Challenges facing wildfires and the professional future of forestry sector discussed on Foresters’ Day
By Marta Esteves
The Higher Technical School of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (ETSEAMN) at the Polytechnic University of Valencia celebrated Saint Francis of Assisi — the patron saint of forestry professionals — with a technical round table on lessons learned from major forest fires in a context shaped by climate change and land abandonment. The event filled the auditorium with forestry engineering students, as well as Master’s and Doctoral candidates.
The session, titled “Lessons Learned from Wildfires,” was coordinated by José Vicente Oliver, UPV professor and coordinator of the Horizon Europe INFORMA project. Speakers included Eduardo Rojas Briales, UPV professor and Chief of INFORMA’s Scientific Committee; Ferrán Dalmau Rovira, forestry engineer and director of Medi XXI GSA; and Álvaro Escrig del Valle, technical coordinator of the Valencia Provincial Firefighters Consortium.
Experts stressed the need to preserve the agroforestry mosaic, noting that “every farmer and livestock breeder who remains in the territory is key to curbing large-scale fires.” They also highlighted the importance of integrating controlled fire into adaptive forest management, especially in landscapes where fuel accumulation raises fire risk.
The discussion aligned with INFORMA’s vision: promoting sustainable, climate-smart forest management across Europe and strengthening knowledge transfer to administrations, businesses, and citizens. Oliver emphasized that European forestry science “has much to contribute in a climate scenario that no longer resembles that of two decades ago.”
Another key topic was the future of forestry professionals. Speakers warned of a growing shortage of technicians in rural and forestry areas, predicting strong demand for specialists in forest management, emergencies, post-fire restoration, and land-use planning. They encouraged students to develop soft skills — leadership, communication, commitment — and explore opportunities in forestry entrepreneurship and the bioeconomy.
Climate change is also driving fire risk in countries previously unaffected, increasing demand for Spanish-trained professionals. The message was clear: international experience is enriching, but talent must return to Spain to avoid brain drain.
The panel addressed an urgent challenge: communication during wildfires. Tactical decisions, such as withdrawing from certain fronts or prioritizing personnel safety, often cause misunderstanding among the public and media. “Behind these decisions lies deep knowledge of fire behavior and risk, but this is not always well communicated,” they noted, calling for better forestry education and journalist training.
The day concluded with a shared message: combining science, technical training, communication, and adaptive management is essential to tackle future fires and build resilient landscapes and societies.