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Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan May 2002 ___________________________________________________________________________ Forestry Research Institute of Ghana/ Resource Management Support Center, Forestry Commission Kumasi, Ghana

Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan Comm … · Forestry Research Institute of Ghana/ Resource Management ... L. Trabaud, D. Williams, Fire In Forestry, Vol. II: Forest Fire

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Page 1: Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan Comm … · Forestry Research Institute of Ghana/ Resource Management ... L. Trabaud, D. Williams, Fire In Forestry, Vol. II: Forest Fire

Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan

May 2002

___________________________________________________________________________

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana/ Resource Management Support Center, Forestry Commission

Kumasi, Ghana

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Contributors

The following individuals contributed to the creation of this Communication Plan:

Lucy Amissah, ITTO Project Coordinator Alex Asare, Team Leader CFMU/RMSC Kyereh Boateng, Ecologist/Lecturer IRNR John K. Gyasi, District Fire Officer Jennifer Krenz, Peace Corp Volunteer, Ghana Frank Adomako-Kwabia, Forester Intern CFMU/RMSC Maggie McCaffrey, ITTO Fire Education Specialist Yaa Konadu Pokuaa, Forester, CFMU/RMSC Kweku Owusu-Yeboah, Media Consultant – GTV, Kumasi

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Target Audiences ............................................................................................................................ 4 Key Messages ................................................................................................................................. 6 Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................................................ 11 Appendices:................................................................................................................................... 11

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I. Introduction

Background Over the last 20 years, large portions of Ghana’s national forest reserves have been lost or degraded. Multiple factors have contributed to the ecological decline and loss of biodiversity in the forests. Nevertheless, it is clear that bush fires are the single most important cause of forest loss and degradation in Ghana today (Hawthorne, 1994).1 The vast majority of the bush fires in Ghana are caused by escaped fires started by people in and around the forests reserves. There is still some uncertainty as to the exact number and cause of ignitions. However, it is equally clear that humans are the single most important agent responsible for reducing forest loss and degradation. Since the fires of 1983, the forest reserves have been subject to repeated fires, with devastating consequences. The ecological decline has also had social and economic consequences. Recurrent wildfires have destroyed the merchantable timber trees and made it virtually impossible for many of the indigenous species to reestablish because the fires have altered the structure and composition of the forest. According to Hawthorne, (1994), “Fire damage in Ghana following the drought of 1982-83 has been widespread and has significantly altered the structure and composition of c. 30% of the semi-deciduous forest. More than 4 million cubic metres of exportable timber has been lost to fire. Burnt forest is dominated by pioneer trees of little economic merit, and is more prone to burn in the future. Fire is now the greatest, singe threat to the long-term survival of half of the forest in Ghana.”2 The annual economic cost of wildfire in timber alone has been estimated at 3% GDP.”3 Bush fires burn more than trees. They also have a direct impact on the communities in and around the forest reserves, both through loss of lives and property, and through the loss of domestic and commercial products, such as medicinal plants, snails, mushrooms, rattans, raffia, and fuel wood (Asare and Gyan, 2000).4 As Asare and Gyan note, “Some of the rural dwellers engage in NTFPs trading either as full-time or on a casual bases. They depend on this trading to supplement their incomes. When wildfires destroy these products it affects their living standard and ultimately that of the rural people.” Fire also impacts on soil and water systems, such as watersheds, rivers, and streams. Intense fires can damage soils as well as remove vegetation from around waterways. The lack of vegetation exposes the soil to greater erosion and promotes rapid evaporation of stored water. Water sources can become heavily silted or destroyed after a fire (Chandler, et al. 1983).5 Since

1Hawthorne, W. D., Fire Damage and Forest Regeneration in Ghana, Forestry Inventory and

Management Project of the Ghana Forestry Department, ODA Forestry Series No. 4, 1994. 2 Hawthorne, W. D., pg. Ix. 3 Bank of Ghana Bulletin, 1995. 4 Asare, A. and Gyan, G, Social Indicators of Forest Fires in Southern Ghana. Paper in Progress,

May 2000, pg. 6. 5 Chandler, C P. Cheney, P Thomas, L. Trabaud, D. Williams, Fire In Forestry, Vol. II: Forest

Fire Behavior and Effects, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1983.

