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Fire fighting in Turkey and Uganda
Softwood plantations in Uganda are facing devastating wind-spread bush fires in the 1997 dry season as a result of prolonged drought and unusually high temperatures. Some 2 000 ha of the total 15 000 ha of industrial softwood plantations have already been destroyed, and further damage is expected. FAO is assisting in the development of a fire management strategy and a coordinated approach to fire prevention and suppression.
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When FAO receives an appeal for help against raging
forest fires in developing countries, it responds by providing equipment, including
communications systems, and technical assistance. FAO also advises countries on strategies
to prevent forest fires and lessen their impact. For example, in Turkey forest fires
are becoming an increasingly serious problem; they raged over huge coastal areas
in 1994 and 1996, culminating in the catastrophic Gelibolu fire. FAO is advising
the government on an overall fire prevention and control strategy.