Addressing Wildland Fire Risk

Description

Overall forest loss and degradation is costing the global economy between US$2 trillion and US$4.5 trillion a year in lost revenue.
Wildland fires are affecting up to 350 million hectares of vegetated lands annually. Severe wildfires can result in very high economic losses in terms of livelihoods and assets, as was the case in 2010 in western Russia and Australia. Fire-induced vegetation degradation contributes to about 0.6 billion tons of permanent carbon transfer to the atmosphere. In the context of a globally increasing risk of wildland fires due to land use, climate variability and change, the roundtable will look at models and emerging challenges in reducing wildland fire risk. It will provide recommendations on how to better combine environmental protection with financial aid and ecosystem services that can protect forests, while reducing risk of wildland fires and other hazards. The roundtable will feature a video-link with the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference in South Africa.

Chair/Moderator/Faciliator

Ms. Paola Deda, Chief, Forestry and Timber Section, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (CHAIR)

Speakers

Mr. Alexander Chupriyan, Deputy Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disasters, Russian Federation
Ms. Pilar Gallego, Director General on Civil Protection and Emergencies, Spain
Mr. Phil Cottle, Managing Director, ForestRe Ltd, United Kingdom
Videolink to South Africa

Presentations

> Engaging the private sector [2.99 Mb]

> Risk and forest loss mitigation in private & pubic organisation [1.38 Mb]

> An integrated approach to the management in the prevention and fighting of forest fire [2.86 Mb]

> Wild fires in Russia in July-August 2010: lessons learned [1.77 Mb]

Report

> Report on Addressing Wildland Fire Risk Roundtable [PDF, 161.38 Kb]