Green Deal Call Projects Success Stories : healing communities through art and science

FIRE-RES collaborated with the artistic project Lament, which addresses the ecological and human grief caused by wildfires through collective reflection and collaboration. In response to the devastating 2017 wildfires in Santa Comba Dão, Portugal, which burned 300 hectares and caused significant losses, the project fostered recovery through collective reflection and collaboration. Activities culminated in the creation of the Collective Scar Map, a powerful artwork symbolising hope and resilience. FIRE-RES strengthened community bonds by engaging diverse groups in collaborative activities while contributing to European policy discussions. Featured in a JRC panel (Brussels, June 2024), it showcased how arts and science enhance forest resilience and support the EU Forest Strategy for 2030, leading to concrete policy recommendations, replicable disaster recovery methodologies, making it a model for enhancing resilience in other wildfire-affected regions.