The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a guide on Friday with updated guidelines to help countries deal with extreme forest fires.
The document “Voluntary Guidelines “For integrated fire management: principles and strategic actions” updates the guidelines of this UN agency (United Nations) from two decades ago and includes new recommendations “to face the challenges arising from the current climate crisis,” the organization said in a statement.
Extreme wildfires are expected to be 50% more frequent by the end of the century and environmental changes linked to climate change, such as more frequent droughts, higher temperatures and strong winds, “will likely result in warmer, drier and longer fire seasons.”
According to FAO, between 340 and 370 million hectares of the Earth’s surface are burned annually by forest fires, which harm sustainable development and the livelihoods of communities and cause large volumes of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The way we respond to the challenge of forest fires is critical (…). We must shift our focus from reactive responses to proactive strategies and prioritize prevention and preparedness.“, said Zhimin Wu, Director of FAO’s Forestry Division, in the statement, who launched the new edition of the guide during the 9th World Forestry Week, which is taking place in Rome.
The launch of the updated guidelines is “the inaugural activity” of the Global Fire Management Centre, set up in 2023 by FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with support from the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Portugal, as well as the Republic of Korea.
The centre announced that it has already received funding worth almost five million dollars (4.6 million euros), “essential support for its mission to reduce the adverse effects of forest fires on society, landscapes and climate.”
Source: Observadora
