Working Group 1: Forest Fires

31 August 2004

Chairman:
Dr. Bishnu B. Bhandari
Rapporteur: Mr. Kuldip Poudel

Theme: Addressing the issues relating to forest fires

Objective: To improve our common understanding with regards to issues relating to forest fire

Guiding questions:

1. What are the means and ways of preventing forest fire?

2. How can the AFP facilitate the process of addressing forest fires so as to make a real difference on the ground?

3. How can we as partners support the AFP in dealing with forest fire?

4. How can we enhance international coordination and cooperation in forest fire issues?

Summary of the discussion:

• Since 60% of forest fires come form private lands in Indonesia, forest fire may be called land and forest fires.

• Work together to develop a fast, easy and cheap system to check forest fires.

• Forest fire is a complex issue; its ramifications are wide. It should be seen in a wider context; due to factors like global warming, it needs a long-term perspective plan.

• Forest fire is related to poverty, growing population, conflict in resource use, land tenure and soco-cultural systems, a holistic approach should be taken to address this vital issue.

• Encourage approaches like community-based forest management system adopted in the Philippines, where decisions are made at the subsidiary level i.e. local people identify their problem, make their own decisions, plan their ways, monitor their activities, implement it; the higher level comes only when they have expertise and absolutely required.

• Address the underlying causes of forest fires.

• There is a lack of initiative to include the private sector forest fire. So, involve relevant stakeholders/players (government, IGO, the private sector and civil society). Coordinate their activities and conduct awareness of landowners, indigenous peoples and local people and provide them incentives whenever needed.

• Sensitize local communities for their active, responsible and informed participation

• Discover, document and disseminate the already existing wisdom, knowledge and information relating best practices of forest fire management. Do not reinvent the wheel.

• Need pragmatic research works to fix the problem of forest fires; identify target groups; reach out to those needing assistance; adopt action research.

• In order to enhance credibility, AFP should develop a clear work plan to deal with forest fires, especially answering 5W's.

• Develop institutional mechanism to coordinate the activities of partners.

• Strengthen the existing database available with many organizations such ASEAN, ITTO, etc. and then establish the one that compliments these initiatives.

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