Tropical Forests in Transition
Ecology of Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbance Processes

In 1991, the editor of the volume, head of the Fire Ecology and Biomass Burning Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Freiburg University, convened the conference “Tropical forests in transition: Ecology of natural and anthropogenic disturbance processes”. Financial support was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Ministry of Science and Arts of the State of Baden-Wurttemberg. Valuable assistance was given by the University of Freiburg, particularly by the Institute of Forest Zoology.

The volume is the outcome of the conference. It synthesizes information on changing environmental conditions and human impacts on the tropical forest by looking back to the paleoecology, analyzing the impact of modern human populations and modeling the future of the tropical forest in a changing environment. The aim of the book is to strengthen multidisciplinary thinking in disturbance ecology:

• Goldammer, J.G. (ed.) 1992. Tropical forests in transition: Ecology of natural and anthropogenic disturbance processes. Birkhäuser-Verlag, Basel-Boston, 270 p.

Book order through Springer.

The Fathers of American Forestry

Symposium – Convened by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC)

Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Freiburg University

Freiburg, Germany, 10 November 2018

Background

The Brandis, Schenck, and Pinchot names are etched into the foundation of modern forestry. The three men Sir Dietrich Brandis, Carl Alwin Schenck, and Gifford Pinchot were united by a common ambition that the forests were to be preserved as a resource for the people and future generations. Together, they set their sights on the United States of America. At the end of the nineteenth century the nation was teetering on the edge of environmental collapse. Generations of clear cutting and forest exploitation left the wooded lands of America with a bleak outlook. Recognizing the urgency that America was facing in the 1890s, Sir Dietrich Brandis began to take pupils to deliver the scientific field of forestry across the Atlantic Ocean. Brandis derived his insight and wisdom from his own experience of establishing a national forest system in British India. His two chosen pupils were to become America’s first foresters were Gifford Pinchot, and Carl Alwin Schenck. Both were young and able men driven by a passion for forest sustainability. Through the trio’s fortitude and perseverance, they were able to deter the young nation from environmental catastrophe while developing a number of universities of forestry as well as the United States Forest Service. Modern environmentalism owes much to these three families. However, as the world faced the hurdles of the twentieth century the relationships that these families shared was set adrift. Now the historical tide has reversed course and the forthcoming event will allow the three families to rekindle the relationships that their forefathers began, relationships that sculpted environmentalism as we know it.

The Symposium

On 10 November 2018, the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) hosted the symposium The Fathers of American Forestry. The symposium was an assembly of the families of Sir Dietrich Brandis and Carl Alwin Schenck  as well as the representative of the Cradle of Forestry and thus the family of Gifford Pinchot. The meeting took place in Freiburg, Germany.

Agenda

• Welcome and Introduction: Prof. Dr. Johann Georg Goldammer, Director of Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC)
• Reuniting Legacies: Jameson Karns, historian and PhD Candidate, University of California, Berkeley, in cooperation with GFMC
• The Heritage of Sir Dietrich Brandis: Dr. Ursula Brandis, custodian of the Brandis Heritage, widow of Prof. Dr. Henning Brandis, the grandson of Lady Katharina Brandis
• The Brandis Foundation: Dr. Andreas Sedlatschek, nephew of Dr. Ursula Brandis
• Recovering the Schenck Heritage – Introduction: Klaus Bräunig, Grand-nephew of Carl Alwin Schenck
• The Schenck Family in Darmstadt: Leopold Jarolemek, historian
• Carl Alwin Schenck in Lindenfels – A retrospective: Christoph von Rhöneck, friend of Carl Alwin Schenck
• Living with and interpreting History: Robert Beanblossom, United States Forest Service, Biltmore Campus, North Carolina

Symposium Participants

The Schenck Family

Herr Klaus Bräunig

Herr Christoph von Rhöneck

Herr Leopold Jarolemek

The Brandis Family

Frau Dr. Ursula Brandis

Herr Dr. Andreas Sedlatschek

The Cradle of Forestry

Frau Judy Beanblossom

Herr Robert Beanblossom

The Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC)

