INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN LANDSCAPE FIRE EMERGENCIES
International Cooperation addressing Environmental Emergencies under the auspices of UN-OCHA
In addition to the responsibilities of UN-OCHA to provide UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) capabilities, the Joint Environment Group of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)is supported by the Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies (AGEE).
During the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) a major initiative led by UNEP-OCHA was launched to increase international cooperation in the field of prevention, preparedness, and response to environmental disasters. From the beginning, wildland fire issues have been included.
The UNEP-OCHA Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies (AGEE) at its 5th meeting in May 2003 decided to utilize the Partnership Programme to enhance international cooperation in wildland fire management.
- 5th AGEE Meeting Report (25 May 2003)
- Report of the Joint AGEE / APPELL Meeting on the Partnership on Environmental Emergencies (16 June 2003)
- AGEE Website
At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+20, the Global Wildland Fire Network became part of the initiative to create a global network of local actors for preparedness for environmental emergencies. Under the headline Preparedness for Environmental Emergencies the following organizations are working together:
- Green Cross International with UNEP Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level (APELL)
- OCHA Environmental Emergencies Centre (EEC)
- UNISDR
- The Global Fire Monitoring Centre (GFMC), and
- Green Cross National Organizations
- Rio+20 Web page “Preparedness for Environmental Emergencies
International Agreements
At the FAO/ITTO International Expert Meeting on Forest Fire Management, Rome, Italy, 7-9 March 2001, it was decided to conduct a survey and evaluation of existing agreements on cooperation in fire management, including international wildland fire emergency assistance.
- FAO Expert Meeting Report (April 2001)
- Follow-Up Report (October 2001)
- Legal Frameworks for Forest Fire Management: International Agreements and National Legislation (September 2004)
- Framework for the Development of the International Wildland Fire Accord (agreed by GFMC-ISDR-FAO-GOFC/GOLD, April 2005) (en español)
Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC)
The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) was created in 1998 as the focal point for coordinating disaster relief efforts of the 46 Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) nations in case of natural or technological disasters within the EAPC geographical area. The GFMC is linked to EADRCC.
Evaluation of Cooperative Efforts
The following document provides a review of the Australia/New Zealand firefighting deployment to the USA in August/September 2000
- Review Australia/New Zealand Deployment to the USA 2000
- BLM Firefighters in Australia in 2002 and 2003
Related International Events
The results of the International Wildland Fire Summit (Sydney, Australia, 8 October 2003) include international agreements / recommendations on common protocols and procedures for the international cooperation in wildland fire
GFMC Archive (outdated agreements for coordination of wildland fire emergency assistance)
This folder contains outdated agreed mechanisms for international response to wildland fire