You can apply for wildfire and flood response training until February 24, 2022. The course has a practical part and is organized by Greenpeace Bulgaria and the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAVA). Everyone who successfully completes the course will receive a certificate from NADRB, which is required by volunteers in field operations for forest fire suppression and flood clean-up. Anyone 18 years of age or older is eligible to apply. On the enrolment form they must indicate their motivation for taking part. After selection, 30 applicants will be approved and will receive confirmation by 28 February.
The conditions of application include a 50 BGN self-donation as a donation to NADRB. The amount will be credited to an account after confirmation of an approved application. The rest of the costs will be covered by Greenpeace Bulgaria.
All approved applicants will receive a link via email for an online meeting on 10 March. Training materials will be sent afterwards.
The final practical part will take place live in Sofia on 28 and 29 May.
Over the past 30 years, extreme weather events such as storms, droughts and floods have increased threefold. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), torrential rains have increased by 30 percent. If the Earth warms by 1.5 degrees, the risk of such extreme events will increase by 50 per cent and their intensity will increase. If the Earth’s temperature warmed by 2 degrees, extreme rainfall events would increase by 70 percent compared to pre-industrial revolution times.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, in 2021 heat waves and fires were more severe due to climate change. Last summer, wildfires devastated vast areas in southern Europe. In Greece, the fires claimed 3 victims, burning a total of over 125 000 hectares of forest and farmland. In the Mediterranean region of Turkey, more than 1 700 km2 of forests were scorched. The reason is that Europe experienced one of the most intense heat waves in decades. Temperatures in Italy and Greece surpassed 45 °C, with Syracuse setting a temperature record for the highest maximum temperature in Europe at 48.8 °C.