Herr Prof. Dr. Johann Georg Goldammer

Herr Jameson Karns

Herr John Karns

Symposium Agenda and Report

• Symposium Agenda and Documentation (PDF, 1.5 MB)

The publication: Memories of Carl Alwin Schenck including the Proceedings of the Freiburg Symposium

Bibliographic reference and more:

• Goldammer, J.G. and J. Karns (eds.). 2019. Carl Alwin Schenck. Memoiren 1868 bis 1887. Forstbuchverlag Kessel, 328 p. ISBN 978-3-945941-56-0 (in German)
• Website of the publisher
• Medium-resolution book volume (open access) (PDF, 8.5 MB)
• Book review by Forstliche Mitteilungen 12/2019 and 1/2020 (PDF)

Visual Impressions

Opening Session in Oberkirch’s “Saal”

Jameson Karns introducing the symposium

Opening Session in Oberkirch’s “Saal”

From left to right – Robert Beanblossom, John Karns, Leopold Jarolemek, Klaus Bräunig, Christoph von Rönneck

Continuing Session in Oberkirch’s “Wohnzimmer”:

Johann Georg Goldammer, Leopold Jarolemek, Klaus Bräunig and Christoph von Rönneck

Ursula Brandis and Andreas Sedlatschek presenting the heritage of Sir Dietrich Brandis

Jameson Karns listening to Robert Beanblossom

Judy Beanblossom, Ursula Brandis, Andreas Sedlatschek and John Karns

Jameson Karns handing over a remnant of Sir Dietrich Brandis’ Office

(front shield of the drawer that contained the files of 1902) to Ursula Brandis

In return, Ursula Brandis donated a painting of Lady Katharina Brandis to Jameson Karns

The Brandis and Schenck Families reunited: Andreas Sedlatschek, Ursula Brandis and Klaus Bräunig

The Ethiopia Wildfire Emergency 2000

February – April 2000

Follow-Up: National Round Table on Fire Management

19-20 September 2000

Between late February and early April 2000, severe forest fires occurred in the mountain forests of Ethiopia. Following a request from the government of Ethiopia the very first and successful multi-national wildland fire fighting campaign in history was initiated in a developing tropical country.

On 18 February 2000, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of Ethiopia receives reports that uncontrolled forest fires have started in different parts of the country. On 20 February, the forest advisor to the Ministry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for Technical Cooperation – GTZ) contacts the GFMC and describes the situation. At this point, the extent of these fires is not yet known, but at the end of the dry season the situation looks serious. Some of the fires had started in woodland areas (lowlands) but have already encroached the neighbouring afro-montane forest areas. The MoA is very concerned about the situation and launches two reconnaissance surveys on 18 February to more accurately assess the situation. Since local capacities for firefighting are limited (no firefighting equipment and no special know-how and experience of forestry experts available), it is considered to explore whether there are any possibilities for international assistance in this matter.

On 23 February the Ministry of Agriculture receives more detailed reports on two larger forest fires in Oromiya Regional State. The other affected location is the Bale Massive in the Bale Administrative Zone. The fire encroached one of the state forests which are designated National Forest Priority Area (FPA) and reportedly burned 2500 ha.

On 27 February, the GFMC disseminates a fire situation report and calls for attention and assistance of fire specialists and government authorities in South Africa, Ethiopia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. At this stage the government of Ethiopia launches its first request for assistance from South Africa. The deployment of South African helicopters to Ethiopia to support firefighting in the remote areas is rejected due to the high demand for helicopters for rescuing people from the flood-stricken regions of Mozambique, a very prominent humanitarian task.

