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Integrated fire management

Global Fire Management Hub Plenary 2025

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Held from 10 to 12 June 2025 at FAO Headquarters, the first Plenary of the Global Fire Management Hub brought together the global Fire Hub community for the first time in one place. More than just a knowledge-sharing event, the Plenary focused on “connecting capacities” – bridging gaps, building partnerships, and shaping strategies at national, regional, and global levels, from planning and management to operational action on the ground.

Nine plenary sessions and nine side events provided a vibrant platform for exchanging knowledge, perspectives, and experience.

The event served as a space for constructive dialogue and connection, supporting the growth of a strong, engaged Fire Hub community of Integrated Fire Management (IFM) experts. It laid the groundwork for future global collaboration on IFM, rooted in shared expertise and collective action.

If you wish to watch any of the sessions, you can find the links in the agenda below.

 


Fire Hub Plenary 2025: where ideas sparked action...

Agenda

Tuesday 10 June

 Watch recording

 

This opening session set the tone and sparked momentum for the days ahead. Through opening remarks, a high-level panel and dynamic field insights, this session illuminated the global vision for integrated fire management (IFM) and positioned the Fire Hub as a catalytic force for scaling impactful, community-driven fire solutions.

Speakers:

Zhimin Wu - Director, Forestry Division, FAO

Tiina Vähänen - Deputy Director, Forestry Division, FAO

Mirey Atallah - Chief of the Adaptation and Resilience Branch, United Nations Environment Programme

Johann G. Goldammer - Director, Global Fire Monitoring Centre

Monique Frison - Director General, Trade, Economics and Industry Branch, Canadian Forest Service

André Lima - National Secretary, Extraordinary Secretariat for Deforestation Control, Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

Jicheol Jeong - Deputy Director, Korea Forest Service

Thomas Baldauf (virtual) - Referat 514, European and International Forest Policy, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, Germany

Dian Sukmajaya- Senior Officer, Food, Agriculture and Forestry Division Sectoral Development Directorate, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Department (Virtual)

Nelton Mangezi- Principal Officer, Environmental Impact Assessment & Ecosystems Protection, Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe

Lucinda Vásquez de Morales - Muruy Indigenous Leader, Colombia

  Watch recording


Co-led by RECOFTC and Tropenbos International

This plenary session highlighted Community-Based Fire Management (CBFiM) as a critical component of IFM, especially in fire-prone landscapes shaped by traditional land-use, socio-ecological systems, and climate variability.

This session amplified the voices of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and other underrepresented groups through a global roundtable with perspectives from Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Amazon. Lively discussion focused on the CBFiM Working Group and Guidelines, key lessons from regional dialogues, and pathways to integrate CBFiM into the Fire Hub and broader fire management strategies.

Speakers:

Marina Tornorsam - Regional Project Manager, Community-based Fire Management in Asia, RECOFTC

Rosalien Jezeer - Programme Coordinator, Tropenbos International

Chinda Milayvong - Program Officer, RECOFTC

Wilver Arezabi Abay - Local leader of central indigena de communidades de Lomerio, Tropenbos Bolivia

Behayo Kelson - Bwendero Dairy Farm, Tropenbos Uganda

Lara Steil - Fire Management Officer, FAO

David Ganz - Executive Director, RECOFTC 

Valerie Charlton - Director, Landworks South Africa (Moderator)

    Watch recording

Please use password: GFMH2025+

This dynamic session spotlighted national and regional efforts to scale up IFM and strengthen long-term fire resilience across the Mediterranean and Near East. Showcasing country experiences from Morocco and Spain, expert insights, and regional initiatives, the event explored cross-border cooperation models, effective early warning systems, and scalable restoration strategies.

Speakers:

Natalia Alekseeva - Principal Coordination Officer, United Nations Environment Programme

George Mitri - Director, Land & Natural Resources Program, University of Balamand

Fouad Assali - National Fire Management Expert, National Water and Forest Agency, Morocco

Elena Hernández Paredes - Head of Service, Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Spain

Johann G. Goldammer - Director, Global Fire Monitoring Centre

Andrea Kutter - Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, World Bank

  Watch recording

Please use password: GFMH2025+

Co-led by FAO, World Meteorological Organization and World Health Organization

This session was a deep dive into the pressing challenges of smoke and haze from wildfires. Experts shed light on the far-reaching health and climate impacts of transboundary smoke, addressing critical gaps in early warning systems and intersectoral collaboration.

Attendees gained fresh insights, connected with leaders in health, environment, and fire management, and discovered collaborative strategies to protect communities and strengthen climate resilience.

Speakers:

Foster Brown - Senior Scientist, Professor, Woodwell Climate, Brazilian Federal University of Acre

Mark Parrington - Senior Scientist, Copernicus Services Departments, ECMWF

Carlyn Matz - Senior Evaluator, Health Canada

Sara Basart - Scientific Officer, World Meteorological Organization

Kerolyn Shairsingh - Technical Consultant, World Health Organization

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Led by the International Tropical Timber Organization

This conversational panel brought together voices from Latin America, Africa, and Asia to share frontline perspectives on how fire behavior is shifting in tropical forests under the pressures of climate change and other drivers. It also explored urgent fire management needs across tropical regions and appropriate key policy and operational responses. 

