The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority awarded an honorable mention to the “Forest Surveillance – Young Volunteering” program, within the scope of the 2nd edition of the Award for Good Local Practices for Promoting Resilience.
The jury highlighted the importance of this initiative by the Chamber of Loulé «for the preparation of young people in the prevention of risk behaviors, and for the recognition and appreciation of a project strongly oriented, for more than a decade, towards the valorization of volunteering, the training of generations future and strengthening the territory's resilience».
The Municipality was represented at the awards ceremony by Civil Protection councilor Carlos Carmo. The session was attended by the Minister of Internal Administration José Luís Carneiro, the Secretary of State for Civil Protection Patrícia Gaspar and the president of ANEPC Duarte da Costa.
“Forest Surveillance – Young Volunteering” was launched in 2008, aimed at young people aged between 12 and 17.
The activity takes place during school holidays, in July and August. During this period, brigades are formed, accompanied by a monitor, who, every fortnight, monitor the municipality's extensive forest area.
«The objectives of this program are the prevention and detection of forest fires, awareness and information to the population, interaction with the elderly and isolated population, in addition to learning related to forest fires and outdoor walks, favoring relationships interpersonal relationships between the volunteers who participate", says the Loulé municipality in a note.
On the other hand, this project highlights the importance of the forest and the environment.
The program has the support of the parish councils of Alte, Ameixial, Salir and União de Freguesias Querença, Tôr and Benafim and culminates in a moment of conviviality between all participants and stakeholders where young volunteers receive their diploma as nature watchers .
Since its inception, around 900 young people have participated in the program.
«This is a project that is greatly appreciated by our Civil Protection services and, year after year, has seen the participation of many young people interested in protecting our natural heritage but also in learning about how to act. I believe it is a decisive program to strengthen the resilience of younger generations in the face of growing threats such as forest fires», say those responsible for the Municipality of Loulé.
The Award for Good Local Practices for Promoting Resilience is part of the National Strategy for Preventive Civil Protection and the national commitment to the goals set out by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Its purpose is to publicly recognize initiatives, considered good practices, developed by parishes, municipalities or inter-municipal entities, which encourage citizens' preparation and participation in increasing resilience in the face of serious accidents and catastrophes.
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