On 1 March, the head of GFMC leaves from headquarters (Germany) to Ethiopia. On 2 March, a first situation analysis by GFMC-GTZ is submitted to the government of Ethiopia. It is recommended to immediately request international assistance in delivering hand tools for firefighting. In addition it is recommended to accept the offer of the Republic of South Africa to deploy a team of three experts to assist the country in fighting the fires. The GTZ-GFMC team is in close contact with US institutions to continuously receive medium- to high resolution near-real time satellite maps (DMSP, NOAA AVHRR). It is proposed to transmit the maps directly to the US embassy in Addis Ababa and the Ministry and to forward the satellite data to the field to support emergency measures. Between Friday 3 and Sunday 5 March 2000 a mixed Ethiopian-German team is dispatched to the fire region South of Addis Ababa and is joined by the South African team on 4 March.

On 6 March 2000 an International Fire Emergency Advisory Group is formed consisting of experts of Ethiopia, GFMC, South Africa and the US and set up an Incident Command System (ICS). The international community and the media are briefed on the situation in Addis Ababa.

For more details – see the narrative published in International Forest Fore News

• The Ethiopia Fire Emergency between February and April 2000 (IFFN No. 22, April 2000, p. 2-8)

Media reports:

• German experts fly in to tackle forest blaze (The-Monitor, Addis Ababa, 04-05 March 2000) (PDF)
• Ethiopian fires ‘out of control’ (BBC News, 7 March 2000) (PDF)

Follow-up: Round Table on Integrated Forest Fire Management

Half a year later, the Ethiopian Round Table Conference on Integrated Forest Fire Management was held in Addis Ababa, 19-20 September 2000. The major objectives of the workshop were to:

• provide all stakeholders with comprehensive information on the present status and problems about forest fires;
• share experiences in forest fire management with· other developing countries;
• identify and define components of an integrated forest fire management programme for Ethiopia;
• provide an opportunity for potential international partners to express their interests and ideas with respect to a co-operation in the development and implementation of a forest fire management system in Ethiopia

The Round Table was supported by GFMC and GTZ. The proceedings include seven papers and a section that summarizes the findings of the three working groups and the plenary discussion at the end of the workshop:

1. Vegetation types and forest management in Ethiopia.
2. Role of vegetation fires in global processes in Africa and other continents
3. Effects and use of fire in southern Africa savannah
4. Experience in Namibia with community-based forest fire management
5. Remote sensing of vegetation fires and its contribution to national fire information
6. Overview of integrated forest management (IFFM) concepts, lessons learnt and opportunities for Ethiopian conditions.
7. Results of a case study on survival strategies and ecological performance of plants in regularly burnt savannah woodlands and grasslands of western Ethiopia, Gambella National Regional State.

The final section presented the results of the group discussions, plenary session and recommendations. The group work addressed three major issues: fire ecology and fire impacts, identification of key stakeholders, and an integrated fire management programme for Ethiopia. This is followed by the Annexes with the welcoming address, the opening address, the program, and the list of participants. It also includes a paper on the application of remote sensing and GIS in managing forest fires.

• Proceedings of the Ethiopian Round Table Conference on Integrated Forest Fire Management (Addis Ababa, 19-20 September 2000)

Follow-up report published in International Forest Fore News (IFFN)

• Fire Situation in Ethiopia (IFFN No. 25, July 2001, p. 7-12)

Towards an integrated national fire management system

The study “Towards an integrated national fire management system in Ethiopia: A review of experiences, gaps, patterns and MODIS data” was initiated to document forest fire management experiences in Ethiopia with emphasis on trends, responses and impacts in view of identifying gaps to be addressed and areas where support is needed to design an integrated, national forest fire management system. The review was prepared and published in 2023 under the Working Landscape programme of Tropenbos International, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands:

• Towards an integrated national fire management system in Ethiopia (2023) (PDF, 2.7 MB)

Climate Change and Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Basin:

Management and Risk Reduction

Nir Etzion, Israel, 24-26 January 2012

The conference “Climate Change & Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Basin: Risk Reduction & Management” aimed at sharing scientific knowledge and practical experience concerning measures required in dealing with forest fires prevention and ecological rehabilitation under influence of climate change, including offering a scientific ground for policy making. The organization of the conference was led by the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund (KKL) in the frame of the CIRCLE 2 ERA network, and the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC). Venue of the conference: Nir Etzion, Mount Carmel, near Haifa.