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many rural communities are dependent on local water sources, fires poses a threat to the health and welfare of the entire community As Pyne (1999) notes, the fire regimes in contemporary Ghana are directly tied to human sustenance. “They result from land clearing, from bush-fallow farming, from herding, from foraging and hunting. They occur from children burning weeds. They start from embers blown out of leaking pots used to carry fire from one hearth to another. Virtually every facet of rural life in some ways relies on fire. Needless to say, virtually all such burning is controlled, or at least begins deliberately. As long as a rural economy thrives, so will bushfire.”6 As a fundamental tool in rural life, fire has been on the landscape in Ghana for centuries. However, only more recently has it become a major force of destruction in the tropical high forests of Ghana. Why now? And why has the devastation been so rapid and so extensive? A number of interrelated social and economic changes have contributed to the increased amount of loss and degradation of the forest reserves. With population increases, there are simply more people working the land in the transition zones around the forest. As a result, more people are using fire occupationally to clear the land, improve pasture for grazing, and tap for wine and honey, as well as non-occupationally to cook food or burn piles. Also, farmers are relying more on burning to clear the land rather than on manual labor. One reason for this is that local farming systems are changing. External pressures from international economies and policies have changed the production markets, which have contributed to the collapse of the large plantation crops that are more environment friendly, such as cocoa and coffee. As a result, there is more small-scale farming. In addition, a study conducted by Amissah (2001) indicated that more farmers are moving away from planting perennial crops and are now planting more annuals, which require yearly burning.7 In addition, national agricultural policy changes have tended to favor large-scale farming, which has worked to the detriment of small-scale farmers. For example, subsidies for agricultural input have been removed. Since the greatest percent of Ghana’s farmers are small-scale, these policies have had a decided impact on the farming systems. Burning is the most cost effective means of clearing the land and preparing it for planting, so farmers favor burning (Asare and Gyan, 2000). As the forests have been converted to grasslands, a new occupational use has developed: livestock grazing. The grazers also use fire annually to burn the grass at the end of the dry season for better production. As farming systems are changing, family structure is changing as well in rural areas. Greater numbers of children are spending their youth in school, and then moving from the villages to the urban areas to find work. The changing social structure in the family is mirrored in the breakdown in traditional authority in the villages, which is contributing to a loss of communal spirit and values. These changes are making it harder for community leaders to appeal to people to motivate them to change the way they burn or to pass by-laws and enforce sanctions against burning. 6 Pyne, S. J. Bushfires in Ghana: A Search for Context, ITTO Report, 7 April, 1999. 7 Amissah, L. 2001. Report in progress.

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To complicate the problem, over the past two decades, increased logging and fire activity has also changed the ecosystem in the forest, leaving it much more susceptible to large fires. Major disturbances such as logging and large fires open the forest canopy and allow fire prone non-native species such as chomolaena odorata and panicum maxima to invade. These species are very flammable, yet they are well adapted to fire. In fact, fire stimulates their growth. Historically, fire has not played an important role in establishing or maintaining the tropical high forest ecosystem in West Africa. As a result, few of the indigenous trees and plants are adapted to fire. Most of these species cannot survive bush fires, nor can they reestablish in areas with recurring fires. Fire must be excluded from these tropical forests in order to save the remaining intact forests and to restore the degraded areas. In sum, then, while the amount of human burning is increasing and the forests are becoming more prone to fire, the incentives for people to adopt non-fire methods for occupational burning are decreasing. At the same time, traditional authority to motivate or compel people to stop illegal burning or adopt proper burning procedures is becoming less effective. In the face of this conundrum, Ghana fire managers must act. They have begun to build a fire program with a dual focus – on developing a prevention campaign to stop bush fires and on developing the fire fighting capability to rapidly detect and suppress fires. This Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan is a first step in the creation of a nation-wide prevention campaign. The overall purpose of this Plan is to outline the principal messages and audiences that need to be addressed to accomplish the goal of reducing or eliminating unwanted human-caused bush fires by discouraging the illegal use of fire and by encouraging the use of proper burning procedures for legal occupational fire use. A secondary emphasis is on encouraging community members to do their part in reporting and fighting bush fires. The specific strategies for implementing these objectives should be developed at the local level using the guidance provided in this Plan and the Forest Fire Manual of Procedures, 2002. A sample of a specific strategy is provided for illustration in Appendix A: Sample Strategy Plan.

