National guidelines on Forest Fire Management in Namibia
National Guidelines on Forest Fire Management in Namibia
Final Draft 31 March/2001
(IFFN No. 25 – July 2001)
Preface
The extent of occurrence of forest fires in Namibia in recent years, especially during year 2000, shows that fire management efforts have to be strengthened throughout the country. Only East Caprivi has been able to show promising reduction in burned areas since the pilot efforts on Forest Fire Management started there in 1996.
In areas outside Eastern Caprivi, results have been slow in coming. One of the main reasons for the slow response is the lack of institutional capacity in the Directorate of Forestry (D.o.F.) itself. The same applies to the Agricultural Extension staff as well as the staff of the Directorate of Resource Management working outside Etosha. Some of the National Parks like Etosha have well established guidelines on Fire Management whereas others; like Mamili, Mudumu, Kaudom etc. are totally burned year after year. The Malengalenga-Liyambezi peat lands are also burned annually, through agricultural practices. This shows that the properties of peat are unknown among agricultural extensionists.
The outdated forest legislation has also been lacking in specific areas e.g. on guidelines for Forest Fire Management both in communal as well as in commercial farm areas. The uncertainty regarding fire management directives also applies to the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing which Ministry, by and large, is responsible for all fire management activities in Namibia.
With the inception in 1996 of the Namibia’s Forestry Strategic Plan, the path was opened for community participation in local management of Forest Fires. These participation efforts were soon named Integrated Forest Fire Management activities or IFFM activities.
On the behalf of the Namibia-Finland Forestry Programme (NFFP) and its component on Integrated Forest Fire Management (IFFM) we would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution to the process of preparing the National Guidelines on Forest Fire Management for Namibia by the following persons:
Project Steering Committee:
| Dr. H.O. Kojwang | Director of Forestry, Chairman |
| Dr. Alex Verlinden | Remote sensing Specialist, NFFP |
| Mr. Kari Alanko | Councellor Embassy of Finland, Windhoek |
| Ms. Sinikka Antila | Councellor/Chargé d´Affaires, Embassy of Finland, Windhoek |
| Mr. Moses Chakanga | National Co-ordinator for NFFP |
| Mr. Tomi Tuomasjukka | Acting Consultant Team Leader, NFFP |
| Mr. Harri Seppänen | Consultant Team Leader, NFFP |
| Ms. Marja-Ojanen-J | Education Specialist NFFP/Ogongo |
| Mr. Joseph Hailwa | Deputy Director, Directorate of Forestry |
| Mr. Osman Y. Hamid | Education Specialist, Forest Department Head, Ogongo |
| Mr. Mike Jurvélius | Forest Fire Specialist, NFFP |
| Mr. Dennis Sikabongo | Fire Chief, Katima Mulilo |
| Mr. Carlos Salinas | Community Forestry Specialist, NFFP |
| Mr. Thomas Selänniemi | Forest Inventory Specialist, NFFP |
| Mr. Jussi Viitanen | Environmental Forestry Specialist, NFFP |
National Persons Consulted:
| Mr. Bernhard Sibalatani | Governor of Caprivi Region |
| Ms. G. Uushona | Governor Otjozondjupa Region |
| Ms. Anneli Shishome | Chief Forester, north-west, D.o.F |
| Mr. Simeon Hengari | Forester, north-east , D.o.F. |
| Mr. Giovanni Schoeman | Emergency Officer, City of Windhoek Emergency Services |
| Mr. Chris Hines | Development Biologist, Windhoek |
| Mr. Bornbright Lilungwe | Traditional Authorities, Silalo Induna, Caprivi |
| Mr. Walter Piepmeyer | Forestry Officer , Otjozondjupa, D.o.F. |
| Mr. Johan le Roux | Remote Sensing & GIS Specialist, Etosha |
| Mr. Konrad van Heerden | Senior Inspector, Ministry of Basic Education, Sports & Culture |
| Mr. Alex Musiyalela | Director of Caprivi Drama Group |
| Mr. Kasiwa Mukenani S. | Painter; Caprivi Arts and Cultural Association |
International Consultants:
Prof. Dr. Johann G. Goldammer
Prof. Dr. Winston Trollope
Ms. Evelien Kamminga
Ms. Merja Mäkelä
Mr. Simeon Trigg
Other contributors:
| Dr. Ritva Kivikkokangas-S. | Professor, University of Helsinki, Deptm. of Development Geography |
| Ms. Krista Virtanen | MSc-thesis work on Forest Fire attitudes (in Caprivi), University of Wolwerhampton. |
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism through its Directorate of Forestry wishes to thank all the people listed above and additionally many others who’s names do not appear above for their valuable contribution to these National Guidelines on Forest Fire Management in Namibia.
These new National Guidelines on Forest Fire Management are expected to become a yardstick for all Forest Fire Management activities in the country in the future.
We hope that these new Guidelines will be useful in developing suitable practices for sustainable forest management in Namibia.
Windhoek, April 2001
Chairman of Project Steering Committee
Dr. H.O. Kojwang
Director of Forestry
ABBREVIATIONS
| CACA | Caprivi Arts and Cultural Association |
| CBO | Community based organization |
| CBRM | Community based resource management |
| CEC | Constituency Emergency Committee |
| DFO | District Forest Officer |
| DRM | Directorate of Resource Management |
| D.o.F. | Directorate of Forestry |
| EOU | Emergency Operational Unit |
| ECE | United Nations Economic Commission for Europe |
| FAO | Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations |
| FBSO | Fire Brigades Service Ordinance |
| FDO | Forestry District Office |
| FPA | Fire Protection Association |
| GFMC | Global Fire Monitoring Center |
| GPTF | Game Product Trust Fund |
| IFFM | Integrated Forest Fire Management |
| IFFN | International Forest Fire News (FAO/ECE) |
| ILO | International Labour Organization of United Nations |
| Induna | Village elder or village chief |
| Induna Silalo | District Village Chief |
| ITTO | International Tropical Timber Organization |
| Khuta | Council of Village or District Chiefs |
| LIKWAMA | Local farmers union in Caprivi |
| MBESC | Ministry of Basic Education, Sports and Culture |
| MET | Ministry of Environment and Tourism |
| MRLGH | Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing |
| NamPol | Namibian Police |
| NBC | Namibian Broadcasting Corporation |
| NDF | Namibian Defense Forces |
| NEMC | National Emergency Management Council |
| NEMU | National Emergency Management Unit |
| Neudamm | Agricultural College of the University of Namibia |
| NFFP | Namibia-Finland Forestry Programme |
| NFF | National Fire Forum |
| NGO | Non-governmental organization |
| Ogongo | Agricultural College of the University of Namibia |
| PO | People’s organization |
| REC | Regional Emergency Committee |
| SADC | Southern African Development Community |
| TAA | Traditional Authorities Act |
| UNEP | United Nations Environmental Programme |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WMO | World Meteorological Organization |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. NATIONAL FOREST FIRE POLICY AND LEGISLATION
II. FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
III. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND CAPACITY BUILDING
IV. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
V. PUBLIC TRAINING AND EDUCATION
VI. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
VII. MONITORING AND EVALUATION
VIII. REFERENCES