The opening keynote “Wildland fires in the Eastern Mediterranean & Near East from the perspective of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction” and the contribution “Regional Perspectives: The Role of Formal and Informal Networks” were presented by GFMC (Johann Georg Goldammer) on behalf of the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire.

Announcement of the conference:

• Conference announcement website of GFMC (website of Ministry of Environmental Protection of Israel meanwhile expired)
• Final agenda and abstracts (PDF, 3.6 MB)

Post-conference reports:

• Press release by Ministry of Environmental Protection of Israel (30 January 2012)
• Statement by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Israel (30 January 2012)
• Minutes of the Conference (by GFMC) (IFFN No. 42, 2012)
• Reflections about the Conference (by GFMC) (IFFN No. 42, 2012)

Visual impressions:

The Conference Group

• Additional visual impressions (IFFN No. 42, 2012)

International Fire Management Conferences jointly conducted with
International Organizations and Republic of Indonesia
1996-2019

Conference on Transboundary Pollution and the Sustainability of Tropical Forests (1996)

The ASEAN Institute for Forest Management (AIFM) hosted the AIFM Conference on Transboundary Pollution and the Sustainability of Tropical Forests: Towards Wise Forest Fire Management, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2-4 December 1996.

• Conference agenda and abstracts (PDF)
• GFMC contribution: Initial Thoughts towards Cooperation in Fire and Smoke Research and Management in the ASEAN Region (PDF)
• The ITTO Activities in the Protection of Tropical Forest Against Fires (PDF)
• Results of the Working Group Discussions (PDF) (see also: https://gfmc.online/se_asia/background/sea_3.html)
• Historic online publication on the GFMC website

International Conference on Science and Technology for the Assessment of Global Environmental Change and its Impact on the Maritime Continent of Indonesia (1997)

Considering the damages inflicted by the 1997 El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to the countries in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, which suffers from prolonged droughts, forest fires, huge economic losses, transboundary haze, and its long term ecological impacts, concerned government officials, scientists and practitioners convened in Jakarta on 10-12 November 1997 at the International Conference on Science and Technology for the Assessment of Global Environmental Change and its Impact on the Maritime Continent of Indonesia. Major topics at the Conference included:

• Seasonal to Inter-annual Climate Variability Research and Prediction
• Marine and Coastal Zone Biodiversity Research and Management Hazard Mitigation, Monitoring, and Contingency Planning
• Integrated Spaceborne, Airborne, Seaborne, and Terrestrial Data Acquisition Technologies for Disaster Management

The Conference was opened by the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The Forum Statement was signed, among other, by the Minister of State for Research and Technology, B.I. Habibie, and by Germany, represented by Johann Georg Goldammer, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Global Fire Monitoring Center [GFMC], in establishment process).

• Invitation (PDF)
• Agenda (PDF)
• Opening Speech by the President of Indonesia (PDF)
• Keynote Address by Minister of State for Research and Technology (PDF)
• GFMC Presentation I: Impacts of Climate Changes, Land Use and Fire on Ecosystems and the Atmospheric Environment of The Maritime Continent: Challenge for Immediate Action and a Long-Term Science and Technology Plan (PDF)
• GFMC Presentation II: The Role of Fire on Greenhouse Gas and Aerosol Emissions and Land Use and Cover Change in Southeast Asia: Ecological Background and Research & Development Needs (PDF)
• Forum Statement (PDF)

Germany-Singapore Environmental Technology Agency (GSETA): Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Transboundary Atmospheric Pollution (1998)

The Germany-Singapore Environmental Technology Agency (GSETA) organised the Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Transboundary Atmospheric Pollution from 27 to 28 May 1998 at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore. About 50 participants from both public and private sector of 11 Asia-Pacific economies, Germany and Singapore participated in the Workshop. Among them were also representatives from international institutions, research institutes and NGOs such as UN-ECE (including the leader of the UN-FAO/ECE/ILO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire), WWF Indonesia, IFFM Indonesia, EEPSEA, APCEL, DNR, the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Fire Ecology Research Group (, and IIASA.

