GFMC MEETINGS CALENDAR 2013

International Congress and Trade Fair on Forest Fire and Climate Change:
Challenges for Fire Management in Natural and Cultural Landscapes of Eurasia
Novosibirsk, Russia, 11-12 November 2013

The Congress and Trade Fair will be hosted jointly by:
Federal Forest Agency of Russia ROSLESKHOZ
Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia EMERCOM
Government of Novosibirsk Oblast
Administration of the Siberian Federal District
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
UNECE / FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire
Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC)

In recognition of the role of climate change and socio-economic changes in the increasing occurrence of forest fires and other vegetation fires in Eurasia, the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists organized a seminar on Forest, Fire, and Global Change in Shushenskoe (Russia) in 1996. The participants of the seminar recommended to strengthen national capacities in fire management and to enhance international cooperation in addressing forest fire problems. Over the following years Russian fire scientists and representatives of agencies participated and contributed to the work of major international groups to address global fire problems. In 2010 the Russian Federal Forest Agency, in cooperation with the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), took the initiative to address the importance of transboundary cooperation in fire management at the International Conference on Cross-Border Forest Fires and Cooperation in their Suppression in Irkutsk, Russia. A few weeks later severe fires and smoke pollution affected the European part of Russia and showed the need for continuous improvement of cooperation between the different sectors of public administrations, the scientific community and civil society, both at national and international level.

In order to bring together the representatives of the science community, forest managers and land management authorities, the industry and representatives of civil protection and emergency services, the International Conference and Trade Fair on Forest Fire and Climate Change: Challenges for Fire Management in Natural and Cultural Landscapes of Eurasia will be organized in Novosibirsk, Russia, 11-13 November 2013. The recommendations of the conference will be forwarded to the UNECE/FAO Regional Forum on Transboundary Cooperation in Fire Management which will be held 28-29 November 2013 at the United Nations in Geneva.

Note: Participation at the Congress is free (no registration fee)

Congress Themes
The congress will address:

Regional Climate Change in Eurasia: Observed Trends and Modeling of the Future
Impacts of Climate Change on Eurasian Landscapes (Forests, Wetlands and Peatlands, Steppes and Grasslands)
Challenges and new Approaches for Forest Management and Fire Management under changing Socio-Economic and Environmental Conditions
Fire Management in Agricultural Lands
Participation of Civil Society in Fire Management (Fire Prevention, Defense of Villages and Rural Assets against Wildfires, Volunteers)
Public Policies and Strategic Planning in Fire Management

Participants
Participants should come from Russia and neighboring countries of Eurasia and other parts of the world (UNECE member countries of North America, APEC economies). Participants and invitees will include:

a) Hosts and international supporters

Technical hosts: Novosibirsk Expo Center and Leipzig Messe
Rosleskhoz
EMERCOM
Government of Novosibirsk Oblast
Administration of the Siberian Federal District
GFMC, UNECE, UNISDR

b) Target audience

Representatives of Russian agencies responsible for forest management and forest fire management (federal and regional)
Representatives of EMERCOM of Russia (federal and regional)
Representatives of responsible agencies in neighboring countries (Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Ukraine, China, Belarus, West Europe) and at international level
Representatives of nations and international entities involved in international cooperation in fire management and disaster risk reduction

c) Invited speakers

Russian prominent fire scientists
International prominent fire scientists
International organizations
International projects / programmes
Representatives of national agencies responsible for fire management

d) Industry

The trade fair will be an exhibition organized so that companies offering technologies / products for advanced fire management can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services:

Russian manufacturers / industry producing advanced fire management equipment
International manufacturers / industry producing advanced fire management equipment

Congress Agenda