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II. Target Audiences This section outlines the principal audiences affected or involved with fire prevention in Ghana. This is intended to be an inclusive general list to help identify all stakeholders who need to be addressed. The rationale for identifying each of these groups of stakeholders is to better design messages and materials to suit their individual functions and motives. For this Forest Fire Communication Plan, the fire users were divided into three groups because the main messages and incentives and disincentives are different for these groups. The objectives for these audiences are outlined in the following section.

Political Leaders o President o Parliament o Minister o Political Parties

Community Leaders o District Assemblies o Chiefs/Traditional Leaders o Unit Committees o Fire Volunteers o Religious Leaders

Law Enforcement o Police o Judiciary

Fire Users o Legal – Occupational Fire Users

Farmers Grazers Wine tappers Honey tappers Forest Workers

o Legal – Non-occupational Fire Users Smokers Loggers Road Workers Road Users Rural dwellers Hunters – cooking fires

o Illegal Fire Users Group Hunters Seasonal Hunters Arsonists

Schools and Associations National Companies/Sponsors

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Mass Media o Radio o Television o Newspaper o Websites o Billboards o Advertising Agencies o Government Information Service o Civic Education Units

Resource Managers o Director of Operations o Regional Managers o District Managers o Range Supervisors

Fire Service Managers o Forest Guards

Researchers/Meteorologists NGOs/Affiliated Resources

o Environmental Protection Association

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III. Communication Objectives and Key Messages

This section outlines the major objectives in communicating with each of these audiences and provides a list of key messages to guide the development of all mediums of communication. Some examples are provided of talking points or poster themes developed from these key messages. The examples are listed in parenthesis under the key message. The objectives were developed based on the functions and motives of each group. The messages were tailored to meet these objectives. The overall purpose of all communications with these target audiences is to reduce or eliminate bush fires. Therefore, these messages are designed to inform all the stakeholders about the critical nature of the problem of bush fires and to induce each of these groups to play a role in stopping fires from escaping control. These communication objectives and key messages are divided into two sections: external and internal. The purpose of dividing them is to address the different needs and purposes for communicating with entities outside the Ghana fire-related agencies versus within the agencies. In general, the intent of the communication with external sources is to advise them of the cause of bush fires, educate them about the ecological/social/economic losses from these fires, and advise them of the consequences of illegal fires and how to use proper burning procedures for legal fires in order to reduce/eliminate bush fires. In general, the intent of the communication with internal sources is to create and disseminate within the Ghana fire-related agencies and collaborative partners information about the ecological/social/economic losses from bush fires; develop and disseminate plans and procedures to prevent, report, and suppress bush fires; and monitor and report on the success of educational efforts. External Communications: Politicians: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with the politicians should be on making them aware of/concerned with the extensive negative ecological/social/economic impacts to the nation from bush fires; keeping them informed about progress through briefings on fires and program accomplishments, and lobbying them for support/resources to build a strong fire program. Key Messages: Formulate policies that support forest fire management/prevention Pay attention to ecological/social/economic losses

o (Bush fires are the most important cause of forest loss and degradation in Ghana today).

Provide political and financial support for fire prevention programs o (We must act now. Over the last 20 years, more than 50% of our forests have

become partially to fully degraded. Help develop/sustain a full-scale fire program

o We must have a strong fire program to address a problem of this magnitude.

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Community Leaders: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with community leaders should be on making them aware of/concerned about the ecological/social/economic losses to their community from bush fires; informing them on how to stop bush fires through reporting procedures and the proper burning procedures, and lobbying them to support the fire program and pass by-laws and enforce sanctions to stop the bush fires. Key Messages: Mobilize your community to protect the forests

o (Respect Our Forests/ Protect Them From Bush Fires) Formulate and enforce laws that support forest fire management/prevention Educate people on how to use fire properly Provide resources/support for fire programs

Law Enforcement: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with law enforcement should be on lobbying them to enforce sanctions to stop the bush fires and informing them of the proper reporting and burning procedures. Key Messages: Enforce laws that support forest fire management/prevention Ensure community members comply with current bush fire prevention and control laws Educate people on the bush fire prevention and control law and how to use fire properly

