Regional Southeast Europe / Caucasus Wildland Fire Network

A Region of the Global Wildland Fire Network

Regional Network Meetings and Outreach Activities

Call for Proposals for Community-based Competitive Fund
In the framework of the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation – SDC, coordinated by Farmahem in cooperation with the Regional SE Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC) and GFMC), the following call was published in July 2024:

Improving knowledge and understanding of institutional responsibilities for Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans
Training seminar of the “Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans” (LFMWB) programme on cross-boundary cooperation in landscape fire management, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, implemented in the first phase 2022-2025 by the Regional Fire Monitoring Center for Southeast Europe / South Caucasus (RFMC) through the Regional Executive Agency (REA) FARMAHEM, financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and supported by GFMC; 15 December 2023, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia.

Workshops „Developing a joint Co-operation Strategy and an Implementation Plan for Wildfire Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”
Workshop held in the frame of the activity “Climate Change and Security in Northern Armenia and Southern Georgia” (OSCE project “Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia”, with GFMC support; 24-25 October 2023, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Workshop held in the frame of the activity “Climate Change and Security in North-west Azerbaijan and North-east Georgia”, with GFMC support; 25 October 2023, Tbilisi, Georgia.

South East Europe: Cross-boundary cooperation in Wildfire Protection of Protected Areas
Fire management training of park management authorities and the civil emergency response units of the municipalities in the protected areas of Korab-Koritnik, Mavrovo, Shar Mountain and Sharri/Šara on fire preparedness and response by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), conducted by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and Regional Fire Monitoring Center for South-Eastern Europe and South Caucasus (RFMC). Field training was conducted in Mavrovo, North Macedonia, on 9-10 October 2023, followed by early warning of wildfire training in Skopje on 12 October 2023; 09-12 October 2023, Mavrovo and Skopje, North Macedonia.

Capacity-building Need Assessment Workshop of the programme “Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans” (LFMWB)
LFMWB is a programme on cross-boundary cooperation in landscape fire management, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, implemented in the first phase 2022-2025 by the Regional Fire Monitoring Center for Southeast Europe / South Caucasus (RFMC) through the Regional Executive Agency (REA) FARMAHEM, financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and supported by GFMC; 20-21 December 2022, Skopje, North Macedonia.

Vivid discussion at the workshop on the core activities planned for 2023.

Cross-regional Workshop “Wildfire Management for Enhancing Climate Resilience and Security”
The workshop was organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), adelphi, Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and Regional Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC) for SE Europe / Caucasus; 04-07 December 2022, Skopje, North Macedonia.

Participants of the workshop – visit at the Crisis Management Center, Republic of North Macedonia. Photos: © OSCE

Kick-off Meeting / Launch of the “Climate Change and Landscape Fire Management Programme in the Western Balkans”
With delay, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the kick-off Meeting “Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans” was convened by the Regional Fire Monitoring Center for Southeast Europe / South Caucasus (RFMC), FARMAHEM, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Western Balkans here refers to: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* (*this designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia; Skopje (North Macedonia), 5-7 April 2022.

Regional planning workshop “Climate Change and Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans”
The workshop was conducted by the Regional Fire Monitoring Center for Southeast Europe / South Caucasus (RFMC) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), with GFMC backstopping and contribution “Climate Change and Landscape Fire Management – Global and Regional Challenges”. The workshop was the first preparatory consultation for a planned regional project (details to follow); Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 06-07 February 2020.

Over the two days three breakout groups developed recommendation on (I) Climate change and Landscape Fire Management – Policy; (II) Climate change and Landscape Fire Management – Forestry / Agriculture and Adjacent Sectors; and (III) Climate change and Landscape Fire Management – Cross-boundary Cooperation. Photos: Jurant Dika, RFMC.

Regional Workshop Landscape Fire Management in South Eastern Europe,

Workshop organized by the Regional Fire Monitoring Center For SE Europe / Caucasus (RFMC) and GFMC, on behalf of the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, with the topics: (a) Review of the state and need for further development of national and regional early warning systems, fire management information systems and exchange of data and information at regional SEE level; (b) Review of national fire management systems: Current situation, policies and inter-agency cooperation; (c) Needs for future building and strengthening of volunteer firefighting services; (d) Strengthening national and cross-boundary fire management capacities for complementing and increase effectiveness of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the SEE neighbourhood; (e) Fire management on terrain contaminated by unexploded ordnance (UXO) and land mines, and (f) Discussion on modalities for strengthening the regional co-operation on Fire Management;  Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 17-19 December 2018

