The EU-funded project under LIFE Programme, “Erosion prevention and flora Restauration of burnt FOREST areas through innovative fungal-technosol solution”, will begin next July, and it will be led by the CETIM Technology Centre
The European Commission, under the LIFE PROGRAMME within the Priority Area Environment & Resource Efficiency, has cofounded this project. The goal of this project is to demonstrate a new strategy to mitigate soil loss associated to post-fire episodes in forest areas, by applying a technosol based in organic waste inoculated with fungal species (mycotechnosol) in order to avoid soil erosion and boost natural regeneration of burnt areas. The coordinator of the project is Multisectorial Research Technology Centre (CETIM) that is specialised in Eco Bio Technologies (area that will develop the project), Advanced Materials and Digital Industry. LIFE REFOREST will last 36 months and it account with a total budget of 1.577.648 €.
The LIFE REFOREST Project will count with an Internacional Consortium constituted by entities from Spain and Portugal, where besides CETIM, will also participate Asociación Forestal de Galicia (AFG), Associaçao Florestal de Portugal (FORESTIS), Hifas da Terra, Indutec Ingenieros, Tratamientos Ecológicos del Noroeste (TEN TECNOSUELOS) and Universidade de Aveiro.
Therefore, the project will be developed in two of the European areas most affected by forest fires, Northwest of Spain and Portugal, where the LIFE REFOREST strategy will be validated through the implementation and validation of two pilot areas. Likewise, the project will contribute to the development and implementation of European policies in relation to the environment, providing a new solution to achieve the environmental and climate objectives established by the European Union, in line with the Thematic Strategy on Soils, the Forestry Strategy and the Directives related to the contamination of water bodies.
Next 31st July 2018 will take place in CETIM the kick-off meeting of LIFE REFOREST where all partners will review all project’s actions and will plan next steps to be performed during next months.
LIFE REFOREST is a project co-funded by the European Union under the LIFE Programme | Grant Agreement N0. LIFE17 ENV/ES/000248.
