Skip to main content
European Union logo
New European Bauhaus Prizes

Reconnecting with nature

Walkways & Wildfires
Walkways & Wildfires – The path to protect people from their own flames
In recent decades, extreme wildfires have been a major concern in Arouca, a small town in northern Portugal. Land abandonment, forest overgrowth, and human-caused fire ignition are the primary causes for this ongoing crisis. The "Walkways & Wildfires" project examines how walkways along the River Paiva are reconnecting people to nature. It also explores how forest management and ecosystem services certification can aid private landowners in safeguarding the landscape from wildfires.
Portugal
Local
Arouca
Mainly rural
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
2021-03-19
Yes
"Agenda Transform", project n.º C644865735-00000007, under "Agendas Mobilizadoras para a Inovação Empresarial" (N.º 02/C05-i01/2021), through "Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência" (PRR) and NextGeneration EU funds.
No
No
As a representative of an organisation, in partnership with other organisations

In Portugal, humans have used fire to shape and renew the landscape since ancient times. Historically driven by agricultural and pastoral practices, after the mid-20th century reforestation policy, Portuguese adopted rapid-growth forest species. Today, given the rural exodus to coastal urban areas, many of these planted forests are lacking active management and posing a high risk of wildfire. To mitigate this, people need to reconnect with the natural world.

In recent decades, Arouca, a small town in northern Portugal, was hit by several widlfires, causing significant losses. To overcome this, the Arouca municipality invested in ecotourism, enabling the construction of Europe's (once) largest suspension bridge and of walkways along the River Paiva. However, ecotourism alone is not enough to solve this probelm.

One way to enhance wildfire prevention is through responsible Forest Management (FM). In 2021, 2BForest, an SME specializing in FM, pioneered Ecosystem Services (ES) certification in a small private property located on the steep margins of the River Paiva. This property is classified as an ecological natural reserve, a site of community interest and an ecological corridor. The landowner obtained an FSC® certificate for FM in 2018 under the 2B_Forest_Group. However, legal constraints and the steep terrain made the business non-profitable, and to avoid land abandonment he sought alternative ways to value the land.

2BForest recommended converting the area into a natural forest under the ES_SPONSOR programme, focusing on planting native species, eradicating invasive species, and vegetation management to prevent wildfires and sequester carbon. Thus, the land obtained the first Portuguese FSC® ES certificate for Biodiversity conservation, Carbon management/restoration and Recreational services. Today, this area has received support from over 30 entities, exemplifying how small private owners can contribute to nature conservation and landscape protection.
Certification
Forest Management
Ecosystem Services
River Paiva
Ecotourism
One of the key objectives of the Walkways & Wildfires project is to demonstrate sustainable Forest Management (FM) practices. This objective has been met with the FM certification of the small private property in Arouca. However, the project also sought to certify the land for Ecosystem Services (ES), achieving a second objective - Portugal's first FSC® ES certificate.

To enhance the sustainable management of biodiversity, the project supported the conversion of a planted forest by investing in the plantation and natural regeneration of native species and eradication of invasive ones. This effort is contributing to increasing levels of biodiversity in the region and improving the ability of the ecosystems to sequester and store carbon. These combined efforts have optimized wildfire resilience along the River Paiva. After the Arouca wildfires of 2024, a significant difference in fire severity was felt between actively managed and non-managed forests. In non-managed stands, the heat and higher degree of fire intensity burned most tress and destroyed the top layers of the soil. In the case of the small property with FM and ES certification, the fire had less intense behavior, leaving most trees with superficial burns and green leaves.

Preventing land abandonment was a third objective. By providing alternative ways for land valuation, the landowner is now able to sustain a native forest, making it economically viable and preventing abandonment in the future. Additionally, community engagement and ecotourism were also key in preventing land abandonment, with the Arouca municipality investing in major infrastructures along the River Paiva.

Until now, the project has gathered support from over 30 entities, demonstrating how small private owners can sustainably manage natural capital. These achievements highlight an exemplary approach to sustainability, focusing on responsible FM, ES provision, biodiversity, carbon storage, community engagement and ecotourism.
The project aims to transform the landscape into a beautiful natural forest through the plantation of native oak trees, within a planted eucalyptus forest, and eradication of invasive ones, such as acacia trees. Additionally, efforts are being made by the municipality to keep the riparian forests along the River Paiva in good ecological condition. Combined with the inherent beauty of the River Paiva and the strength of its mountainous waterflow, the Walkways & Wildfires project demonstrates a diverse and engaging environment, highlighting the urgent need for its preservation.