Meeting between GFMC, RFMC and the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DPR)
The meeting discussed the purpose of establishing such centers and their role in incorporating the scientific and expert knowledge, and for the purpose of promoting the prevention and management of fires. DPR expressed the support for this approach, as well as cooperation in the interest of the security and protection of citizens. It was also discussed about the upcoming workshop organized by the OSCE, GFMC and RFMC (Skopje, 17-19 December 2018), in which representatives of the Regional Protection and Rescue Department of Strumica will report fire management on the terrains contaminated with UXO; Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 17 December 2018

From left to right: DPR Director General Djaferoski, GFMC Director Prof. Dr. Johann Georg Goldammer and Prof. Dr. Nikola Nikolov, President of the Fire Protection Union of Macedonia and Director of the Regional Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC).
Photo: DPR


Fire Management Support Component for Georgia

Implementation of the Fire Management Support Component for Georgia in the frame of the regional programme Integrated Biodiversity Management in the South Caucasus (IBiS) (GIZ) and preparation of the project Fire Management Planning for target Protected Areas in the frame of the Support Programme for Protected Areas – Georgia (KfW) (J.G. Goldammer); Tbilisi, Borjomi and Dedoplistskaro, Georgia, 28 January – 03 February 2018.

Regional Consultation on Cross-boundary Cooperation in Fire Management
The consultation was held under sponsorship of the Council of Europe (CoE), Secretariat of the Euro-Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA) (facilitator: GFMC); Republic of North Macedonia, 11 November 2016.

Opening of the Regional Consultation by the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Mr. Mihail Cvetkov, followed by presentations and discussion with representatives of agencies from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. Photos: RFMC and Gavriil Xanthopoulos

National Round Table on Fire Management, Republic of North Macedonia
National Round Table on Fire Management, Republic of Macedonia, held under sponsorship of the Council of Europe (CoE), Secretariat of the Euro-Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA) (facilitator: GFMC); Republic of North Macedonia, 9 November 2016.


Vivid discussion at National Round Table on Fire Management hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy.
Photo: RFMC

Training Course “Enhancing Ground and Aerial Forest Fire Suppression Capacities in the Republic of Macedonia”
The training course was held as a joint course organized by the Regional SE Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC), the U.S. Forest Service and the GFMC, with GFMC contribution introducing the “International Fire Aviation Guidelines and International Manual of Common Rules for Fire Aviation”; preparation of the National Round Table on Fire Management, Republic of Macedonia and the Regional Consultation on Cross-boundary Cooperation in Fire Management (to be held in Skopje, 09 and 11November 2016) under sponsorship of the Council of Europe (CoE), Secretariat of the Euro-Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA); Republic of North Macedonia, 7-9 September 2016.


Air-ground coordination in wildfire suppression operations: Display of fixed-wing and helicopter aerial fire suppression capabilities at Skopje Airbase, training course and resource persons GFMC (J.G. Goldammer), RFMC (N. Nikolov), Serbia (V. Jovanovic), U.S. Forest Service (R. Kuehner and B.R. Warren). Photos: RFMC and R. Kuehner.

Islamic Republic of Iran: National Round Table on Fire Management Training Course on Integrated Fire Management
The First International Fire Management Week in Iran was organized in Mazandaran, Kelarabad, 9-12 May 2016, hosted by the Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization (FRWO). The week included (a) a National Round Table on Fire Management and (b) the introduction of the EuroFire Competency Standards and Training Materials in Persian language. The Fire Management Week was conducted by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), the Regional Central Asia Fire Management Resource Center (RCAFMRC) and the Regional Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC), Secretariat of the UNISDR Regional South East Europe / Caucasus Wildland Fire Network.

2016 ENVSEC Regional Meeting for South Eastern Europe (SEE)
The ENVSEC Regional Meeting for South Eastern Europe gathered the ENVSEC National Focal Points of the region as well as representatives of resource partners, academia, civil society and business. The theme “Forest Fires” was addressed in the Panel “Management of shared natural resources” by the head of the Regional SE Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC); Tirana, Albania, 28-30 June 2015

Third Conference of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Treća konferencija Platforme za smanjenje rizika od katastrofa Bosne i Hercegovine)
Organized by the Ministry for Security Bosnia and Herzegovina and United Nations the conference addressed the forest fire problem in the country and discussed recommendations of the Sendai framework in regards of forest fires, based on the inputs “Forest Fires with Accent of Early Warning” (Pozari sa akcentom na brzo upozoravanje) by the Regional SE Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 02 December 2015.


Round table on forest fires

Workshop “Fire Danger Rating System for the South Caucasus”
The workshop “Fire Danger Rating System for the South Caucasus” was held in the frame and implementation of the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; National Environmental Agency, Tbilisi, Georgia, 29-30 October 2015.

