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Box 4.1 FRA 2005 thematic study on forest fires

The study complements FRA 2005 through greater depth of data and information on the incidence, impact and management of forest fires and related issues in different regions around the globe. Data and information are being prepared by wildland fire specialists from each of the 12 regional wildland fire networks, which are supported by FAO, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC). FAO is publishing the regional reports early in 2006 as separate working papers under the Forest Fire Management Working Paper series. An in-depth analysis of these regional reports is being compiled as the global thematic study, to be published during 2006.

The study assesses the fire situation in each region, including the extent of forest area affected, number and types of fires and the causes. In recognition that not all fires are destructive, given that some ecosystems need fire-induced regeneration, both positive and negative social, economic and environmental impacts are outlined. An integrated approach to wildland fire management addresses: prediction, preparedness and prevention as key elements in the reduction of the negative impacts of fire; rapid response in extinguishing fires; and restoration after the fact. These elements constitute the rationale for voluntary guidelines for wildland fire management, which are currently being drafted.The thematic study also addresses key issues in the institutional aspects of wildland fire management, including the roles and responsibilities of diverse stakeholders and their capacities and capabilities for prevention and suppression – particularly the role of community-based fire management. Based on these issues, a global strategy is being prepared for enhancing collaboration at international, regional, national and subnational levels in order to implement the voluntary guidelines.

Selected findings of the thematic report include:

• Some 80 to 90 percent of wildland fires are caused by human activities, primarily through the uncontrolled use of fire for: clearing forest and woodland for agriculture, maintaining grasslands for livestock management, extraction of NWFPs, industrial development, resettlement, hunting and arson. Thus proactive fire management must involve all these stakeholders.
• Legislation and expensive equipment alone are insufficient to prevent and suppress wildland fires. Given that their livelihoods are at stake, local communities and populations need to be actively involved in fire prevention and suppression.
• It is not only the biological and physiological effects of fire that must be understood in fire management strategies, but also the underlying socio-economic and cultural reasons for the use of fire, including poverty, food security and livelihood issues.
• Data on both destructive and beneficial fires are needed, including their overall economic and ecological impacts.
• To prevent and respond to fire emergencies, greater collaboration and agreement are increasingly required at international, regional, national and subnational levels.

Further information is available at: www.fao.org/forestry/site/fire-alerts/ .

Although fire is one of the primary agents of forest degradation, as a natural process it serves an important function in maintaining the health of certain ecosystems. The conventional view of fire as a destructive agent requiring immediate suppression has given way to the view that fire can and should be used to meet land management goals and certain ecological conditions

Source & © FAO  Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, Progress towards sustainable forest management,
Chapter 4: Forest Health and Vitality, p.61

Forests

Table 1.1: FRA 2005 reporting tables

Table 1.2: Indicative linkages among reporting tables and thematic elements of sustainable forest management

Table 1.3: Key statistics for regions and subregions used in FRA 2005

Table 2.1: Distribution of forests by subregion

Table 2.3: Forest cover by subregion 2005

Table 2.8: Carbon stock per hectare 2005

Table 2.10: Trends in carbon stocks in forest biomass 1990–2005

Table 3.3: Area of forest designated primarily for conservation of biodiversity 2005

Table 4.1: Average area of forest annually affected by fire 1998–2002

Table 4.3: Average area of forest annually affected by insects 1998–2002

Table 4.4: Average area of forest annually affected by diseases 1998–2002

Table 4.7: Average area of forest annually affected by other disturbances 1998–2002

Table 5.1: Area of forest designated primarily for production 2005

Table 5.7: Forest area and growing stock 2005

Table 5.13: Removals of four categories of Non-Wood Forest Products 2005 (tonnes)

Table 6.2: Area of forest designated primarily for protection 2005

Table 5.8: Commercial growing stock 2005

Table 6.3 Total area of forest designated for protection 2005

Table 7.2: Value of wood removals 2005

Table 7.4: Value of Non-Wood Forest Products removals 2005

Table 7.6: Number of people employed in forestry in 2000

Table 7.8: Ownership of forest area 2000

Table 8.2: Trends towards sustainable forest management at the global level

Table 8.3 Trends towards sustainable forest management in Africa

Table 8.4: Trends towards sustainable forest management in Asia

Table 8.5: Trends towards sustainable forest management in Europe

Table 8.6: Trends towards sustainable forest management in North and Central America

Table 8.7: Trends towards sustainable forest management in Oceania

Table 8.8: Trends towards sustainable forest management in South America

Table 8.9: Trends towards sustainable forest management by subregion

Table 5.10: Trends in commercial growing stock 1990–2005

Figure 1.1: Regional and Subregional breakdown used in FRA 2005

Figure 2.2: The world’s forests

Figure 2.3: Ten countries with largest forest ares 2005 (million ha)

Figure 2.5: Forest Change Dynamics

Figure 2.9: Forest characteristics 2005 (%)

Figure 2.12: Total Carbon Stock (C) in forests by region 2005

Figure 3.3: Ten countries with the largest area of primary forest 2005 (%)

Figure 3.11: Number of native forest tree species

Figure 3.13: Average number of threatened tree species by region

Figure 5.5: Ten countries with largest area of productive forest plantations 2005 (%)

Figure 5.8: Five countries with greatest total growing stock 2005 (%)

Figure 5.10: Five countries with largest volume of wood removal 2005 (%)

Figure 6.1: Information availability – protective functions of forest resources

Figure 7.7: Ownership of forests by subregion 2000

Figure 8.1: Designated functions of forests globally 2005 (%)

Figure 8.2 Distribution of subregional trends

Forest cover by subregion 2005 and distribution

Box 1.1 Thematic elements of sustainable forest management

Box 2.1 FRA 2005 thematic study on planted forests

Box 2.2 FRA 2005 thematic study on mangroves

Box 2.3 FRA 2005 thematic study on bamboo

Box 4.1 FRA 2005 thematic study on forest fires

Box 4.2 FRA 2005 thematic study on forest pests

Box 6.1 FRA 2005 thematic study on forests and water

Box 7.1 FRA 2005 thematic study on forest ownership and resource tenure