The project is part of the broader EuroClima program, funded by the European Union, aiming to support Latin American countries in implementing policies and concrete actions to address climate change and improve disaster risk management.
In Bolivia, the project focuses on strengthening capacities at the national, departmental, and local levels to prevent and mitigate wildfires in the eastern region of Chiquitania, one of the areas most affected by such emergencies, which threaten both ecosystems and the indigenous communities that inhabit them.
CIMA Research Foundation’s contribution
CIMA Research Foundation provides technical support for the development and integration of the RISICO CHIQUITANIA model into the myDEWETRA platform, reinforcing the existing RISICO BOLIVIA model at the national scale. This model uses meteorological data, satellite information, drought indices, and machine learning techniques to enhance fire management preparedness and prevention. It helps forecast environmental and weather conditions likely to trigger fires, contributing to the Early Warning System in the region. The model’s results are compiled into a dedicated bulletin, featuring alerts at the municipal level and specific insights for six pilot municipalities. The use of this departmental-scale bulletin within the ecosystem of national, departmental, municipal, local authorities, and NGOs has been envisioned through an inter- and intra-institutional protocol proposal.
Additionally, CIMA Research Foundation is responsible for training technical personnel to ensure operational sustainability and enhance fire preparedness, prioritizing prevention over response.
