CBFiM
Community-Based Fire Management (CBFiM)
Wildfire Disaster Prevention, Education and Youth
Theprotection of the environment has become a recurrent theme these days, and youngpeople are the first ones to express strong interest in ecology and theprotection of earth. It is therefore important for future generations, as theleaders of tomorrow, to learn about the long-term aspects of such a protection,and to provide them with the necessary early education for a betterunderstanding of both natural hazards and the way to prevent their disastrousimpact on societies.
Young people represent powerful forces for change and for mobilization. Theyoccupy a central place in promoting a necessary change in behaviours and a shiftin mentalities, if a successful disaster prevention and risk management are tobe achieved. Young people should be given the chance to ensure their ownprotection and the protection of their world, through appropriate education andlevel of responsibility in the decision-making process.
The devastating impact of wild fires throughout the world has demonstrated thatsome climatic variabilities have exacerbated the threat of forest fires, whichhas become predominant in most parts of the world and endangers millions oflives as well as the natural ecosystem. This dramatic situation illustrates theneed for cross-border and cross-sectoral partnerships. We all rely on each otherand all need each other to survive and protect our planet. Lets ensure asmooth continuity between generations through a fruitful exchange and sharing ofknowledge and experience on disasters in order to perpetuate an acceptablequality of life for all, in particular for all communities at threat fromdisasters.
For the United Nations 2000 World Disaster Reduction Campaign on DisasterPrevention, Education and Youth the Secretariat of the United NationsInternational Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the Global FireMonitoring Center (GFMC) cooperated with a number of partners worldwide inpreparation of an information kit Disaster Prevention, Education andYouth: The specific case of wildfires. The kit provided information forschool kids and teachers aiming at increasing awareness on the need for theprevention of destructive wildfires:
In a special poster developed for distribution through theGFMC website some materials for school children are presented for public awarenessraising in theprevention of destructive wildfires:
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Wildfire and Youth Raising of Public Awareness on the Ecological Effects of Forest Fires and on Forest Fire Prevention (JPG, 0.4 MB)
SmokeyBear Website for children: Only you can prevent wildfires.
