KIC.