International Fellowship Spotlight: Romain Matile

Firefighter prepares for airborne deployment during wildfire operations.

Here at World Forestry Center, we operate at the intersection of People and Forestry. Given the current global stress, we decided to check back in with some of our Fellowship alumni.

Before Romain Matile joined us here at World Forestry Center in 2019, he worked in the South of France as a firefighter. He developed tracks, water reserves, and scrub in the forests, and executed prescribed burns. Five years ago, however, he moved to New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific, to train with firefighters there. While the territory is home to the largest lagoon in the world, it is also ravaged by wildfires.

New Caledonia Landscape

To deepen his practice and understanding of fire management, Romain applied to our Fellowship in 2019. While in Oregon, he researched controlled burning best practices and their potential applications for France and New Caledonia. Through the Fellowship, Romain was able to discover innovative techniques from local experts.

Romain and his crew training. He calls this picture “5 minute helicopter and 8 hours walking.”

Upon his return to France, Romain started a company to apply what he discovered. His company, Warucene, mitigates the risk of wildfire using innovative strategies. It compliments his current endeavors working on biomass energy and forest protection in the South of France. Soon Romain will organize the first ever controlled burn training in New Caledonia.

Romaine’s Trainies

Romain credits much of his success to his Fellowship Experience. But we too, feel grateful to work with global leaders and practitioners of forestry.

For other updates from our Fellowship alumni, check out Where are they now? Checking-in with our Fellowship alumni.

Romain Matile

Forester | Wildfire Management Professional | France

​A French forester and wildfire professional, Romain has worked extensively in forest protection and fire management. His hands-on experience includes helicopter-assisted wildfire response and prescribed burning operations.

Through the World Forestry Center Fellowship, Romain expanded his expertise in controlled burning practices in Oregon, bringing innovative approaches back to France and beyond.