Environmental preservation has become one of Europe’s firm commitments for the 2020 Agenda. In addition, it is also deemed a cross-cutting objective concerning the quality of life of European citizens. Not only does Europe value the fact that forests and their habitats constitute a significant part of our landscape, but there is also the awareness of their harbouring of thousands of animal and plant species. It is important to stress that this natural wealth provides a costless process for air and water purification, it helps to sustain the economy by acting as a source of food and raw materials and, at the same time, it serves as an unquestionable tourist attraction. Furthermore, forests act as the major element in the fight against climate change by means of CO2 fixation and they are a key factor in the production of oxygen for life preservation. In this context, this project focuses on two key objectives: a) Raising awareness regarding the need of care and protection of the forests and enhance the capacity of European citizens to face this current challenge of forest, which are nowadays threatened not only by environmental and water pollution, but also, very particularly, by frequent major fires throughout Europe, especially in the Mediterranean basin. b) The protection of citizens against the risk of human losses in forest fire catastrophes. We can saw dozens of dead people in the big fires across Europe (Greece, Spain, Italy…), which means generally a lack of knowledge. CAREFOREST will also enhance important key abilities, such as leadership, teamwork and IT and communication skills, while, at the same time, providing scientific training that will enable a more thorough and profound understanding of important matters concerning the forests. This will be decisive in reinforcing their environmental awareness as well as increasing their employability. With these main objectives in mind the expected results for the project will be: 1) The production of an E-BOOK on: LIFE IN FOREST AND IMPACT OF FIRES The e-book will include visual graphic and multimedia materials: 3D and 2D animations, videos, pictures, drawings, etc, in order to better communicate the contents and to, complementary, foster ICT based communication in students. It will include 10 didactic units aimed at educating children in secondary education in different aspects of the forest. 2) The production of the Web Platform www.careforest.com This online platform, in addition to the e-Book, will include different sections devoted to promote raising awareness regarding the need of preserving life in forest and taking measure to prevent fires. 3) Organizing an international video competition 4) Carrying out field activities. 5) Organizing workshops and seminars. 6) Publishing an electronic magazine to disseminate the project and its actions and results. Regarding the short term impact, it will work in a different way in the different organizations. a) For the students in pre-university level involved in the project, whether as partner, associated partner or just collaborating in particular activities, the project will widely contribute to the enhancing of their key skills, meanly communication skills due to the involvement of the students in developing video clips, posters, panels and other graphic material to foster awareness-raising regarding the sustainable management of the forest. Competitions, seminars, congresses and other events will be organized with this purpose. By the end of the project they will have also a wide knowledge regarding the life in the forest (flora and fauna), its current challenges and possible measures to be taken in order to mitigate the impact of climate change, pollutions and human hand in the forest. Then, they are expected to work as transmitters to the society of such knowledge, which finally would be the only way of ensuring the sustainable development of the forest. b) For the teachers involved in the project, The involvement in the project activities, and specially their participation in the learning activities, will give them the necessary skills to pass this knowledge and competences to his/her students and to also serves as multiplier agents for the cascade impact of the project.. 3.- For the municipalities, the project will bring the possibility of working together with the Northway university for the Portuguese (as partner) and Spanish (as associated partner) municipalities involved in the project will be important due the high level of awareness and knowledge of this society/university. 4.- For the NGOs working in climate change and environment protection. CONSORTIUM PARTNERS : ES: General Directorate of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation in Education and AtinServices; PT: ASPEA and Lousada Municipality; RO: Metropolitan Agency for Sustainable Development and NO: Norwegian University College of Agriculture and Rural Development.
-Raising awareness regarding the need of care and protection of the forests and enhance the capacity of European citizens to face this current challenge of forest, which are nowadays threatened not only by environmental and water pollution, but also, very particularly, by frequent major fires throughout Europe, especially in the Mediterranean basin. It is important that European citizens understand the whole dimension of the impact of fire in the environment. Further to the temporary impact in term of fire, there is a long term and global impact in terms of flora and fauna of the forest, acidification on the rivers and acidification of our sees and oceans. -The protection of citizens against the risk of human losses in forest fire catastrophes. Europe is becoming increasingly committed to the protection of citizens and this is the main objective in the case of forest fire catastrophes. This project has involved the development of key skills aimed at promoting initiatives for forest development, conservation and sustainable rural development, promoting creativity in communication, increasing environmental awareness and discovering new significant ideas that will help reduce the rate of forest fires.
The preservation of the environment has become one of Europe's firm commitments to the 2020 Agenda. In addition, it is also considered a transversal objective directly related to the quality of life of European citizens. Europe not only values the fact that forests and their habitats are an important part of our landscape, but also the awareness that they are home to thousands of animal and plant species. It is important to emphasize that this natural wealth provides a free process for air and water purification, helps sustain the economy by acting as a source of food and raw materials and, at the same time, serves as an indisputable tourist attraction. In addition, forests act as the main element in the fight against climate change by fixing CO2 and are a key factor in the production of oxygen for the preservation of life.