Schools and Associations: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with the schools and associations should be on making them aware of the ecological/social/economic losses to their community from bush fires, instructing them on the proper reporting and burning procedures, and lobbying them to participate in the fire programs and ask their parents/others to participate. Key Messages: Support fire prevention Help us save the forests for your future

o (Bush fires destroy our forest and our future) Encourage your parents to obey the bush fire prevention and control laws Report bush fires Develop general environmental consciousness

o (Be Forest Friendly) National Companies/Sponsors: Communication Objectives: The focus on working with national companies and sponsors should be on increasing their awareness of the ecological/social/economic losses to the nation from bush fires and asking them to promote fire programs. Key Messages: Promote fire prevention and protection Help us save the forests for our future Industries survive in stable environments

o (The effects of bush fires go beyond the forests)

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Fire Users: Communication Objectives: The focus on working with fire users should be on making them aware of the ecological/social/economic losses to their community from bush fires; informing them about laws against illegal burning, the laid down laws, and proper burning procedures; training/assessing them on burning procedures; informing them of high fire danger; emphasizing their critical role in preventing bush fires; and providing incentives for participating in the fire program. Key Messages: Legal Domestic User: Adopt non-fire methods Use fire properly Report bush fires promptly Suppress accidental fires Be aware of the consequences of fire

o (Save our beautiful forest for our children)

Legal Forest Users of Fire: Put your fire out before you leave

o (Leave it DEAD Out) Report bush fires promptly Suppress accidental fires Be aware of the consequences of fire

o (Save our beautiful forests for our children)

Illegal Fire Users: When it is illegal, you must not burn

o (No fires means NO FIRES) The effects of your actions can cause harm to others

o (Fires Burn More Than Trees – with picture of burned homes/property) Loss of property etc. Be aware that your actions are illegal There are penalties for using fire illegally Learn better ways of burning for hunting

Mass Media: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with the mass media should be on eliciting their support in raising awareness about the ecological/social/economic losses to the nation and to local communities from bush fires, providing them with instructions on proper reporting and burning procedures, and working with them to create or capitalize on “teachable moments,” such as publicizing awards to fire volunteers or promoting stories about the successes/accomplishments in the program. Key Messages: You play a strategic role in the fight against fires Create public awareness about the high losses from bush fires Create public awareness of the laws and sanctions against illegal use of fire

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Attend meetings and report on fire programs Report on non-fire alternatives Report on the incentives for adopting these non-fire alternatives Report on success stories of how people use non-fire alternatives or stop bush fires Publicize proper procedures for fire use Create awareness about the fire program Create a platform to establish a dialogue among all the stakeholders

Internal Communications: Resource Managers: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with resource managers should be on maintaining a good flow of information within the organization for exchanging current research findings, technical information, fire data, and accomplishments; on developing, implementing, and monitoring the fire prevention/pre-suppression/suppression programs; and on publicizing these programs to the external audiences. Key Messages: Lobby community leaders to pass laws against bush fires Lobby the politicians to support fire programs Create awareness of the achievements of fire programs Maintain a close relationship with the mass media and other stakeholders to implement

fire programs and report findings and achievements Design a mechanism for internal dissemination of information about forest fires

Fire Service Managers: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with fire service managers should be on maintaining a good flow of information within the organization for exchanging current research findings, technical information, fire data, and accomplishments; developing and promoting prevention/pre-suppression/suppression programs, including monitoring and reporting on accomplishments. Key Messages: Train the fire volunteers in your district Provide motivation for the fire volunteers Help improve the community image of the volunteers Educate communities about fire Inform communities about fire sanctions Lobby community leaders to pass laws against bush fires

Researchers: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with researchers should be on creating/disseminating information about the ecological/social/economic impacts from bush fires; conducting fire research; monitoring the results of the fire programs, and finding sources for funding and establishing collaborative efforts to support the fire program.

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Key Messages: Develop interest in fire research Maintain close connections with resource managers Link fire research to operational needs Disseminate findings in a user-friendly format Make the media aware of research findings Find sources of funding for fire research Explore opportunities for collaborative fire research

NGOs: Communication Objectives: The focus in working with NGOs should be on maintaining a good flow of information among all collaborators for exchanging current research findings, technical information, fire data, and accomplishments; creating/ disseminating information about the ecological/social/economic impacts from bush fires; monitoring the forest and conducting fire research, and helping fund research and establish collaborative efforts to support the fire program. Key Messages: Develop interest in fire research Maintain close connections with resource managers Link fire research to operational needs Disseminate findings in a user-friendly format Make the media aware of research findings Find sources of funding for fire research Explore opportunities for collaborative fire programs Lobby community leaders and politicians to support fire programs Implement community fire programs in collaboration with other stakeholders

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External Communications Table

OBJECTIVES Politician Community Leaders

Law Enforce

Schools Organ.