To increase the visibility of the efforts that are made to keep the riparian forests alive and enhance visitor experience, the Arouca municipality enabled the construction of a large suspension bridge over the river. This monumental bridge provides unique and memorable ways for visitors to reconnect with nature, with breathtaking views to the landscape, cultural heritage and local history.

On one hand, visitors can now have easy access to previously hard-to-reach areas, such as mining caves, relaxing spots by the river, and prime locations for nature watching. On the other hand, this project is fostering a sense of community and connection to nature not only for tourists but also for locals, instilling a sense of pride in their once-abandoned land. Furthermore, private ecotourism initiatives and the involvement of the municipality in managing the walkways have strengthened community ties and encouraged a collective appreciation for the natural environment.

We believe that the Walkways & Wildfires project can be exemplary in several ways. It integrates aesthetic values, cultural aspects and environmental elements; it promotes sustainable tourism among residents and serves as a model for balancing environmental concerns with visitor enjoyment; and ensures that landowners and private sponsors can benefit both nature and the people, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.
The Walkways & Wildfires project aims to showcase the measures taken to ensure accessibility to nature restoration and conservation for all individuals, regardless of economic background or physical ability. On one hand, the creation of the ES_SPONSOR project by 2BForest provides access to ES sponsorship, making the forest operations, such as the planting of native trees, understory vegetation control and exotic species removal more affordable. On the other hand, the construction of the walkways and suspension bridge provides easy access to the River Paiva, making the area's natural beauty more accessible to those who otherwise would be unable to reach it.

Another key aspect of the affordability in this Arouca case study deals with the municipality ensuring affordable entry fees and free access to certain natural areas, allowing people from various economic backgrounds to enjoy the walkways and the River Paiva. Not only are the walkways and suspension bridge easily accessible, but the municipality also invested in securing car parking and supporting the construction of other facilities - including clear signs, accessible restrooms, restaurants, and comfortable resting areas. Also, practitioners of canoeing and water sports can now benefit from easy access to the river.

The Walkways & Wildfires project demonstrates a governing system that engages landowners with private sponsors and the municipality. This collaborative approach results in an inclusive environment, with visitors benefiting both from the natural beauty provided by the landscape and the user-friendly facilities that were designed for people of all ages and abilities. The interplay between accessible natural areas, affordable ecotourism and wildfire prevention is only possible due to this governing system. In this decision-making process individuals are empowered by community efforts, and a collective commitment is established to protect the people from their own flames.
Citizens and civil society played a crucial role in the Walkways & Wildfires project. Since its conception, the project actively engaged private entities with forest owners through the ES_SPONSOR program, providing a platform for these entities to express their interest in Ecosystem Services (ES).

The establishment of a community advisory board was key in the sense that involves both the forest owners and the private sponsors in the decision-making process. This board, comprising engineers, technicians and advisors from 2BForest and partners, played a critical role in guiding the project's development. Their expertise on forestry and management of natural resources helped shape key aspects of the project, from designing the theory of change — essential for FSC® ES certification, to operational plans that keep the project aligned with wildfire prevention.

2BForest partners, such as the regional Associação Florestal de Entre Douro e Vouga (AFEDV) association, were also instrumental in various stages of the Walkways & Wildfires project. Their contributions included facilitating communications between 2BForest and the forest owner, organizing forest operations and engaging with the local community. This hands-on work not only reduced project costs immensely but also strengthened community bonds and promoted environmental responsibility amongst partners.

This model of public and private involvement in wildfire prevention, portrayed in the Arouca case study of the Walkways & Wildfires project, has given rise to numerous workshops, training sessions, and information campaigns that were conducted to equip technicians and inform the scientific community about the knowledge and skills that are necessary to protect Arouca from burning further. The results from this project have been gathering national and international recognition, in the Agenda Transform (Melhor Floresta, PRR, Next Generation EU), FIRE-RES project (EU Horizon 2020), and ESP Europe 2024 conference.
The Walkways & Wildfires project engaged stakeholders at the local, regional, national, and European levels, each contributing significantly to its design and implementation. At the local level, the landowner participated in consultations with 2BForest and community meetings, providing valuable input and hands-on support in the history of his property. A concern for family heritage played a big part in his decision to go forwards with the project, appealing to his sense of ownership and historic bonds.