Officials and experts from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore presented papers and shared their knowledge and experience on the subject of transboundary atmospheric pollution at the workshop. The workshop served as a forum for the participants to share and exchange information and experience on impacts, strategies, regional agreements as well as the mechanisms and programmes to deal with transboundary atmospheric pollution. Feedback from participants showed that they found the workshop beneficial and that the overall contents of the papers presented at the workshop were relevant and informative. The GFMC, which was formally opened three months after the workshop, provided the paper “Land Use, Climate Variability and Fire in Indonesia: Impacts on Ecosystems and Atmosphere” (by Johann G. Goldammer, on behalf of the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fires and the Fire Ecology and Biomass Burning Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Freiburg University, Germany). In essence, the written GFMC contributions to the GSETA Workshop are identical with the contributions to the “International Conference on Science and Technology for the Assessment of Global Environmental Change and its Impact on the Maritime Continent of Indonesia” (1997, see conference above) and the “WMO Workshop on Regional Transboundary Smoke and Haze in Southeast Asia” (1998, see conference below:

• Workshop report in UNECE/FAO International Forest Fire News (IFFN) No. 19 (1998): https://gfmc.online/country/sg/sg_5.html (see also PDF of IFFN No. 19)

Participants of the GSETA Workshop in Singapore (27 May 1998)
Photo: GFMC Archive.

WMO Workshop on Regional Transboundary Smoke and Haze in Southeast Asia (1998)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized a regional workshop on transboundary smoke and haze in Southeast Asia, as part of its continuing response to the 1997 forest fire episode, which caused widespread air pollution and environmental problems throughout the region. The Workshop Regional Transboundary Smoke and Haze in Southeast Asia was held in Singapore from 2 to 5 June 1998, hosted by the Meteorological Service Singapore and co-sponsored by the Asian Development Bank, brought together representatives from the National Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services (NMHSs), the ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Center (ASMC), Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers (RSMCs), invited experts as well as other agencies that are directly involved with fire-related activities, and other organizations that are helping countries to address the smoke and haze and related transboundary pollution issues.

The results of the WMO workshop are published in Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Report 131. The GFMC, which was formally opened three months after the workshop, provided an “Overview of Fire and Smoke Episodes in Southeast Asia” with the presentation “Environmental Problems Arising from Land Use, Climate Variability, Fire and Smog in Indonesia: Development of Policies and Strategies for Land Use and Fire Management” (by Johann G. Goldammer, on behalf of the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fires and the Fire Ecology and Biomass Burning Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Freiburg University, Germany):

• WMO Workshop on Regional Transboundary Smoke and Haze in Southeast Asia Report (Volume 1) (GAW Report 131) (PDF, 17.0 MB)
• WMO Workshop on Regional Transboundary Smoke and Haze in Southeast Asia Report (Volume 2) (GAW Report 131) (PDF, 6.5 MB)

Reports by GFMC including publications in UNECE/FAO International Forest Fire News (IFFN) in 1999:

• https://gfmc.online/programmes/un/wmo/wmorep.html
• Report in UNECE/FAO International Forest Fire News (IFFN) No. 19 (1998): https://gfmc.online/country/un/un_1.html (see also PDF of IFFN No. 19)
• GFMC-WMO cooperation: https://gfmc.online/programmes/un/wmo/wmo.htm

Participants of the WMO Workshop in Singapore (2 June 1998)
Photo: WMO

International Cross Sectoral Forum on Forest Fire Management in South East Asia (1998)