Natl Corp Sponsors

Fire Users

Mass Media

Formulate policies that support forest fire management/prevention

X X

Pay attention to ecological/social economic losses

X X

Provide political and financial support for fire programs

X

Help develop/sustain a full-scale fire program X Mobilize your community to protect the forest X Enforce laws that support forest fire management/prevention

X X

Provide resources/support for fire programs X Educate people on how to use fire properly X X Educate people on the bush fire prevention and control law

X X X

Ensure people comply with current bush fire prevention/control laws

X

Support fire prevention X Help us save the forests for your/our future X X Encourage your parents to follow the bush fire prevention and control laws

X

Develop general environmental consciousness X X Report bush fires X X X Promote fire prevention and protection X Industries survive in stable environments Adopt non-fire methods X Use proper burning procedures X Suppress accidental fires X Be aware of the consequences of fire X Put your fire out before you leave X When it is illegal, you must not burn X The effects of your actions can cause harm to others

X

Be aware that your actions are illegal X There are penalties for using fire illegally X Learn better ways of burning for hunting X You play a strategic role in the fight against fires

X

Create public awareness about the high losses from bush fires

X

Create public awareness of the laws and sanctions against illegal use of fire

X

Attend meetings and report on fire programs X Report on non-fire alternatives X Report on the incentives for adopting these non-fire alternatives

X

Report on success stories of how people use non-fire alternatives to stop bush fires

X

Publicize proper procedures for fire use X Create awareness about the fire program X Create a platform to establish a dialogue among all the stakeholders

X

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Internal Communications Table

OBJECTIVES Resource Managers

Fire Services Managers

Researchers NGOs

Lobby community leaders to pass laws against bush fires

X

Lobby the politicians to support fire programs X Create awareness of the achievements of fire programs

X

Train the fire volunteers in your district X Provide motivation for the fire volunteers X Help improve the community image of the volunteers

X

Educate communities about fire X Inform communities about fire sanctions X Lobby community leaders to pass laws against bush fires X

Develop interest in fire research X X Maintain close connections with resource managers

X X

Link fire research to operational needs X X Disseminate findings in a user-friendly format X X Make the media aware of research findings X X Find sources of funding for fire research X X Explore opportunities for collaborative fire research X X

Lobby community leaders and politicians to support fire programs

X

Implement community fire programs in collaboration with other stakeholders X

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IV. Roles and Responsibilities The following section outlines the main roles and responsibilities for implementing this Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan. (For an overview of the organizational chart, see appendix B).

The main responsibility for developing this Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan has been with collaborative parties involved in the ITTO Forest Fire Management in Ghana Project for the Resource Management Support Center, Forestry Commission. RMSC will also be responsible for developing communication materials and program support. This Plan will initially be reviewed by RMSC after 2 years for updating and modification. The main responsibility for implementing this Forest Fire Prevention Communication Plan will be with the Director of Operations, Forest Services Division. Executive Director, Forest Services Division : The final approval for implementation rests with the Executive Director. This office shall request a briefing by the Director of Operations for updates on implementation strategies and achievements. Director of Operations: This office will assume full responsibility for the implementation and oversight of the prevention program. Regional Managers This office will ensure that the Plan is incorporated into the District’s annual program of work. For initial implementation, the Regional Managers will ensure the District Managers are familiar with the Plan and will facilitate the development of a prevention program. District Managers This office is critical to the implementation of this program. This office should utilize the Plan towards the development and implementation of their District Forest Fire Management Plan. District Managers will work in collaboration with RMSC to develop fire prevention materials. They will have primary responsibility for distributing these materials. Range Supervisors The Range Supervisors will assist and support the District Managers to implement their field activities under the program. Similar roles should be adapted by the Wildlife Division based on their structure.