Regionally, engineers and technicians from 2BForest and AFEDV brought expertise in FM and ES certification, guiding the project's development and ensuring alignment with international FSC standards and national legislation, including measures to protect the landscape and surrounding villages against wildfires. Their technical knowledge was crucial in shaping the project's operational plans, from forest operation planning to communicating and disseminating results in national and international events.

Today, with national support from the Agenda Transform (PRR, Next Generation EU), efforts are being made to assess the impacts of Arouca 2024 wildfires on biodiversity, carbon storage and ecotourism. On one hand, 2BForest is participating in a review of ES methodologies and working with eDNA sampling to expand the biological and biophysical indicators that may be used in ES certification. On the other hand, communication support from the Agenda Transform on best forestry practices (Melhor Floresta) promotes adherence by other landowners and enhances the project's scalability.

At the European level, entities that are directly involved in EU-funded projects, like the FIRE-RES project (EU Horizon 2020), facilitated knowledge exchange on extreme wildfires in Arouca. With a living lab established in the area where Arouca wildfires took place, FIRE-RES provides scientific advice, cross-border collaboration and dissemination of new approaches to wildfire management.
The Walkways & Wildfires project integrates various disciplines, including forestry, engineering, community planning, and ecotourism. 2BForest and AFEDV forest engineers and technicians collaborated to develop sustainable forest management plans and biodiversity conservation strategies, providing expertise in Forest Management (FM) and Ecosystem Services (ES) certification.
2BForest, AFEDV and the landowner - himself an agronomy engineer, interacted through regular meetings, workshops, and collaborative planning sessions. These meetings were often assisted by the support and advisory services from other 2BForest partners, adding to the interdisciplinary approach. These diverse perspectives gave rise to the creation of the ES_SPONSOR programme, where the innovative solution of bringing private sponsors to ES certification is key. The added socioeconomical and socioecological value of this process enabled 2BForest, AFEDV and the landowner to address environmental responsibility, community engagement and sustainable ecotourism in a holistic manner, setting a higher standard for similar initiatives.
At the forest management level, 2BForest technicians used the proprietary owned ForestSIM online platform to plan and calculate the cost of forest operations over time. The same platform was used to manage the certification process and give access to all documents pertaining to the project for the landowner. At the ES certification level, a new methodology was developed to assess the impacts of FM on biodiversity (floristic inventory), landscape connectivity (GIS metrics), carbon storage and sequestration (reference data for forest occupations), and recreational services (number of walkway visitors). The results from this assessment have been made publicly available on the FSC platform for ES verified impacts.
At the economic level, over 30 private entities have supported the project, either through monetary sponsorship or voluntary work, within the ES_SPONSOR program.
The Walkways & Wildfires project is innovative in the sense that it integrates sustainable FM, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and ecotourism with wildfire prevention. When comparing to mainstream solutions, the Walkways & Wildfires project demonstrates how complementary preventive actions can be crucial to protect the landscape against extreme wildfires. On the one hand, mainstream solutions often focus solely on fire suppression and vegetation growth control to reduce the amount of fuel in the forest. On the other hand, other types of mainstream solutions can be found in nearby properties that are not actively managed. In the latter case, landowners often leave their properties unattended during the rotation period of their eucalyptus plantations (9 to 12 years), resulting in a never-ending cycle of wildfire.

Tragically, fire suppression solutions are employed, more often than not, when it’s too late. Adding to this, not only these business-as-usual solutions are becoming increasingly obsolete by today's standards, but they also carry the weight of severe loss and trauma in the Portuguese society. Every year, lives are lost, and land is burned in the fight to suppress fire. To avoid this, the Walkways & Wildfires project aims to demonstrate how a community advisory board is pivotal for wildfire management solutions. The advisory services that such a board provided for the project, ensuring local input and expert guidance from researchers and practitioners, played a crucial role in the implementation of fire prevention techniques.

During the Arouca fires of 2024, these efforts resulted in good access to forest roads, understory vegetation in good shape, heterogeneity of habitats, vertical and horizontal discontinuity of deadwood fuel, and (probably most important of all) available local residents to suppress fire in its early stages of development. Due to this, fire severity was kept to a minimum and the landowner's property was spared in the process.