Workshop instructors and facilitators (from left to right) Bill de Groot (Canadian Forest Service), Catherine Nakashidze (ENVSEC Initiative / OSCE) and Mike Wotton (Canadian Forest Service) -Right: Example of a first product of the Fire Danger Rating System for the South Caucasus: Drought Code of 20 September 2009. Images: Courtesy OSCE

ENVSEC Workshop “Forest Fires in South Eastern Europe (SEE)”
On the occasion of the closing of the ENVSEC project “Addressing the Risks of Forest Fires in SEE” the workshop reviewed the regional report on forest fires in the SEE region by the Regional Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC). Participating countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia in Budapest, Hungary; Budapest, Hungary, 29 October 2015.

6th International Wildland Fire Conference
The 6th International Wildland Fire Conference was held with participation of member states of the UNISDR Regional SE Europe / Caucasus Wildland Fire Network; Pyeonchang, Republic of Korea, 12-16 October 2015.

  • Pyeongchang Declaration,Conference Statement, and Regional Statements (including regional session agendas, abstracts and posters of the Regional Wildland Fire Networks): https://gfmc.online/korea-2015.html

2015 Regional Meeting of the ENVSEC Initiative
The 2015 Regional Meeting of the ENVSEC Initiative in the South Caucasus included a report of the ENVSEC/OSCE/GFMC fire management project; Tbilisi, Georgia, 8-9 June 2015.

Georgia: Joint fire management meetings of ENVSEC and GIZ
Meeting with GIZ Programme “Sustainable Management of Biodiversity, South Caucasus” and in cooperation with the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Tbilisi, Georgia, 7 June 2015.

Meeting with the Ministry for Environment, Forestry Agency, on the National Fire Management Policy for Georgia and the implementation plan, an activity of the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Tbilisi, Georgia.

Aerial Fire Fighting Interoperability Workshop and Aerial Fire Fighting Conference 2015
An Aerial Fire Fighting Interoperability Workshop was convened by GFMC and RFMC on the first day of the Aerial Fire Fighting Conference 2015. the conference included the GFMC Contribution “Towards a Coordinated Approach in International Aerial Firefighting Missions: Results of the Interoperability Workshop” and the RFMC contribution “Ground to Air Firefighting Management”; Zadar, Croatia, 18-30 April 2015.

2014 Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative Partners Meeting
The 2014 Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative Partners Meeting included a OSCE/ENVSEC/GFMC project report “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Belgrade, Serbia, 25-26 November 2014.

GFMC-GIZ Georgia Mission Integrated Fire Management (II)
The third GFMC-GIZ Georgia Mission Integrated Fire Management was conducted in the frame of the GIZ Programme “Sustainable Management of Biodiversity, South Caucasus” and in cooperation with the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Dedoplistskaro municipality and Tbilisi, Georgia, 2-6 November 2014.

Regional Fire Management Training for the South Caucasus, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe / Central Asia
The second “Regional Fire Management Training for the South Caucasus, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe / Central Asia” was conducted in the frame of the OSCE/ENVSEC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” (J.G. Goldammer); Fire Management Training Center, Antalya, Turkey, 15-17 October 2014.


 

Forest fire exercise with heliborne hotshot crew, demonstration of hand tools and group photos of the firefighter trainers and resource persons from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America & GFMC / OSCE staff. Photos: Kadir A. Coskuner.

Field study “Fire Management in UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites and other Protected Areas”
The implementation of the field study “Fire Management in UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites and other Protected Areas” was supported by the Council of Europe, Secretariat of the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA): Employing very high resolution EO images and fine fuel sampling methods, aimed at characterizing fuel properties in Mount Athos UNESCO World Heritage Site; and transboundary fire management on protected areas bordering Greece, Albania and FYR Macedonia; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and Ohrid, FYR Macedonia, 11-14 September 2014.

GFMC-GIZ Georgia Mission Integrated Fire Management (II)
The second GFMC-GIZ Georgia Mission Integrated Fire Management was conducted in the frame of the GIZ Programme “Sustainable Management of Biodiversity, South Caucasus” and in cooperation with the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Dedoplistskaro municipality and Tbilisi, Georgia, 27-31 July 2014.


Main theme of activity: Training of safe agricultural burning practices
(29 July 2014, Dedoplistskaro municipality)


Training of safe agricultural burning practices with local farmers (30 July 2014, Dedoplistskaro municipality)

GFMC-GIZ Georgia Mission Integrated Fire Management (I)
The first GFMC-GIZ Georgia Mission Integrated Fire Management was conducted in the frame of the GIZ Programme “Sustainable Management of Biodiversity, South Caucasus” and in cooperation with the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Dedoplistskaro municipality and Tbilisi, Georgia, 7 and 9-11 July 2014.

