Amazonian countries unite to address challenges arising from integrated fire management

The first Regional Workshop of the Amazon Network for Integrated Fire Management was held in Brasilia, organized by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and supported by GIZ and the European Union’s Amazonia+ programme. This event represents a milestone in regional cooperation to address the ecological, social, environmental, and technical challenges related to fire in the Amazon.

With representation from the eight Amazonian countries, both technical and diplomatic, the creation of the Amazon Network for Integrated Fire Management – RAMIF, which is an integral part of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance for Integrated Fire Management (MOU MIF) among ACTO member countries, has been unanimously approved, which will strengthen the coordination and exchange of knowledge and efforts among Amazonian countries.

A step towards sustainability

For the Amazon+ programme, which focuses on combating deforestation, forest degradation and promoting sustainable forest management, this is a major regional achievement in advancing integrated fire management in the Amazon, which has taken into consideration the progress and needs of the countries and the possibilities for support. This meeting represents a significant step towards the sustainability and conservation of the Amazon and demonstrates the power of regional collaboration in the search for comprehensive solutions. It is a breakthrough that goes beyond fire management, as it strengthens the resilience and security of the region, considering the ecological role of fire in natural systems and recognising its cultural and traditional use by local communities and indigenous peoples.

Policies aligned with the objectives

During the event, RAMIF has agreed on its objectives and scope, among which it will consider crucial aspects such as understanding and addressing the components of integrated fire management – such as the ecological, social, cultural and economic role of fire – as well as the analysis of its potential effects. It will also work on the promotion of policies and actions in line with the objectives set out in the RAMIF constitution and for the achievement of the MIF MOU commitments.

Another of the agreements of this first workshop is the development of the next RAMIF meeting scheduled in Lima, Peru, during the first quarter of 2024, aimed at building its operational plan. It has also been agreed to hold the first event for the exchange of initiatives and methodologies for the rescue and valuation of traditional knowledge in the MIF, which will contribute to the fire culture component.