The National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) has reported that it held an educational workshop at the Abdón Andrade Coloma Bicentennial High School in La Unión, Chile, focusing on forest fire prevention in the Los Ríos region.
The workshop was designed for teachers and school leaders in areas classified as high risk for wildfires, particularly where urban development meets forested land.
CONAF stated that the training was intended to enhance environmental education and encourage early prevention culture among students.
The session lasted three hours and combined theoretical instruction with hands-on activities related to forestry risks, climate change, and environmental certification.
Teachers engaged in exercises including the “Problem Tree” activity, used to identify causes and effects of environmental challenges, and assessed fire risks in their own school environments.
According to CONAF, the Los Ríos region has seen increasing wildfire vulnerability, particularly at the urban-rural interface.
To address this, the workshop focused on schools located in or near these high-risk zones.
Arnoldo Shibar, CONAF Regional Director, said: “An educational workshop was held to raise awareness among both teachers and students, specifically regarding schools located in urban-rural interface areas that are at risk of both starting and spreading forest fires.”
Shibar continued: “Preventive forestry, climate change, and also environmental certifications that could benefit the school were key parts of the session.
“The idea was to raise awareness among students and the educational community regarding fire prevention issues in the Los Ríos region.”
CONAF stated that these sessions are part of a broader campaign to embed environmental risk knowledge in the education system.
Each participating school is now required to plan and deliver a fire prevention activity within its educational community.
CONAF explained that these activities are intended to consolidate what was learned during the workshop and to extend awareness to families and local networks.
The organization said that schools must complete their prevention activity within three months and provide documentation to CONAF for review.
This approach aims to produce a multiplier effect by extending the workshop’s impact beyond the classroom.
Teachers who complete the program will receive certificates acknowledging their participation and commitment to fire safety.
The workshop integrated a combination of theory and practice using classroom-oriented resources.
Key exercises included environmental mapping and risk recognition techniques tailored to primary school contexts.
Educators worked through real examples of hazard identification within school grounds.
Visual tools, such as the “Problem Tree,” helped teachers and administrators recognize the links between environmental pressures and their school settings.
Training modules also included materials on how to implement climate adaptation and fire response planning within the classroom.
CONAF explained that these methods were chosen to make the sessions practical and replicable in future lessons.
In addition to immediate fire prevention, CONAF included information on environmental certification programs available to schools.
These programs link to national strategies for sustainable development and can offer long-term benefits in risk preparedness.
Schools that meet certain criteria in environmental engagement, including fire prevention planning, may be eligible for additional recognition.
CONAF stated that encouraging schools to engage with these certifications forms part of its long-term approach to reducing wildfire risk.
The agency confirmed that future sessions are planned to expand the program to additional regions in Chile.
The National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) held a workshop in La Unión, Chile.
The training targeted schools located in urban-rural interface zones in the Los Ríos region.
The aim was to strengthen environmental education and promote forest fire prevention awareness.
Teachers received instruction on climate change, preventive forestry, and school-based risk assessment.
Activities included the “Problem Tree” and risk identification in school settings.
CONAF Regional Director Arnoldo Shibar led the training event.
Teachers must implement a prevention activity in their schools within three months.
These activities will be documented and submitted to CONAF.
The goal is to reinforce learning and reach families and the wider community.
Teachers will receive certificates of participation on completion.
CONAF noted that the program aligns with national environmental education goals.
Additional training sessions are planned for other regions in Chile.
