The project aims to train unemployed people in the management of techniques for fire prevention and restoration of burned areas, contributing through forestry and bio-economy to the resilience of the territory and the creation of green jobs.

The theme of the project is sustainable forestry for forest fire prevention.

The BATEFUEGO project arises from the need detected by FORMAGAL and other entities oriented to professional training in areas related to forest management to complement the training offer with emphasis on prevention and specialized silviculture, incorporating concepts and techniques from Environmental Sciences, Ecology and Rural Development. This need comes to the forefront of the agenda of the agricultural and forestry sector after the wave of fires that affected Andalusia in 2017 where 15,254 hectares of woodland and scrubland burned according to data from Infoca. In addition to the number and extent of forest fires in Andalusia that year, the quality of the burned forest area also stood out, as most of the burned trees and grassland belonged to valuable protected areas. The fire in Moguer (Huelva), which started at the end of June and is considered to be the most serious of those recorded that year, burned some 10,000 hectares, of which almost 7,000 belonged to the Doñana Natural Area and some twenty to the Laguna de Palos and Las Madres Natural Park.

In addition, the project seeks to address the lack of training for people with functional diversity, people living in rural areas and women. Thus, it aims to demonstrate the capacity that the green economy offers to overcome the shortage of specialized training for particularly vulnerable groups, and in traditionally male-dominated sectors. BATEFUEGO also aims to create employment in the rural territories of Andalusia and Castilla la Mancha; to multiply the options for socio-labor insertion and to expand the inclusive training offer that priority groups living in rural areas can access, which is usually segregated between people with and without diversity.

BATEFUEGO, in addition to being a professional training opportunity for participants, will be a pilot experience that will demonstrate the capacity of fire fighting, in particular preventive forestry and restoration of burned areas, to have an impact on all sectors of the economy. The project will also create a learning and social inclusion community by bringing together groups, both diverse and non-diverse, as well as women, who are normally segregated and/or excluded from activities with a more physical component, such as forestry.

The percentage of participation of women in the project will be 50%, while the percentage of participation of other priority groups (sum of the rest of the groups except women) will be 50%.

At least 10% of the beneficiaries will obtain employment.

The project will have an impact on the Natura 2000 Network. Executed in ITI Cadiz and ITI Jaen.