Namibia Round Table on Fire, Windhoek, 10-11 November 1999
Namibia Round Table on Fire
Windhoek, 10-11 November 1999
(IFFN No. 25, July 2001)
3.1 Breakout Group 1: Government Co-ordination
The breakout group agreed to proceed as follows:
- Identify areas, institutions (current/potential) & stakeholder groups as “service providers”
- Brainstorm activities by priorities
- Tie activities to lead agencies
- Identify legal, institutional, policy implications & constraints
- Prepare a time table, distribution of financing among local institutions/ foreign donors
Table 1 provides a list of issues and/or resources to be addressed by a national fire policy and the responsibilities of government institutions and NGOs to take responsibility or lead in implementing, monitoring or enforcing a national policy.
List of Activities
- Collate, analyze existing information on sound fire management practices including references to traditional land management systems.
- Initiate, analyze and publicize targeted research to fill gaps (e.g. biodiversity, climate)
- Identify perceptions and needs of different service providers and stakeholders
- Establish a National Fire Forum
- Promulgate a policy including legislative framework for fire management
- Design and implement an output oriented national fire monitoring system which serves national as well as international (global) obligations (e.g. CBC, CCD, UNFCC, ISDR Interagency Task Force [IDNDR successor arrangement]).
- Develop participatory guidelines for appropriate fire management
- Develop and implement public awareness campaign to serve land users, service providers & general public.
- Identify training needs + opportunities for land users and service providers, and train priority candidates
- Establish a locally applicable fire danger rating system
Tab. 1. Resources and issues to be addressed by a national Namibian Fire Policy
|
Resource / Issue |
Service Provider (main players in bold) |
|
A. Fodder, Grazing |
MAWRD, MET, NLRR, MRLGH, NAU, NNFU |
|
B. Firewood, Timber (Permit and Control) |
MET, D.o.F., DRM, D.o.T., NBP,MAWRD, MME, MTI, DWA, MRLGH |
|
C. Biological Diversity / Resources |
MET (NBP, DRM, DoF, DoT), MAWRD, MBEC, (NMN) MFMR, MTI, MOHSS, MHA (NamPol), UNAM/PoN, MHEVTST |
|
D. Public Health, Pollution, Natural Disasters |
MOHSS, MoLabour, DWA, MET |
|
E. Environmental Degradation, Resource Depletion
|
MET, MAWRD MLRR, MBEC, NPC |
|
F. Emissions / Climate Change |
MET (DEA, DoF.), MFA, MOHSS, NPC |
|
G. Disasters / Wildfires |
OPM, MOD, MET, MRLGH, MOHSS |
|
H. Food + Agriculture / Management (e.g., use of fire , clearing) |
MAWRD, MET, NPC |
|
I. Training, Research, and Monitoring |
MBEC, MHEVTST, (UNAM-PON), MRLGH |
|
J. Public Awareness, Public Education, Dissemination of Information |
MAWRD, MET, MIB, (DRFN, NNFU, NAU) Rossing, NNF, DAPP, IRDNC, NNFC, Churches, NPC, NBC |
List of Acronyms Used in Table 1
A. Fodder / Grazing
MAWRD: Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Rural Development
MET: Ministry of Environment & Tourism
MLRR: Ministry of Lands, Resettlement & Rehabilitation
MRLGH: Ministry of Regional & Local Government & Housing
NAU: Namibian Agricultural Union
NNFU: Namibian National Farmers’ Union
B. Firewood or Timber
DoF: Directorate of Forestry
DRM: Directorate of Resource Management
DoT: Directorate of Tourism
NBP: National Biodiversity Programme
MME: Ministry of Mines & Energy
MTI: Ministry of Trade & Industry
DWA: Department of Water Affairs
C. Biological Diversity / Resources
MBEC (NMN): Ministry of Basic Education & Culture, National Museum of Namibia
MFMR: Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources
MOHSS: Ministry of Health & Social Services
MHA (NamPol): Ministry of Home Affairs (Namibian Police)
UNAM: University of Namibia PoN: Polytechnic of Namibia
MHEVTST: Ministry of Higher Education, Vocational Training, Science & Technology
D. Public Health, Pollution, Natural Disasters
MoL: Ministry of Labour
E. Environmental Degradation / Resource Depletion
MBEC: Ministry of Basic Education & Culture
NPC: National Planning Commission
F. Emissions / Climate Change
DEA: Directorate of Environmental Affairs
MFA: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
G. Disasters / Wildfires
OPM: Office of the Prime Minister, Emergency Unit
MoD: Ministry of Defence
H. Food and Agriculture
MAWRD: Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Rural Development
MET: Ministry of Environment & Tourism
NPC: National Planning Commission
I. Training, Research and Monitoring
MBEC: Ministry of Basic Education & Culture
UNAM-PoN: University of Namibia – Polytechnic of Namibia
MHEVTST: Ministry of Higher Education, Vocational Training, Science & Technology
MRLGH: Ministry of Regional & Local Government & Housing
J. Public Awareness
MAWRD: Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Rural Development
MIB: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
DRFN: Desert Research Foundation of Namibia Rossing: Rossing Foundation
NNF: Namibia Nature Foundation
DAPP: Danish Action People to People
IRDNC: Integrated Rural Development & Nature Conservation
NNFC: Northern Namibia Forestry Council
NBC: Namibian Broadcasting Corporation
Tab. 2. Priority steps for implementation activities listed above
|
Activity |
Lead Agency / Program |
Timeframe |
Instrument and possible source of finance |
|
4. |
DoF |
Now ongoing, inception by 1/2000 Establishment by 11/2000 |
NFFP Þ GRN 04/2003 |
|
5. |
DoF |
1997; Policy in place 11/2000 Legislation by 04/2001 |
NFFP Þ GRN FAO |
|
1. |
DoF |
1996 11/2000 key participants informed and analyses completed |
NFFP Þ GRN 04/2003 |
|
2. |
DoF |
Analysis of gaps 12/2000 Research, analysis, literature; ongoing |
NFFP/GRN + donor sources 04/2001 NFF to seek financing through donors, GRN and levies |
|
6.
10. |
DoF
DoF |
1999 ongoing
Fire Danger Rating System by 12/2001 |
NFFP + GRN 04/2001
NFFP + GRN 04/2001 |
|
3.
7. |
DoF + MAWRD DoF + MAWRD |
1999 ongoing
Now Þ 12/2000 |
NFFP + GRN 04/2001
NFFP |
|
8. |
DoF Þ NFFP |
Current and ongoing Handing over to NFF by 11/2000 |
NFFP NFFP Þ NFF by 11/2000 |
|
9. |
DoF Þ NFFP |
Training needs assessed for fire ecology and fire management by 06/2000 |
NFFP Þ NFF by 11/2000 |
|
| Country Notes |
