GlobalNet

Regional Subsahara Wildland Fire Network (Afrifirenet)
A Region of the Global Wildland Fire Network


Memorandum of Understanding    

 

between the

Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC)

represented by Afrifirenet

and

The Working on Fire Programme

A Partnership Project Between South African Government Departments and the Private Sector

 

Whereas:

The aim of the Global Fire Monitoring Center is to establish and maintain a regional- and national-level wildland fire network for the African continent south of the Sahara, functioning within the Global Fire Management Working Programme / Network coordinated by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) in line with the work of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, Working Group on Wildland Fire.

 

and

 

Whereas:

The aim of the Working on Fire Programme is to reduce the frequency of, and damage from, unwanted wildland fires through promoting and implementing integrated fire management systems across the fire- prone regions of southern Africa. 

 

The parties acknowledge that:

  • Unwanted wildland fires affect the lives and livelihoods of many communities living in the SADC region.
  • Unwanted wildland fires impact significantly upon the economies of SADC countries.
  • Unwanted wildland fires adversely affect the biodiversity of the region, and have ecological implications affecting global systems, patterns and processes.
  • There is the need to recognize and allow for the role of fire and its use in southern African ecosystem management.
  • Climatic and ecological conditions conducive to the ignition and spread of wildland fires recognize no political boundaries.
  • Practice and standardization of integrated fire management methodologies across boundaries can reduce cross-border wildfire risks.

 

To promote co-operation across the SADC region, the parties agree that:

  1. Afrifirenet will be the conduit and platform for exchange of information within the SADC region, 
  2. Afrifirenet will facilitate the flow of information between different countries and be the point of contact for organizing cross border co-operation with respect to training and  capacity building. 
  3. Foci of such information sharing shall be:

·         The promotion of Integrated Fire Management practice, with emphasis on community participation

·         Research

·         Development and implementation of Best Practice standards 

·         Strategy and policy development conducive to building co-operation across the SADC region.

·         Building a community of practice network across the region.

The parties will strive towards:

1.       Standardization of training, services and integrated fire management practice across the region.

2.       Appropriate knowledge and technology transfer through ongoing development of knowledge management systems.

3.       Ensuring compatibility when faced with exchanging resources, training and information, especially in the case of cross border assistance.

4.        Cost efficiencies through avoidance of duplication.

5.        Ensuring that the capacities built through this partnership assist the regional (SADC) needs, through the New Programme for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), under the leadership of the National Disaster Management Centre in the Department of Provincial and Local Government.

 

This MoU was signed by Prof. J.G. Goldammer, GFMC Director and Mnr. Louis Buys, Chief Director, National Disaster Management Centre South Africa on 10 November 2004.

 


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