Process
The Strategy to Enhance International Cooperation in Fire Management and the component documents were formulated and reviewed through a multi-stakeholder process. Technical core group meetings (Rome, Italy March, July and September 2006) and an expert consultation (Madrid, Spain, May 2006) held working sessions for participation of fire specialists from Governments, private sector associations, non-governmental organizations and inter-governmental organizations to prepare and revise the draft documents. The fire management strategy and voluntary guidelines were presented to, and discussed at, the Regional Forestry Commissions and at various United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) fire management meetings during 2006. The voluntary guidelines for fire management (formerly the draft fire management code) were available on the internet from July 2006 and feedback invited from Governments and other organizations involved in the various aspects of fire management. Stakeholder submissions were considered in reviews of the documents until December, 2006.
FAO’s collaborating partners that provided inputs on an "in kind" basis included members of the USDA Forest Service; Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC); UNISDR Global Wildland Fire Network; The Nature Conservancy, the Government of Spain and the International Liaison Committee of the 4th International Wildland Fire Conference. A broad stakeholder group of experts representing Governments, the private sector, IGOs and NGOs also gave of their valuable time.
These documents will be reported and made available to the 18th Session of the Committee on Forestry (Rome, Italy, March 2007) and the 4th International Wildland Fire Conference (Sevilla, Spain, May 2007) for their consideration and appropriate actions. Of particular importance will be the formulation and establishment of Partnerships for Implementation, particularly for orientation and capacity building to translate the strategy and the voluntary guidelines into policies and practices through enhanced international cooperation.
The Strategy, Voluntary Guidelines and the Review of International Cooperation are working documents, to be refined and updated from time to time. Feedback is invited to strengthen these documents. Contacts include: Jim.Carle@fao.org or Pieter.VanLierop@fao.org