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V. Appendices

Appendix A: Sample Prevention Strategy Plan Appendix B Organizational Chart

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Appendix A Sample Prevention Strategy Guide

This sample is presented to illustrate how to develop strategies for disseminating fire prevention messages. This sample draws from the communication objectives and key messages identified in this Plan and presents sample materials. The overall objective of this educational campaign is to raise awareness of the politicians and general public about the losses from bush fires and to galvanize fire users and the local community to stop illegal fire use and use proper burning procedures for legal fire use. Target Audiences:

o General Public o Community Leaders o Fire-Related Agency Personnel o Fire users o School children

Objective 1: Raise awareness of the general public about the ecological/economic/social losses from bush fires. Target the media and local audiences to distribute information about negative impacts of fire:

Talking Points Press Releases (Specific Newspapers?) Media Packet Billboards/Signboards (Offinso Road, Accra Road – Eastern Region , Sunyani Road) Radio/TV Interview (Radio/TV station?s) Awareness Flyers to distribute to media and at schools/events

Objective 2: Enlist the help of community leaders to motivate people to obey the laid down laws and report and help suppress bush fires.

Organize meetings with community leaders Attend Durbars Awareness Flyers to distribute at meetings

Objective 3: Enlist the help of field personnel to teach people the fire use laws and proper burning procedures and to report and help suppress bush fires. Create and distribute copies of burning guidelines to the Range Supervisors and Forest Guard for use in training Fire Users and informing the general public:

NOT HOT flyer PUT FIRES OUT leaflet No Fire Means NO FIRE leaflet Dos and Don’t Bookmark

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Objective 4: Raise awareness among schoolchildren about the ecological/economic/social losses from bush fires. Develop an educational campaign about the fire use laws and proper burning procedures and to how to report and help suppress bush fires. Create and distribute copies of burning guidelines to teachers and students:

NOT HOT flyer PUT FIRES OUT leaflet No Fire Means NO FIRE leaflet Dos and Don’t s Bookmark

Materials Developed:

Talking Points Press Releases Media Packet Billboards/ Sign Boards

o You Can Prevent Forest Fires o Be Part of the Forest Fire Prevention Team o You can prevent this! -- Picture o Stop Killing Our Forests!

Awareness Flyer o Bush Fires Destroy More Than Trees o BUSH FIRE - Destroys Our Forests…. And More

Lives Homes Crops Water systems

o You Can Prevent These Losses

“NOT HOT” Flyer – Legal Occupational Fire Users FRONT

o Construct fire belts before burning o Involve fire Volunteers or other farmers when burning o Do not burn on hot windy days o Ensure fire is extinguished before leaving the farm

BACK o Stop fires before they spread o Volunteer your time to extinguishing fires before they spread o Alert others to assist you in extinguishing bush fires

“PUT FIRES OUT” Leaflet – Campfire Users

o Do not leave fires unattended o Make sure your fire is out before you leave o Suppress accidental fires o Immediately report an uncontrolled fire

“No Fire Means NO FIRE” leaflet – Game Hunters

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o Do not use fire in Hunting o Do not use cap-guns for hunting in the dry season o Do not use fire to smoke out rats/other game o Do not throw lighted smoke stubs into the bush during hunting

Honey Tapping o Do not use fire for wild honey hunting o Use water dipped with cassava leaves for 2-3 days. o Sprinkle water around the target areas.

Wine Tappers

o Do not use tenure torches for tapping during the dry season o Use salts and water for tapping

“Dos and Don’ts Bookmark

o Do not leave fires unattended o Do not throw out lighted cigarette butts o Do not burn on hot, windy days o DO Help stop bush fires o DO Be Vigilant! Stop neighbors from setting bush fires

Media Packet

o Talking Points o “Make Your Home More Defensible” News Release o Awareness Flyer o “NOT HOT” flyer o “PUT FIRES OUT” leaflet o No Fire Means NO FIRE leaflet o Dos and Don’t s Bookmark

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Appendixu B Organizational Chart

Forest Fire Management Organization

NGOs, GTA, CRNRGNFS, GTMO, IRNR,NADMO, MSD, FORIG,MediaGAF, EPA, DA, etc

Firefighter(Farmers or other

community stakeholder)

Firefighter(Fire Volunteer

Squad Member)

Forest GuardLead Firefighter

Ranger SupervisorFront Line Supervisor

District ManagerProvides overall

Incident Management

Regional ManagerCoordinates withother agencies

DirectorOperations

Accra

EC ManagerRMSCKumasi

DirectorRMSCKumasi

Executive DirectorForest Services Division

Accra

Chief ExecutiveForestry Commission

Corporate HeadquartersAccra

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