Hands-on activities with Naturtejo

The first onsite activities in the Naturtejo CORE Lab counted with the participation of an array of key stakeholders, including local firefighters from Oleiros, Proença-a-Nova and Castelo Branco, representatives from the Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF), and local citizens. This diverse gathering underscored the community’s collective commitment to enhancing resilience and cooperation in facing environmental and societal challenges

The event commenced on April 22, 2024, with a warm welcome and registration at the Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta, setting the stage for a series of informative and collaborative sessions. The opening remarks were delivered by the CORE Lab Naturtejo team, emphasizing the importance of local engagement and scientific collaboration.

A key highlight of the first day was the presentation of the RESILIAGE project, where attendees were briefed on the project’s goals, ongoing field studies, and the agenda for the upcoming days. This session provided crucial insights into how scientific research is being leveraged to enhance resilience at community levels.

Following this, the RAISE tool was launched. This innovative tool represents a significant advancement in the field of crisis management, designed to aid communities in effectively responding to various emergencies through improved cooperation and communication.

The latter part of the day focused on exploring local cooperation and communication strategies during crises and disasters. This session was crucial for understanding how communities can enhance resilience and response strategies through collaborative efforts.

The second day, April 23, 2024, began with a recap and the agenda overview, maintaining the momentum from the previous day. The sessions delved deeper into co-creating new forms of cooperation and communication. This part of the event was particularly engaging, as it addressed the “before” and “after” of crisis situations, fostering a proactive approach to disaster management.

A significant portion of the day was dedicated to extracting local knowledge from the Geopark Naturtejo community. This participative approach highlighted the value of local insights in crafting effective resilience strategies and underscored the importance of community involvement in sustaining cultural and environmental heritage.

The event concluded with sessions on learning about cultural heritage and community resilience, crucial for understanding how historical and cultural contexts influence current resilience strategies. The final discussions revolved around the conclusions and next steps for the RESILIAGE project, setting the stage for future initiatives.