Georgia: Sixth National Round Table on Fire Management
Sixth National Round Table on Fire Management in preparation of the National Fire Management Policy for Georgia and the implementation plan, conducted in the frame of the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” in Cooperation with the Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources Protection and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); Tbilisi, Georgia, 8 July 2014.

Business meeting of the coordinators of the Regional Wildland Fire Networks
The 2014 business meeting of the coordinators of the Regional Wildland Fire Networks of the Global Wildland Fire Network were held in tandem with the Joint WFAG meetings; Freiburg, Germany, 30 June 2014.

Joint Meetings of the UNISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group (WFAG)
The 2014 meeting of the UNISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group (WFAG) was heldin tandem with the meetings of the International Liaison Committee (ILC) and South Korea Conference Organizing Committee (SKCOC) for the 6th International Wildland Fire Conference, and the International Fire Aviation Working Group (IFAWG). The meetings were held in cooperation with and supported by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Forestry and Timber Section, Euro-Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA), Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), United Nations University (UNU), International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), U.S. Forest Service, Korea Forest Service (KFS) and Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI); GFMC, Freiburg, Germany, 28-29 June 2014.

International Conference “Reducing Forest and Agricultural Fires”
International Conference “Reducing Forest and Agricultural Fires as a Driver of Climate Change by Systematic Use of Biomass as a Source of Renewable Energy and for Reducing Wildfires and Unnecessary Agricultural Burning”, with GFMC / RFMC contribution “International and Regional Policy Initiatives to Address the Consequences of Wildfires, Excessive and Wasteful Burning of Agricultural Residues on Environment and Human Health, including Cross-Boundary Transport of Atmospheric Pollutants”; Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 28-29 April 2014.

ENVSEC Regional Meeting for South Eastern Europe
The 2014 ENVSEC Regional Meeting for South Eastern Europe included a presentation of the progress of the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Podgorica, Montenegro; 31 March – 1 April 2014.

Georgia: Fifth National Round Table on Fire Management
Fifth National Round Table on Fire Management in preparation of the National Fire Management Policy for Georgia and the implementation plan, conducted in the frame of the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; Tbilisi, Georgia, 23-25 March 2014.

22nd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum
22nd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum “Responding to Environmental Challenges with a View to Promoting Cooperation and Security in the OSCE Area”, with GMFC contribution to Panel III “Improving environmental security: How can we reduce natural disaster risks? Lessons learned”; donour negotiations for the Phase III of the OSCE-ENVSEC Project “Enhancing National Capacities on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”; the proposed project “Improving cooperation on suppression of wildland fires in the Ukrainian and Belorussian parts of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone” and “Strengthening of Fire Management Capabilities in Mongolia and Selected Central Asian Countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) through the Establishment of a Regional Central Asia Fire Management Resource Center”; OSCE Headquarters, Vienna, 27-28 January 2014

UNECE/FAO Regional Forum on Cross-boundary Fire Management (United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, 27-29 November 2013
UNECE/FAO Regional Forum on Cross-boundary Fire Management, organized by the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire through its Coordinator – the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), Germany, and supported by the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).


Participants of the UNECE/FAO Regional Forum on Cross-boundary Fire Management
Palais des Nations, Geneva, 28-29 November 2013

Armenia: National Training for Trainers in Fire Management and Third National Round Table for developing a National Fire Management Policy (Yerevan, Armenia, 20-22 August 2013
National Training for Trainers in Fire Management and Third National Round Table for developing a National Fire Management Policy for Armenia, a contribution of Phase III of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” through GFMC and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).


Participants of the EuroFire Training of Trainers


Third National Round Table on Fire Management, co-chaired by General Vrezh Gabrielyan (Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia, Rescue Service) and GFMC

Ceremony of Green Star Awards 2013 (Geneva, Switzerland, 2 September 2013
General Assembly and 20th Anniversary of Green Cross International (GCI): Ceremony of Green Star Awards of GCI with United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to awardees of the Global Wildland Fire Network Nikola Nikolov (Regional Southeast Europe Fire Monitoring Center, Macedonia), Sundar P. Sharma (UNISDR Regional South Asia Wildland Fire Network, Nepal) and Sergiy V. Zibtsev (Regional Eastern European Fire Monitoring Center, Ukraine).