The International Cross Sectoral Forum on Forest Fire Management in South East Asia, was hosted by the Government of Indonesia and jointly co-sponsored by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) met in Jakarta, 7-8 December 1998. Specific goals:

• Gather information concerning the causes of forest fires and their impacts on humans, bio-diversity, and the environment
• Review existing land use conditions and to consider further input to land-use management reform
• Analyze institutional development and the integration of current efforts to overcome the impacts caused by forest fire
• Develop technology for forest fire prevention and management
• Develop a policy and mechanism (including institutional development) to improve regional efforts to anticipate the trans-boundary impacts of forest fires
• Develop guidelines for the drawing up of a National Action Plan for the management of forest fires and their associated impacts, applicable at the local, national and regional levels.

A total of 216 participants from 19 countries and 8 international organisations, representing a wide range of disciplines attended the Forum.

• Agenda(PDF)
• Participants (PDF)
• Abstracts (PDF)
• GFMC-ITTO Report (PDF)
• Report: The Mission on Forest Fire Prevention and Management to Indonesia and Malaysia (Sarawak) (8-20 September 1998) (PDF)

Speakers Certificate – GFMC Contribution

Impacts of Fire and Human Activities on Forest Ecosystems in the Tropics: 3rd International Symposium on Asian Tropical Forest Management (1999)

The 3rd International Symposium on Asian Tropical Forest Management Impacts of Fire and Human Activities on Forest Ecosystems in the Tropics was held by the Tropical Rain Forest Research Center of Mulawarman University (PUSREHUT-UNMUL) in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, 20-23 September 1999. The symposium was supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture and by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Fire Ecology Research Group / Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Freiburg University, and the Rehabilitation Research Group at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), supported the preparation and organization of the symposium.

• Symposium Agenda (PDF)
• Symposium volume with agenda and abstracts (PDF)

International Conference on World Land and Forest Fire Hazards (2002)

The international conference World Land and Forest Fire Hazards: Reviewing Global Perspectives and Seeking Strategies for Future Challenges was convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 10-12 June 2002, with the following objectives:

• To provide a forum for exchange of information and experiences on land and forest fire hazards that have affected various regions around the world
• To bring international fire experts, senior government officials, researchers, industries, community leaders, international organizations, individuals and practitioners from around the world to deliberate on issues of land and forest fire hazards
• To develop approaches and strategies to minimize or overcome the hazards associated with land and forest fires including the resulting transboundary air pollution; and
• To recommend areas of cooperation between countries, international organizations, industries, and communities to meet future challenges of land and forest fire hazards.

The recommendations were presented to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, September 2002.

• Conference Introduction and Agenda (PDF)
• Conference Handbook (PDF)
• Conference Contribution by GFMC (PDF)
• Conference Contribution by ITTO (PDF)
• Conference Statement presented at WSSD (PDF)

ASEAN Ministers responsible for environment met on 10 June 2002 and signed the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution:

• ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (detailed information on the GFMC repository)
• ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (original signed document)
• ASEAN Press Release (PDF)
• Report in IFFN No. 39 (PDF)

Ceremony of signing the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
Source: GFMC.

Follow-up with ASEAN 

In 2001 the report Fire, Smoke, and Haze: The ASEAN Response Strategy (edited by S. Tahir Qadri) was published, a major effort supported by GFMC:

• Fire, Smoke, and Haze: The ASEAN Response Strategy (PDF)

At the Eleventh Joint Meeting of the ASEAN Working Groups on Sub-Regional Fire Fighting Arrangements (SRFAs) for Sumatra and Borneo (Singapore, 12-13 August 2002) it was decided that ASEAN will join the Global Wildland Fire Network. This decision was made following a proposal by the GFMC / ISDR Working Group on Wildland Fire Proposal to the Ministerial Meeting on Haze (11 June 2002). See:

• GFMC / Working Group on Wildland Fire Proposal (PDF, 58 KB)
• Extracts of 11th Joint SRFA Meeting Report (PDF,8 KB)

21st Meeting of ASOEN Haze Technical Task Force (2004)

GFMC contributed to the 21st Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) Haze Technical Task Force (8-9 November 2004, Hanoi, Viet Nam).

