USSE and Basoa Fundazioa Join the UPV/EHU Summer Courses Once Again

15 / 07 / 2026

"Wildfires: How Can We Tackle Them? II" is the title of the UPV/EHU Summer Course that USSE is organising in collaboration with Basoa Fundazioa. The event will take place on 15 September, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., at Miramar Palace in San Sebastián (Donostia).

The aim of the course is to examine key issues surrounding wildfires, helping participants better understand both their impact and the most effective ways to address them in the context of climate change. As rising temperatures and prolonged periods of drought continue to intensify across Europe, the risk of large-scale, devastating wildfires is also increasing.

According to Copernicus (the European Forest Fire Information System – EFFIS), more than one million hectares burned across the European Union in 2025—the highest figure since records began. The impact was particularly severe on the Iberian Peninsula, with Spain and Portugal accounting for 60% of the total burned area.

The course "Wildfires: How Can We Tackle Them? II" will feature contributions from Fernando Azurmendi, Forest Technical Engineer and Deputy Director of the Bizkaia Association of Foresters and the Basque Confederation of Foresters; Virginia Carracedo, researcher with the Natural Environment Research and Management Group (GIMENA); Aitor Omar, Head of the Forestry Service at the Provincial Council of Bizkaia; Raúl Vicente Pérez, a member of the Wildfire Reinforcement Brigade (BRIF) with 22 years of operational experience; Leire Salaberria, Managing Director of USSE; and Pello Goikoetxea, President of Basoa Fundazioa.

The course is open to the general public, with a particular focus on forest landowners and forestry professionals.

Registration is available through the UIK website

Back to News list