The methodology that was used for FM and ES certification followed the requirements of the FSC standard. Regarding the methodology that was used to certify the impact related to the restoration of natural forest cover, it consisted in a floristic inventory conducted by biologists in the field. Specimens were visually identified and classified according to their species. Habitat types were also identified and classified according to national legislation. Species were then characterized according to their abundance, usefulness, distribution, rarity, legal protection and lifeform.

For carbon storage and sequestration impacts (ES2.1 and ES2.2, respectively), the occupation of the property was classified according to current land-use, current land-cover and future land-cover. Land-use included production, protection and conservation purposes, and land-cover the composition of the forest stand. A plot of 3.34 ha was left as a conservation area within the property, occupying the margins of the Paiva River, where the riparian forest is located. The production area occupies a total of 20.53 ha, with secondary protection functions. To estimate the amount of carbon stored in the forest, we used a combination of reference values for specific climate zones and land-cover occupation. In the case of Arouca, the values that were used are close to the local reality of FM certified areas published for Portugal and Spain in bibliographic works.

Regarding recreational services, the methodology consisted in gathering information from the Arouca municipality on the number of visitors using the walkways in the year of ES certification. Then, the current situation of the ES was compared to the situation prior to the creation of the infrastructure that allowed the enjoyment of the ES, in this case the Paiva walkways.
The methodology, processes and learnings from the Walkways & Wildfires project may be perfectly transferred and replicated in other places. The requirements and regulations of FSC forest management and ecosystem services certification ensure that all the necessary steps to achieve similar results are publicly available. All the documentation that reports on the context, methodology and results from the certification process are readily available on the official FSC website and 2BForest may provide services to interpret and replicate these results. Furthermore, the creation of the ES_SPONSOR program gave rise to several presentations across a broad range of mediums. The philosophy behind this program and its results can be also consulted by the general public on the 2BForest website and social media.

One of the main challenges that the Walkways & Wildfires project addresses is the extreme and rapid wildfire spread in the region where Arouca is situated. In Portugal, extreme wildfires have been a significant concern for decades. The combination of poorly managed forests and the Mediterranean climate's characteristics renders much of the Portuguese territory highly susceptible to severe wildfires. Since 2001, the burned forest area in mainland Portugal has reached 30,650 km², with 49% of wildfires primarily affecting plantations of blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and maritime pine (Pinus pinaster L.). Forest certification of these plantations is crucial in promoting the best management practices, mitigating biomass accumulation, and preventing the spread of wildfires across extensive areas.

The Walkways & Wildfires project gives visibility to local solutions that are designed to promote responsible forest management and ecosystem services provision by offering innovative tools and processes that help foresters and the general public in adopting sustainable and fire-preventive practices. Additionally, the project also provides global guidance on fire risk management and shares general recommendations to ensure compliance with national legislation and international certification standards. This support adopts a multicultural and multilingual approach, tailored to accommodate diverse educational levels, reflecting the wide range of forest landowners seeking certification and fire prevention in Portugal.
The main results of the Walkways & Wildfires project were measured in terms of ES certification. For biodiversity, a total of 91 species were recorded, and regarding habitats, the most predominant were cork oak forests and siliceous rock outcrops. Punctually, other oaks appeared as dominant. Near the River Paiva, the alder dominated riparian forests, and laurel was also significantly present at times. Of all the ninety-one species, two were introduced ("avoadinha" and eucalyptus), 18 were Iberian endemism, and one was a Lusitanian endemism (Ranunculus henriquesii). Of the remaining, 7 were Ibero-Maghrebian, 15 European, 28 multi-regional and 21 Mediterranean. These results were used for the certification of the biodiversity conservation (ES1) impact under the FSC standard.

Regarding carbon storage (ES2.1) and sequestration (ES2.2), the theory of change included the planning of forest operations to control spontaneous vegetation and exotic invasive woody species, promotion of natural regeneration, eucalyptus eradication and eucalyptus management to long rotation stands. Carbon amount was estimated with bibliographic references regarding soil occupation. It was estimated that in 2017, the property had a storage of 41.56 C t/ha, and in 2020, 221.69 t C/ha.

Recreational services were certified according to the ability of the property for maintenance/conservation of areas of importance for recreation and/or tourism (ES5.1). The property is located on the left bank of the River Paiva and hosts an emergency entrance and exit to the walkways. In 2020, the Arouca municipality reported a total of 104949 visitors using the walkways.