• Agenda of the 21st Meeting (PDF)
• GFMC Contribution “Status of Building the Global Wildland Fire Network through the Establishment of Regional Wildland Fire Networks and Framework for the Development of the International Wildland Fire Accord (PDF)
• GFMC Concept Paper “Southeast Asia Fire and Haze Information Center” (PDF)

21st Meeting of the ASOEN Haze Technical Task Force: The Task Force Members.
Photo: GFMC.

Conference on Promoting Partnerships for the Implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (2006)

The Conference on Promoting Partnerships for the Implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 11-12 May 2006. The conference aimed at promoting and strengthening partnerships between ASEAN Member Countries and relevant regional and international organizations, donor communities and other partners/ supporters for the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Particular focus was given on securing partnership and support for sustainable management of peatlands in Southeast Asia, which are the major source of fires and transboundary haze pollution.

• ASEAN-ASOEN-Haze-Technical-Task-Force-2006-Invitation.pdf (PDF)
• Conference Announcement (PDF)
• Conference Agenda(PDF)
• Opportunities for Cooperation and Synergies between the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and the UNISDR Global Wildland Fire Network: Towards the Development of a Voluntary International Instrument(PDF)
• Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM6) Declaration on Climate Change (PDF)
• Ha Noi Statement on Promoting Partnerships for the Implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (11-13 May 2006) (PDF, 22 KB)

National Inter-Agency Round Table on Fire Management, Republic of Indonesia and the opening of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center – Southeast Asia Region (RFMRC-SEA)

Between 9 and 11 July 2017, the National Inter-Agency Round Table on Fire Management, Republic of Indonesia and the opening of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center – Southeast Asia Region (RFMRC-SEA) in the frame of the establishment of the RFMRC-SEA sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture based on a decision of the German Bundestag, and supported / facilitated by GFMC (J.G. Goldammer, L. Pronto); Jakarta, Ministry for Environment and Forestry (Manggala Wanabhakti), Indonesia.

• Concept Note (PDF, 0.2 MB)
• Agenda (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Opening and discussions of the National inter-Agency Round Table on Fire Management.

Launch of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center–South East Asia (RFMRC-SEA) by the Ministry for Environment and Forest, the Ambassador of Germany and GFMC.

The RFMRC-SEA Team and its leader, Prof. Dr. Bambang Hero Saharjo (right) and associated partners. ©Photos: RFMRC-SEA

Regional Round Table and Consultation Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Fire Management in South East Asia (2018)

The Regional Round Table and Consultation Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Fire Management in South East Asia, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, the Regional Fire Management Resource Center South East Asia (RFMRC-SEA) and GFMC at Manggala Wanabhakti, Jakarta, and RFMRC-SEA, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, 6-7 June 2018:

• https://rfmrc-sea.org/
• RFMRC-SEA Bulletin No. 1 (2017) (PDF, 9 MB)
• Concept Note and Agenda (PDF, 0.5 MB)

Participants of the Regional Round Table and Consultation from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as well as from GFMC presented the lessons learned and challenges ahead in fire management in Southeast Asia (middle photo). On the second day the international continued its discussion at the premises of RFMRC-SEA in Bogor. Photos: RFMRC-SEA.