Speakers:

Lucy Amissah - Researcher, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana

Ane Alencar - Science Director, The Amazon Environmental Research Institute

Israr Albar - Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia

Jennifer Conje - Director, International Tropical Timber Organization

 

 

 

 

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Co-led by FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme

This session focused on the critical, yet often overlooked, final phase of the fire management cycle: recovery and restoration. It explored how restoration efforts not only reduce future fire risk but also strengthen ecosystem resilience, providing a valuable platform for cross-country knowledge exchange and capacity-building needs assessments.

Speakers: 

Natalia Alekseeva - Principal Coordination Officer, United Nations Environment Programme

Chadi Mohanna - Director of Rural Development and Natural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Lebanon

Marcelina Hueichan - Community leader, Comunidad Indígena Llaitul Panguinao

Israr Albar - Deputy Director, Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Indonesia

Harifidy Rakoto Ratsimba - Head Researcher, University of Antananarivo

Diana Vieira - Researcher, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

Carolina Gallo Granizo - Restoration Expert, FAO (Moderator)

 

 

 FAO Terrace

Join us for networking and light refreshments, all while enjoying stunning panoramic views of Rome from the FAO Terrace on the 8th floor.

Wednesday 11 June

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Co-led by FAO and the Joint Research Centre

The Earth observation landscape for wildfire monitoring is undergoing rapid transformation, and this session explored how to effectively navigate growing complexity in fire monitoring systems. While technological advances offer powerful tools for IFM, they also raise challenges in data integration, standardization, and accessibility.

Through presentations on global datasets, national case studies, and a panel discussion on multi-sensor systems, the session addressed the critical need for coordinated efforts to effectively harness and share fire data information. It also discussed how it can better support IFM implementation, policy development, and strategic planning at all levels.

Speakers:

Diane Davies (virtual) - Operations Manager, NASA LANCE

Fernando Sedano - Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Mehmet Ozen - Forest Fires and Research Chief Engineer, Western Mediterranean Forestry Research Institute Directorate, General Directorate of Forestry, Türkiye

David Saah - Professor, University of San Francisco, Managing Principal, Spatial Informatics Group

Luigi Boschetti - Professor, University of Idaho

Ane Alencar - Science Director, The Amazon Environmental Research Institute

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Co-led by FAO and World Meteorological Organization

Early warning systems and Fire Danger Rating Systems are essential tools for anticipating wildfire threats and enabling timely, informed decisions that protect lives, ecosystems, and infrastructure. This Plenary session spotlit global, regional, and national efforts to enhance early warning capabilities. It featured presentations on: current and forthcoming fire and smoke-related data and products from the World Meteorological Organization, including its early warning strategy; insights from the EU Joint Research Centre's global Wildfire Information System; and a country-level example from Morocco showcasing operational fire danger and early warning systems.

Speakers:

Bill de Groot - Fire Management Expert, FAO

Sara Basart - Scientific Officer, World Meteorological Organization

Adanna Robertson-Quimby - Programme Officer, World Meteorological Organization

Jesus San Miguel - Senior Researcher, European Commission Joint Research Centre

Fouad Assali - National Fire Management Expert, National Water and Forest Agency, Morocco

Flavio Justino - Professor, Universidade Federal de Vicosa

 

  Watch recording

Please use password: GFMH2025+

This fast-paced session offered a fresh look at integrated fire management in Asia. Through a series of lightning talks, regional experts reflected on recent projects, shared emerging challenges, and spotlit under-explored fire issues, including lesser-known fire-prone countries, diverse fire uses, and overlooked impacts.

Speakers:

Oyunsanaa Byambasuren - Director General, National Forest Agency, Mongolia

Karma Chorten Dendup - Senior Forestry Officer, Royal Government, Bhutan

Chan Ponika - Deputy Director General, Forestry Administration, Cambodia

Somphavy Keoka - Deputy Head of Division, Forest Inventory and Planning Division, People's Democratic Republic of Lao

Chonthida Chernkhunthod - Forestry Technical Officer, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Thailand

Tuong Van Nguyen - Forest Ranger, Division of Science, Technology and International Cooperation, VNFORESTS, Viet Nam

Israr Albar - Directorate of Forest Fire Management, Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Indonesia

Agostinho Cosme Belo - DRR and DRM Technical Support, Civil Protection Authority, Timor-Leste

Sujung Anh - Research Official, Forest Fire Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Republic of Korea

Brett Shields - Chief Technical Advisor, AFFIRM Project, FAO


 

 

  Watch recording

Please use password: GFMH2025+

This interactive session explored how AI can accelerate IFM by enabling scalable, science-based, and collaborative approaches to wildfire risk. The discussion examined cutting-edge tools from early warning systems and dynamic risk models to impact forecasting and community vulnerability assessments, spotlighting initiatives like the AI Collaborative on Wildfires.

