We are pleased to introduce our newest team member, Daphné Villain, who will be working on the FIRE-RES project.
Get to know her better in the interview below.
1. Can you tell us in a few words what your role will be within the IEFC?
My role is to work mainly on the FIRE-RES project, on the land-use planning part.
More specifically, I’ll be in charge of relations with local stakeholders, like municipalities, to improve fire risk culture and to work together on how to integrate the results produced as part of the project into the design of new prevention strategies to mitigate the risk of forest fires.
2. What motivates you to join IEFC and FIRE-RES project?
I’m very interested in environmental issues, and I’m particularly interested in ways of making our territories more resilient, which I believe is crucial if we want to adapt to the growing risks associated with climate change and reduce their impact.
The FIRE-RES project is completely in line with this dynamic, and it’s very exciting to be able to contribute to the development of new and meaningful innovations! Coming from the Bordeaux region, it’s also very interesting to see how we can provide solutions to the environmental problems that particularly concern us, as we could see with the extreme wildfire events of 2022.
The diversity of projects carried out by the IEFC and the complementary skills of the staff result in a rich and stimulating working environment. It’s also a real plus to work in an internationally connected world.
3. What interests you about forestry and what motivated your decision to work in this sector?
The diversity of the issues and challenges the forestry sector faces, especially in the current context of climate change, particularly interests me and motivated my decision to work in this sector.
After gaining varied experience in different topics of the environment sector (renewable energy, agriculture…), I had the opportunity to work in a National Park Directorate abroad, where I learnt a lot about forestry and biodiversity issues.
This experience marked the beginning of my deep interest in forestry issues. I was fascinated by the complexity and richness of forest ecosystems, as well as their crucial role in regulating the climate and preserving biodiversity. Also, I particularly enjoyed working with forestry stakeholders : private owners, engineers, foresters…
I think there’s a lot to be done in the field of forestry and I have a lot to learn from it.
4. What are the current challenges in the forestry sector that interest you?
While the forestry sector faces many challenges, which are all very interesting, I have a particular interest in subjects combining forestry and different land uses, as many economic stakeholders depend on wood resources. More generally, I’m interested in solutions that could reduce our impact on forest ecosystems, both technological and managerial. The subject of forest resilience to climate change is also a complex but fascinating one, since it is more topical than ever.