globalreviewofforestfires.doc

Global Review of Forest Fires Prepared by Andy Rowell and Dr. Peter F. Moore PREFACE The forest fires of 1997 and 1998 created enormous ecological damage and human suffering and helped focus world attention on what is an increasing problem. In December 1997, WWF issued a report entitled “The Year the World Caught Fire.” At the time Claude Martin, Director General of WWF, said: “This is not just an emergency, it is a planetary disaster. As the guilty are identified and the blame is apportioned, we must ensure that national and international responses go further than identifying a few scapegoats. This must never be allowed to happen again”. There is growing feeling within WWF and IUCN that action is needed to try and catalyse a strategic international response to forest fires. There are no “magic bullets” for forest fires. The issues to be addressed are complex and cut across sectors, interests, donors, professions, regions, nations and communities. The organisations feel that action only takes place when fires are burning and that little attempt has been made to address the underlying causes. This report is therefore issued as a follow-up to the 1997 report. It is part of an on-going programme of work by the two organisations to address forest fires. In early 1998 IUCN – the World Conservation Union and WWF – The World Wide Fund For Nature, joined forces in developing a Programme for “Strengthening National, Regional and International Networks for Forest Fire Prevention and Management, world-wide” This “FireFight” Programme seeks to secure essential policy reform at national and international level to provide a legislative and economic base for controlling harmful anthropogenic forest fires. The programme is intended as a contribution to efforts by national governments, and international organisations such as UNDP, FAO, UNEP and ASEAN, to establish more effective fire management and strategic, preventative responses. It will mobilise the in-country