One of the objectives of the workshop “From Evidence to Action: Communicating Wildfires in a Novel Climate Scenario in Northern Patagonia” was to strengthen connections among those who produce information, those who communicate it, and those who take action on the ground in response to wildfires.
Held in Lago Puelo in late May 2026, the event brought together journalists, influencers, firefighters, researchers, civil society organizations, public institutions, and territorial actors to reflect on how to improve the circulation of information during emergencies, strengthen prevention efforts, and build more coordinated responses to increasingly frequent and intense wildfires in Northern Patagonia.
In the weeks following the event, several media outlets explored topics that had been part of the discussions during the workshop, expanding the reach of these conversations to local and national audiences.
Revista Anfibia published the chronicle “Adapting to Fire: Patagonia,” a piece that brings together voices, reflections, and tensions that emerged throughout the process, addressing a central question: how to live with a reality in which wildfires are no longer exceptional events but recurring risks. The article highlights the need to develop new forms of community organization, strengthen local capacities, and rethink the relationship between society, territory, and fire in a context of climate change.
Meanwhile, an article produced by the international news agency EFE, “How Can Patagonia’s Forests Be Saved from Mega-Fires and Climate Change?”, later republished by several media outlets including Infobae, helped bring the main findings of the Northern Patagonia research on climate change and wildfires to a broader audience. The coverage emphasized how changes in the regional climate regime are increasing wildfire risk, reinforcing one of the central messages promoted by the BASE Initiative: current conditions are no longer the same as they were two or three decades ago, and prevention and response strategies must adapt to this new reality.
Beyond environmental and economic impacts, wildfires leave less visible scars that often remain outside traditional media coverage. In this regard, the investigative journalism network Ruido published two stories exploring dimensions of wildfires that are frequently overlooked. The first article, “Wildfires: Experiences that Help Protect the Mental Health of Firefighters and Affected Communities,” focuses on psychological support and emotional care initiatives for people affected by wildfires, highlighting their impacts on the mental health of firefighters, affected residents, and communities. The second article, “Wildfires: The Role of Hyperlocal Journalism in the Andean Region,” examines the role of hyperlocal media during emergencies, showing how locally rooted information can help reduce rumors, strengthen community organization, and support residents during critical moments.
Both stories broaden the conversation around non-economic losses and damages associated with wildfires, incorporating social and human dimensions that are often absent from conventional indicators.
Media coverage generated after the workshop also included an article published by InnContext, “Facing More Intense Wildfires, Scientists, Firefighters, and Communicators Seek Stronger Coordination in Patagonia,” which summarized the main debates and agreements that emerged during the event, highlighting the importance of strengthening collaboration among science, communication, public management, and territorial actors in addressing increasingly complex wildfire challenges.
Weeks later, the conversation also reached La Voz del Interior, which published the article “Patagonia Signals a New Climate Scenario That Resonates Beyond the Region” Drawing on the main findings of the research and the discussions held during the workshop, the article argues that the changes observed in Patagonia are not an isolated reality, but rather a challenge that also concerns other regions facing an increasing risk of wildfires. It highlights the need to strengthen prevention, adaptation, and collaboration among science, communication, and territorial actors as part of the response to a climate scenario that continues to evolve.
Beyond each individual publication, these experiences demonstrate the value of building trust-based relationships among journalists, communicators, researchers, and territorial actors. When scientific evidence engages with local experiences and finds pathways to reach new audiences, opportunities expand to better understand the challenges faced by communities and to build more effective collective responses.