2nd International Conference on Tropical Silviculture (ICTS)

The 2nd International Conference on Tropical Silviculture (ICTS 2019), was held 10-11 September 2019, with GFMC contribution “Revisit of the Freiburg Declaration on Tropical Fires of 1989: The Initiation of an International Agenda in Global Landscape Fire Science and Fire Management”; Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

• Conference flyer (PDF, 0.8 MB)
• Conference agenda (PDF, 0.3 MB)
• GFMC contribution (PDF, 6.5 MB)
• Freiburg Declaration on Tropical Fires of 1989

Global Landscape Fire Award 2019

In order to create enhanced awareness of policy makers, politicians, administrators and scientists to bring the state of science and knowledge to practical and pragmatic application, the leadership of the Global Wildland Fire Network has decided on 9 May 2019 to launch the Global Landscape Fire Award. This prize is awarded to individuals or institutions for Recognition for the Successful Achievements in Reducing the Adverse Impacts of Landscape Fires on the Environment and Humanity and the Promotion of Sustainable and Safe Application of Fire in Land Use and Ecosystem Management.

The Global Landscape Fire Award is a non-monetary award, which was granted for the first time in 2019. Based on the assessment of her achievements this first Award will be granted to Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya, MSc, Minister for Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia.

Ceremony of handing over the Global Landscape Fire Award 2019 on 11 September 2019 in the Ministry for Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, to the laureate Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya, MSc, Minister for Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, and Certificates of Distinction for Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Hero Saharjo, M.Agr., Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) (right) and Dr. Ir. Raffles Brotestes Panjaitan, MSc, Director of Forest and Land Fire Management, Directorate General of Climate Change, Ministry for Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia; Jakarta, Indonesia (left). Photos: Ministry for Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia.

Details:

• Eulogy given by Johann Georg Goldammer, head of GFMC and coordinator of the GWFN (PDF)
• Award Certificate for Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya (PDF)
• Certificate of Distinction for Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Hero Saharjo (PDF)
• Certificate of Distinction for Dr. Ir. Raffles Brotestes Panjaitan (PDF)
• Indonesian media reports (PDF)

Additional Resource on the Fire Environment, Management and Policies
GFMC Repository

Regional South East Asia Wildland Fire Network 

• https://gfmc.online/globalnetworks/SouthEastAsia/ASEAN-FireNet.html

Projects and Programmes in South East Asia (GFMC Repository)

• https://gfmc.online/se_asia/projects/sea_prog.html

International Forest Fire News (IFFN): South East Asia Fire Special I (IFFN No. 18 – January 1998)

• Complete issue (PDF)
• Assessment of 1997 Land and Forest Fires in Indonesia: National Coordination
• United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) Mission on Forest Fires, Indonesia, September – November 1997
• Remote Sensing of Fire and Smoke in Indonesia: Use of the NOAA AVHRR
• Remote Sensing of Fire and Smoke in Indonesia: The Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) Fire Product of Indonesia
• Indonesian and Regional Initiatives in Fire and Smoke Management and Policiy Development
• The 1997 Wildfire Season and the Impact of Fire Management Projects in Indonesia
• Forest Fires in Sumatra: Possible Ways and Proposals after the Experience of the 1997 Dry Season in the Province of South Sumatra
• International Workshop on National Guidelines on the Protection of Forests Against Fire Bogor, Indonesia, 8-9 December 1997
• Special Session on 1997 Forest Fire Events in the Consultative Group on Indonesian Forests
• Forest Fire in Malaysia: An Overview
• No Fire Bonus Plan Program of Mountain Province

International Forest Fire News (IFFN): South East Asia Fire Special II (IFFN No. 20 – March 1999)

• Complete issue (PDF)
• Forest and Land Fire Prevention in Cambodia
• Forest Fire Prevention and Control Strategies in India
• Controlling Forest Fire Incidences by Generating Awareness – A Case Study from Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Coimbatore, India
• Wide Area Surveillance System (WAS) Phase I: Transboundary Haze Pollution Control and Monitoring System (THPCM)
• Forest Fires in Lao PDR
• Forest Fire Prevention and Management in Myanmar
• Forest and Land Fire Prevention in Sri Lanka
• International Cross Sectoral Forum on Forest Fire Management in South East Asia, Report of the Meeting