Review of Science and Technical Progress from the Perspective of

Wildland Fire / Wildfire Risk

Preparatory Workshop on Science and Technology for the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Third Session

Pavia, Italy, 5-6 April 2011

Johann G. GoldammerGlobal Fire Monitoring Center / Global Wildland Fire Network

Nikola NikolovRegional Southeast Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center

and Wildland Fire Network

Wildland Fire Any fire occurring on wildland regardless of ignition sources, damages or benefits

Wildland Vegetated and non-vegetated land in which development is essentially non-existent, except for roads, railroads, powerlines, and similar transportation facilities; structures, if any, are widely scattered. In fire management terminology this general term includes all burnable vegetation resources including managed forests and forest plantations

WildfireAny unplanned and uncontrolled wildland fire which regardless of ignition source may require suppression response, or other action according to agency policy

Wildland Fire / Wildfire Risk

Major science and technical advancements and innovations: Global partners, review processes and mechanisms in the 5 HFA areas:

– Global Networking, Cooperation and Coordination: The Global Wildland Fire Network (HFA1)

– Global Fire Monitoring: The Global Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) and Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) (HFA2)

– Early Warning and Preparedness: The Global Wildland Fire Early Warning System (HFA2)

– Education, Advocacy and Awareness: Community-based Fire Management (CBFiM) (HFA3)

– Reducing Wildfire Risk: Integrated Fire Management (HFA4)– Preparing for Response: Internationally agreed Standard Operating

Procedures based on bilateral or multilateral agreements / protocols (HFA5)

Wildland Fire / Wildfire Risk

Global Networking, Cooperation and Coordination: The Global Wildland Fire Network (HFA1)

Progress:

- 15 Regional Wildland Fire Networks established

- thereof 1 multilateral / legal (ASEAN); 14 voluntary networks with a number of bilateral agreements embedded in regions; 1 networking mechanism in the European Union

- Increasing visibility and “political recognition”

Major gaps:

- Still lacking national and international fire management policies

- Lack of political and … financial commitment

The Regions of the UNISDR Global Wildland Fire NetworkNorth America – Mesoamerica – South America – Caribbean – Mediterranean – Near East –

Southeast Europe / Caucasus – Subsahara Africa – South Asia – Southeast Asia Australasia – Northeast Asia – Central Asia – Eurasia – Euro-Alpine

Global Networking, Cooperation and Coordination: The Global Wildland Fire Network (HFA1)

Global Fire Monitoring: The Global Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) and Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) (HFA2)

Progress:

- The science, instruments, algorithms, models and communication networks for global fire assessments and operational support are in place

Major gaps:

- Lack of international financial commitments to transit from models / prototypes to operational systems, which are meeting the demands of science (fire, atmosphere, climate) and fire management (operational support)

Global Fire Monitoring: The Global Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) and Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) (HFA2)

Early Warning and Preparedness: The Global Wildland Fire Early Warning System (HFA2)

Methodology for a Global Fire EWS is in place

12 January 2010

Early Warning and Preparedness: The Global Wildland Fire Early Warning System (HFA2)

Methodologies of Regional to local Fire EWS are in place

Early Warning and Preparedness: The Global Wildland Fire Early Warning System (HFA2)

Progress: - The science and technology for fire early warning (3-14 days) and for modeling (months, years, decades) are in place

Major gaps: - Lack of international financial commitments to transit from models / prototypes to operational systems, which are meeting the demands of science (fire, atmosphere, climate) and fire management (operational support)

Education, Advocacy and Awareness: Community-based Fire Management (CBFiM) (HFA3)

Progress: - The fire management community globally has set priorities on community-based, participatory approaches in fire management (involvement of those who are using fire, often are causing wildfires, and are affected by wildfires; and needing advice for environmentally safe burning practices)

Major gaps: - Most countries are following traditional, centralized (government-agencies focused, often paramilitary) methods of “fire exclusion and control”

Education, Advocacy and Awareness: Community-based Fire Management (CBFiM) (HFA3)

Reducing Wildfire Risk: Integrated Fire Management (HFA4)

In some ecosystems natural and prescribed management fires are essential components of ecosystem dynamics and contribute to the reduction of wildfires of high severities

Reducing Wildfire Risk: Integrated Fire Management (HFA4)

Progress: - The fire ecology and science-based methods of managing fire (integration of natural fire, use of prescribed fire; and fire exclusion, where appropriate) are explored for most vegetation types and are available for technical transfer to any country

Major gaps: - The majority of countries are still following traditional, centralized (“government-agencies focused”, often paramilitary) methods of “fire exclusion / control”

Preparing for response: Internationally agreed Standard Operating Procedures based on bilateral or multilateral agreements / protocols (HFA5)

Multilateral agreements / mechanisms in place:

- Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution

- European Union: The Civil Protection Mechanism

Preparing for response: Internationally agreed Standard Operating Procedures based on bilateral or multilateral agreements / protocols (HFA5)

Multilateral agreements / mechanisms in preparation:

- “UNECE Regional Conference on Cross-boundary Fire Management” (to be hosted by the United Nations in 2011)

- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) initiative on transboundary cooperation in fire management (2010-2012)

Preparing for response: Internationally agreed Standard Operating Procedures based on bilateral or multilateral agreements / protocols (HFA5)

Bilateral agreements / mechanisms:

- Within North America- Russian Federation and neighbouring countries- Several European countries

- Between U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand: Set of bilateral agreements that are compatible and thus have a “quasi multilateral” character. All countries using the common “Incident Command System” (ICS), which allows exchange of personnel and securing inter-operability in managing wildfire disasters

Preparing for response: Internationally agreed Standard Operating Procedures based on bilateral or multilateral agreements / protocols (HFA5)

Examples of themes for international cooperation (I):

(1) The International Fire Aviation Working Group (IFAWG)

Mission Statement

Identify and facilitate opportunities for multilateral communication and cooperation to improve the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of aerial fire management

Preparing for response: Internationally agreed Standard Operating Procedures based on bilateral or multilateral agreements / protocols (HFA5)

Examples of themes for international cooperation (II):

(2) Fire Management on contaminated terrain

- Re-distribution of radioactivity - Collateral damages during armed conflicts- Heritages of armed conflicts (Unexploded Ordnance, land mines)

Preparatory Workshop on Science and Technology for the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Third Session

Pavia, Italy, 5-6 April 2011

Thanks for your attention

On behalf of the UNISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group / Global Wildland Fire Network