Wildfire Green Stars Nikolov, Sharma, Zibtsev with GFMC Chief Goldammer
Sundar P. Sharma and Sergiy Zibtsev
Nikola Nikolov with trophy
Wildfire Green Stars with President Mikhail Gorbatchev
President Mikhail Gorbatchev and GFMC Director J.G. Goldammer listening to the laureates Presidents Mikhail Gorbatchev and Lech Wałęsa addressing the audience

Greece: National Round Table on Fire Management “Sharing Responsibilities and Resources at Economically Difficult Times”(Evgenideio Conference Center, Athens, Greece, 14 May 2013)
The National Round Table on Fire Management “Sharing Responsibilities and Resources at Economically Difficult Times” was held under the co-auspices of the Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Dimitra”, General Secretariat for Civil Protection, General Secretariat of Forests, General Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, and the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire; supported by Council of Europe and Maria Tsakos Foundation.

Opening and moderation by Gavriil Xanthopoulos (Dimitra); presentation of GFMC on Mediterranean Fire Problems and the Initiative of the Tsakos Foundation in the follow-up of the wildfires in Chios (August 2012)

Workshop “Defense of Villages, Farms and Other Rural Assets against Wildfires”(European Center of Forest Fires,National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 13 May 2013)
The workshop “Defense of Villages, Farms and Other Rural Assets against Wildfires: Guidelines for Rural Populations, Local Community and Municipality Leaders in the Balkan Region”was supported by Council of Europe, the Regional Fire Monitoring Center SE Europe / Caucasus (RFMC), Regional Eastern European Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC) and the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire.


Members of the Guidelines Review Workshop. From right to left (double-click for enlarging the photo):
Andrey Eritsov (Russia, UNECE/FAO ToS Forest Fire), Ioannis Mitsopoulos (ECFF/GFMC), Ertugrul Bilgili (Turkey, UNECE/FAO ToS Forest Fire), Gavrill Xanthopoulos (Greece, UNECE/FAO ToS Forest Fire), Alexander Dimitrakopoulos (Greece, Aristotelion University, Thessaloniki), Johann G. Goldammer (GFMC, UNECE/FAO ToS Forest Fire), Sergiy Zibtsev (Ukraine, REEFMC, UNECE/FAO ToS Forest Fire), Milt Statheropoulos (ECFF), Nikola Nikolov (RFMC, UNECE/FAO ToS Forest Fire), Manina Dourali (Greece, Groovy Graphics), Goran Videc (Croatia, UNECE/FAO ToS Forest Fire), Sofia Karma (ECFF), Foivos Stamboliadis (Greece, General Secretariat for Civil Protection).

Aerial Firefighting Europe: International Conference and Exhibition (Aix-en-Provence, France, 10-11 April 2013)
Aerial Firefighting Europe: International Conference and Exhibition, cosponsored and under the co-auspices of GFMC / UNISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group / International Fire Aviation Working Group (IFAWG), with participation of members of the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire and GFMC contribution “International Cooperation in Fire Management: Political and Ground-to-Aerial Perspectives”and RFMC contribution “Operations Aspects in Macedonia”.

GFMC Visit at SDIS-13, Marseille
GFMC Visit at SDIS-13, Marseille

Opening Address by GFMC

Joint Presentation by Avialesookhrana and GFMC
Tom Harbour, U.S. Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management

Representatives of the Eastern European and SE Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Centers in the Media

Follow-up of the Conference “Our Response to Wildfire Threat – Working together for a better Chios”(Chios, Greece, 25-28 February 2013)
Phase I of field implementation of the follow-up of the Conference “Our Response to Wildfire Threat – Working together for a better Chios” (held 15-16 October 2012 by the Maria Tsakos Foundation, sponsored by the Minister of Mercantile Marine and Island Policy of Greece, and in cooperation of the Regional Prefecture of Chios Island, with GFMC contribution “United Nations Partnerships in Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in Fire Management”, presented on behalf of the UN Secretary General, BAN Ki-moon, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs).

The destruction of mastic trees owned by small holders on Chios has caused major problems for the local economy and resulted in extremely difficult situations of family enterprises concerned.
Photos: GFMC / Mitsopoulos

International Symposium on Strategy Development of Advanced Forest Fire Policy and Organization (Seoul, Republic of Korea, 15 January 2013)
The “International Symposium on Strategy Development of Advanced Forest Fire Policy and Organization” was hosted by the Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI), supported by the Korea Forest (KFS), the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire, and GFMC, and included participation of the Regional Southeast Europe / Caucasus Wildland Fire Network.


Armenia: Second National Round Table for developing a National Fire Management Policy for Armenia (Yerevan, Armenia, 3 December 2012)
The Second National Round Table for developing a National Fire Management Policy for Armenia, was a contribution of Phase III of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” through GFMC and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in cooperation with the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire.

Round Table participants included representatives of all agencies and civil society stakeholders concerned.

