Cross-Boundary Cooperation in Fire Management in South Asia

An Activity of the Regional South Asia Wildland Fire Network

Regional Consultative Workshop on
Cross-Boundary Cooperation in Fire Management in South Asia

2-4 October 2016, Lalitpur, Nepal

Introduction

In South Asia the majority of wildfires are started by human activities, notably in the context of agricultural and pastoral land-use fires. In the Asia-Pacific Region several expert consultations on the future need of forest fire management have been held among the Regional Wildland Fire Networks of Asia under the UNISDR Global Wildland Fire Network. Key stakeholders directly and indirectly responsible in forest and land management, fire protection and emergency response, as well as representatives of local communities and civil society organizations, academia with support from international experts, were involved in these consultations. They identified large gaps in awareness levels and fire management capabilities in countries at global level and throughout the Asia region as well. These gaps may be filled by sharing knowledge, skills and technologies among countries in Asia.

The Regional Consultative Workshop on Cross-Boundary Cooperation in Fire Management in South Asia was convened by Department of Forests (DoF) / Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MFSC) / Government of Nepal, National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS), Republic of Korea, Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI), Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), Germany, Nepal Forest Fire Management Chapter (NFMC), Hariyo Ban Program, WWF Nepal, UNISDR-Pan-Asia Wildland Fire Network, UNISDR-Regional South Asia Wildland Fire Network (RSAWFN). Additional support was provided by the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and the facilitation support by the UNISDR-Regional South Asia Wildland Fire Network and the Nepal Forest Fire Management Chapter (NFMC). The consultation was hosted by Nepal in Lalitpur, Nepal, 2-4 October 2016. Seventy-one participants from nine countries (Bhutan, Bangladesh, Germany, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Sri-Lanka, Thailand and United States of America) attended and contributed to the meeting.

Regional Consultative Workshop on Cross-Boundary Cooperation in Fire Management in South Asia Final Agenda (PDF, 0.2 MB)

The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss and develop consent on the necessary action to be taken within and among the countries of South Asia and resulted in the agreement on a statement:

Godavari Resolution on Cross-Boundary Cooperation in Fire Management in South Asia (PDF, 0.2 MB)

Upper: The participants of the regional consultation enjoying the magnificent background of the Himalayan foothills. Photo: Regional South Asia Wildland Fire Network Secretariat.
Middle: The Minister of Forestry reading his opening statement.
Lower: Discussion and exchange between the representatives of South Asian countries (left) and among the young scientists and fire management volunteers of Nepal.
Photos: Nepal Forest Fire Management Chapter (NFMC).

Presentations given at the Consultation

Country reports