Involving Local Communities to Prevent and Control Forest Fires

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), involving local communities is crucial to prevent and control destructive forest fires.

"Globally, 95 percent of all fires are caused by various human activities," said Mike Jurvelius, an FAO forest fire expert.

"If humans are the main cause of forest fires, prevention and control have to involve people at local level. The traditional approach of focusing on legislation and expensive equipment alone is not sufficient," he added. "Local communities actively participate in forest fire prevention and control when they have a stake in forest management and benefit from the forests."

The FAO cites examples in China, the Gambia, India and the Untied States where forest fires have been reduced when communities were involved with fire management and awareness programmes.

"A village in China, for example, has had no uncontrolled fires for over 35 years, ever since a policy was adopted that provided benefits and income from the forests to the villagers.

A study in India revealed that the level of rural communities' dependency on their surrounding forests relates directly to their participation in fire management.

In the Gambia, community forestry practices have resulted in a drop in damaging and unwanted fires, as increased participation and access to forest ownership have led to more effective fire prevention and suppression.

Community-based fire control activities in the United States have been highly successful. Some of the awareness-raising activities that have been used include a geographic analysis of potential hazards for fire fighters, educating people on how to protect their houses with fire resistant materials, and warning systems on days with severe fire weather conditions."

FAO recommends that each country analyse its fire situation and develop a strategy for preventing and managing wildland fire. "In many countries, local communities alone are not capable of managing intense and large fires. Intervention is required from provincial or national level agencies."