Development of “Guidelines for the Defense of Rural Populations, Settlements and other Assets Against Wildfires and Smoke Pollution for the EECCA Region”(Skopje, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 9 November 2012)
The First Regional Workshop on the Development of “Guidelines for the Defense of Rural Populations, Settlements and other Assets Against Wildfires and Smoke Pollution for the EECCA Region” was convened by GFMC, ECFF and RFMC, funded by the Council of Europe and supported by members of the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire.


Heavy brainstorming in Skopje

Conference “Our Response to Wildfire Threat – Working together for a better Chios”(Omireion Cultural Center and Maria Tsakos Foundation, City of Chios, Chios, Greece, 15-16 October 2012)
Conference “Our Response to Wildfire Threat – Working for a better Chios”, organized by the Maria Tsakos Foundation, sponsored by the Minister of Mercantile Marine and Island Policy of Greece, and in cooperation of the Regional Prefecture of Chios Island; with GFMC contribution “United Nations Partnerships in Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in Fire Management”, presented by J.G. Goldammer on behalf of the UN Secretary General, BAN Ki-moon, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire.




Impressions of the wildfire of August 2012: Fire-affected highland forests and the fire-endangered Nea Moni Monastery (UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site). Captain Panagiotis Tsakos and Johann G. Goldammer addressing the conference

International Seminar on “Forest Fire Management – Experiences and Lessons Learned”(Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, 10-11 October 2012)
International Seminar on “Forest Fire Management – Experiences and Lessons Learned”. A seminar to exchange and share knowledge and experiences regarding open land and forest fires management in the countries of the South Eastern Europe and the evaluate the 2012 fire season; organized by the Emergency Management Department, Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, with the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative (DPPI) and the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA); with GFMC contribution through the UNISDR Regional SE Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC) and the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire.

Azerbaijan: Fire management training course, national forest fire exercise and Second National Round Table on Fire Management (Baku, Gabala, and field sites in Azerbaijan, 22-28 September 2012)
Fire management training course, national forest fire exercise and Second National Round Table on Fire Management, for developing a National Fire Management Policy for Azerbaijan, a contribution of Phase III of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” through GFMC and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), with participation of members of the UNECE/FAO team of Specialists on Forest Fire.









Impressions from the Azerbaijan Fire Management Week 2012: Training, Community Round Table and 2nd National Round Table on Fire Management

Joint meetings of the Global Wildland Fire Network (GFMC, Freiburg, Germany, 29 June – 3 July 2012)
The major groups active in global wildland fire included the Global Wildland Fire Network / UNISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group (WFAG), the International Liaison Committee (ILC) of the 6th International Wildland Fire Conference (South Korea, 2015), the International Fire Aviation Working Group (IFAWG), with participation of members of the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire, including the Regional SE Europe / Caucasus Wildland Fire Network.

Group photo of WFAG 2012 – some attendees missing due to early departure. (Photo: GFMC / K. Goldammer)


Workshop “International Response to Major Natural and Man-made Disasters: The Role of the OSCE”(Vienna, Austria, 17 September 2012)
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) Workshop “International Response to Major Natural and Man-made Disasters: The Role of the OSCE”included a GFMC contribution “Enhancing National and Regional Capacities on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction”.

Workshop “Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilient and Sustainable Development”(Tbilisi, Borjomi, Georgia, 30 May 2012)
The workshop “Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilient and Sustainable Development” for the South Caucasus Region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) included a field excursion addressing “Progress in Capacity Building in Fire Management at Community Level” in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

Revisit of the forest site near Daba village, Borjomi, affected by wildfire in 2008.
General recovery by natural succession but some erosion and landslide threats visible

Fourth National Round Table on Fire Management in preparation of a National Fire Management Policy for Georgia (Tbilisi, Georgia, 29 May 2012)
Fourth National Round Table on Fire Management in preparation of a National Fire Management Policy for Georgia, conducted in the frame of the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Phase Two – Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”.


The 4th National Round Table was held at Goethe Institute, Tbilisi Georgia

Regional Meeting of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) in the South Caucasus (Tbilisi, Georgia, 3-4 April 2012)
Regional Meeting of the ENVSEC Initiative in the South Caucasus, with GFMC / OSCE contribution on Phase III of the ENVSEC Initiative “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” through GFMC and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).







Delegations of the South Caucasus countries Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Attended the regional workshop, which was addressing the OSCE / ENVSEC Project on Forest Fire Management in the South Caucasus.

Conference “Post-Fire Forest Management in Southern Europe” (Thessaloniki, Greece, 27-29 March 2012)
Final Conference, Cost Action FP0701 “Post-Fire Forest Management in Southern Europe”, a network of researchers and practitioners who worked together between 2008 and 2012 in the field of fire ecology and forest management from all around Europe. With GFMC Contribution “Wildfires and post-fire problems in Southeast Europe, Caucasus and Middle East: Initiatives by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and the Regional Southeast Europe/Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC) to support rehabilitation efforts and fire management capacity building” and “Assessing fuel hazard in Mediterranean forest types”.

Armenia: First National Fire Management Training Course, Forest Fire Exercise and National Round Table on Fire Management (Kapan / Yerevan, Armenia, 12-14 September 2011)
A first fire management training course, a national forest fire exercise and the first National Conference & Round Table on Fire Management was conducted in September 2011 in Armenia. This was a contribution of Phase II of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”through GFMC and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)







National Fire Management Training and Exercise (based on EuroFire Competency Standards: https://gfmc.online/eurofire/index-11.html) in Kapan, and National Conference and Round Table on Fire Management (Yerevan)

Azerbaijan: Wildland Fire Assessment Mission and First National Round Table on Fire Management (Baku, Azerbaijan, 30 June – 6 July 2011)
A nationwide Wildland Fire Assessment Mission and First National Round Table for developing a National Fire Management Policy for Azerbaijan, a contribution of Phase II of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” through GFMC and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (J.G. Goldammer); Baku and field sites, Azerbaijan.








Azerbaijan wildland fire field assessment and National Round Table on Fire Management (Baku, 5 July 2011)

Regional Southeast Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC) established
In 2010 the GFMC and the Council of Europe (EUR-OPA) supported the establishment of the Regional Fire Monitoring Center for the Southeast Europe / Caucasus Region (RFMC). The RFMC is based at the Faculty of Forestry, Republic of North Macedonia. The RFMC website was launched in December 2010.

Fire Management Training Course – Southern Caucasus Region (Borjomi, Georgia, 12-14 July 2010) and Second and Third National Round Table on Fire Management in preparation of a National Fire Management Policy for Georgia
The second Fire Management Training Course – Southern Caucasus Region was conducted in the frame of the ENVSEC / GFMC project “Phase Two – Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus”, followed by a workshop for representatives of local communities “Community participation in fire management”. Both events were conducted in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. These events were followed by the Second and Third National Round Tables on Fire Management in preparation of a National Fire Management Policy for Georgia) (15 July and 13 December 2010).






Some impressions of the Borjomi Fire Management TrainingCourse 2010

Advanced Regional Seminar in Wildland Fire Management (Antalya, Turkey, 1-4 March 2010)
An Advanced Regional Seminar in Wildland Fire Management was conducted by the General Directorate of Forestry (Orman Genel Mudurlugu, Ankara) in cooperation with and co-sponsored by Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC), the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) / United Nations University (UNU), Faculty of Forestry, Karadeniz Teknik Universitesi, (Trabzon, Turkey), the UNISDR Regional Southeast Europe Wildland Fire Network and the UNECE / FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire in Antalya, Turkey, 1-3 March 2010:


GFMC at the Opening Session

Prof. Bilgili explaining specialized forest fire fighting equipment



Fire specialists from 11 countries enjoying the exercise  Commander in Chief of the Turkish Firefighting Force: Mr. Nurettin Dogan

Advanced Seminar “Wildfires and Human Security: Fire Management on Terrain Contaminated by Radioactivity, Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Land Mines”
This seminar addressed consequences of wildfires and fire management on contaminated terrain and will be conducted in Kiev and Chornobyl, Ukraine, 6-8 October 2009, by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) in the frame of the activities of the Council of Europe (CoE) and the joint project “Enhancing National Capacity on Fire Management and Risk Reduction in the South Caucasus” (Environment and Security Initiative [ENVSEC]), the UNISDR Regional Southeast Europe / Caucasus and Central Asia Wildland Fire Networks and the UNECE / FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire.


Seminar group in front of the sarcophagus of Chernobyl Reactor 4

Field inspection of the contaminated forests in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ)

Security check at the entrance of CEZ  Visit of the Chernobyl Fire Brigade (below)

Regional Consultation 2008 of the UNISDR Regional Southeast Europe / Caucasus Wildland Fire Network
The 2008 meeting of the network was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Skopje, Republic Macedonia, 4-6 December 2008. The main objectives of the meeting were the review of the fire situation in the region in 2007-2008 and the preparation for the 2009 Regional Seminar on “Fire Management on Terrain contaminated by Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), Land Mines and Radioactivity”.

Ukraine: Second National Round Table and Consultation on Irradiated Forests
The Ministry of Ukraine on Emergencies and Affairs of Populations Affected by the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe convened a Round Table on “Reduction of Risk of Disaster from Wildfires in the Chernobyl Irradiated Forests”. The meeting was held on 6 October 2008 at the Ministry and cosponsored by Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry (U.S.A.) and the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC).

International Consultation on Fire in Irradiated Forests
An International Meeting on “Reduction of DisasterRisk from Catastrophic Wildfires in the Chernobyl Irradiated Forests” was held under the auspices of the National Agricultural University of Ukraine, Yale University, GFMC / UNISDR in Kiev, Ukraine, 25-28 July 2007.


Vice Prime Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk addressing the meeting

Discussion of a proposal to reduce release of radionuclide and airborne contamination by forest fires in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Reactor 4, covered by the sarcophagus

High wildfire hazard in a contaminated and insect-killed forest in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Chernobyl scrap yard: Disposed helicopters and water tankers contaminated during the firefighting operation at the failure of Reactor 4

Chernobyl scrap yard: Disposed fire vehicles contaminated during the firefighting operation at the failure of Reactor 4

Regional Wildland Fire Consultation 2007
On 19-21 March 2007 the Regional Wildland Fire Consultation on the “Development of a Strategy on International Cooperation in Wildland Fire Management in the Regional South East European / Caucasus Wildland Fire Network” was hosted by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and the National Forestry Board, Ministry in Sofia, Bulgaria. The participating countries included Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, FYR Macedonia (North Macedonia), Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine (due to technical reason invited focal points from Greece, Slovakia and Azerbaijan could not participate in the meeting); Sofia, Bulgaria.


Network Meeting 2006
The next meeting of the network was held in conjunction with the 33rd Session of the FAO European Forestry Commission, Zvolen, Slovakia, 22-26 May 2006. The regional network coordinator together with the GFMC / Coordinator of the Global Wildland Fire Network presented an initial proposal for the development of a “Regional Strategy on International Cooperation in Wildland Fire Management in the Regional South East European Wildland Fire Network”.

EASTEX FIRE 2005
At the regional conference in Turkey the preparation of the “Eastern European, Near East and Central Asian States Exercise on Wildland Fire Information and Resources Exchange – EASTEX FIRE 2004” was launched. The exercise aimed at exercising international cooperation in managing a large-scale forest fire disaster which requires multilateral response (cooperation of ground and aerial fire fighting forces of countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, Balkan and adjoining regions of the Near East and Central Asia). The exercise took place in Haskovo, Bulgaria, 20-22 April 2005. Host of EASTEX FIRE 2005 was the Bulgarian Ministry for the Interior, National Fire and Emergency Safety Service.

Regional Scientific and Technical Consultation 2005
On 4-5 April 2005 the Republic of North Macedonia hosted the International Technical and Scientific Consultation “Forest Fire Management in the Balkan Region”. The conference was sponsored by theUNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire, theUN-ISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group / Global Wildland Fire Network through its Coordinator and Secretariat, the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC). Funding of the consultation was provided by the German Foreign Office (represented by the GFMC) and contributions by the participating and contributing countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey).



Participants of the International Technical and Scientific Consultation in Ohrid, Macedonia.

The results of the consultation included:

  • Recommendation to enlarge the Regional Wildland Fire Network, one of the six networks within the from the Balkan Region to Southeast Europe. The network is one of six networks within the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) (see also: UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Forest Fire). It was recommended to include the participation of countries between Austria (NW), Georgia (NE), Albania (SW) and Turkey (SE), with Greece as a country participating also in the Regional Mediterranean Wildland Fire Network.

  • Recommendation to establish a network of country Focal Points, preferably with one representative of a government agency and a representative of the academia
  • Recommendation to support the network co-coordinators that are representing the main stakeholders involved (Mr. Nikola Nikolov, Macedonia, Research; Mr. Vladimir Konstantinov, Bulgaria, Forest Service; Mr. Dulijano Grum, Croatia, Fire Service) (initially nominated for a 1-year period)

Fore more details and participation see:

First Regional Conference
A regional “Conference on Forest Fire Management and International Cooperation in Fire Emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans and adjoining Regions of the Near East and Central Asia” was held in Antalya, Turkey, 30 March – 3 April 2004. The conference provided a forum for the exchange of information of forest services and fire services of the region and resulted in the release of the “Antalya Declaration on Cooperation in Wildland Fire Management in the Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean, Near East and Central Asia”:

Initial Discussion on the Foundation of the Regional Network
At the International Scientific Conference “Fire and Emergency Safety” (31 October – 1 November 2002, Sofia, Bulgaria) the following paper has been presented by the GFMC:

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