Speakers:

David Saah - Professor, University of San Francisco, Managing Principal, Spatial Informatics Group

Sean Triplett - Data Integration and Operations Lead, Earth Fire Alliance

Alison Castilho - Coordinator - Brazilian Amazon, Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

Fernando Sedano - Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Ane Alencar - Science Director, Amazon Environmental Research Institute

 

 

  Watch recording


Co-led by FAO and Thompson Rivers University

This powerful event highlighted the vital role of Indigenous Peoples’ fire stewardship in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable land management. For millennia, Indigenous Peoples around the world have used fire to care for their lands and territories, protecting bio-cultural diversity, enhancing food security, and reducing wildfire risks. This session brought together Indigenous leaders and experts to explore how Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge can shape IFM practices. Through inspiring stories and meaningful dialogue, this session uncovered the legal, policy, and institutional shifts needed to support Indigenous-led approaches and strengthen global fire governance.

Speakers:

Houria Djoudi - Dryland Forestry Officer, FAO (Moderator)

Elder Joe Gilchrist- Traditional Fire Keeper, (Shuswap) Thunderbird Collective

Diel Mochire Mwenge (online)- (Batwa Bambuti) Network of Indigenous and Local Communities for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Lucinda Vásquez Morales- (Muruy) Guardia Indígena Elder and knowledge holder, Colombia

Lisbeth Andreina Sucre (Video message) - (Pemón Arekuna), Venezuela

Michael-Shawn Fletcher- Associate Dean (Indigenous), Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne

Marilyn Ngales (online) - Director, Community Outreach & Service Learning, Lyceum of the Philippines University

Yon Fernández de Larrinoa - Head, Indigenous Peoples Unit, FAO

Lara Steil - Fire Management Officer, FAO

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This plenary session explored opportunities and challenges in incorporating Integrated Fire Management (IFM) into national and subnational policies. Featuring national case studies and regional experiences, the session highlighted the role of regional frameworks, the importance of the Review and Analysis phase, and the need for policy alignment across governance levels. 

Speakers:

Peter Moore - Fire Management Expert, FAO

Julienne Morissette - Director, Wildland Fire Research, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service

Tiago Oliveira - Chairman, Board of Directors, Agency for the Integrated Management of Rural Fires (AGIF)

Christian Berlinck - General Coordinator of Integrated Fire Management, Department of Deforestation and Fire Control Policies (DPCD), Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil

Surabhi Rai - Deputy Inspector General of Forests (Forest Protection), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India

Lorenza B. Fontana - Professor in Political Science, Inter-university Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Polytechnic University of Turin


 

 

Thursday 12 June

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Led by the Global Fire Monitoring Center

This session showcased experiences, needs, and emerging visions for enhancing interoperability among fire management stakeholders from local to global levels. Keynotes from the Global Fire Monitoring Centre and UN Environment/OCHA JEU highlighted advances in international cooperation and UN emergency assistance. Interventions from regional fire monitoring centres and European partners illustrated practical examples and regional mechanisms.

Speakers:

Johann G. Goldammer - Director, Global Fire Monitoring Centre

Charlotta Benedek - Unit Head, UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit

Kelsey Winter - Executive Director, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

Sandra Whight - Executive Director, Australasian Fire Authorities Council

Elena Hernández Paredes - Head of Service, Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Spain

Claire Kowalewski - Officer, DG ECHO

Riccardo Filippi - Pilot, International Fire Aviation Working Group

Nikola Nikolov - Head, Regional Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC)

Ellen Baltzar Mossop - Climate Affairs Advisor, OSCE

Krzysztof Zyman - Executive Secretary, European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA), Council of Europe

Gordon Sachs - Chief, All Hazard & International Fire Support, United States Forest Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Watch recording

 

As one of the five pillars of the Fire Hub, the Capacity Building plenary session showcased successful capacity building initiatives, introduced the IFM Voluntary Assessment Tool, and explored how partners are streamlining efforts to maximize impact and avoid duplication. A closing discussion reflected on lessons learned and future directions for strengthening capacity through the Fire Hub.

Speakers:

Justin Chisenga - Capacity Development Officer, FAO

Bill de Groot - Fire Management Expert, FAO

Mehmet Ozen - Forest Fires and Research Chief Engineer, Western Mediterranean Forestry Research Institute Directorate, General Directorate of Forestry, Türkiye

Andrey Eritsov - Director, Aerial & Ground Forest Fire Management Center, Khanty-Mansisk, Russia

Marina Tornorsam - Regional Project Manager, Community-based Fire Management in Asia, RECOFTC

Francisco Torres - Resilient Landscape Project Manager , The Nature Conservancy

Nuria Prat - Head of the Knowledge and Applied Science Area, Pau Costa Foundation

Edith Cottebrune-Merillon - Senior Policy Expert, FAO

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Watch recording


Co-led by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization and Amazon+
This session was an opportunity to review, take stock and explore the opportunities, challenges and priorities for IFM in Amazon countries.

Speakers:

Vanessa Grazziotin - Executive Director, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization

Carlos Salinas - Environment Coordinator, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization

Daniel Segura - Representative, RAMIF Presidency, Ecuador

Pietro Graziani - Technical Coordinator AMAZON+, Italian Agency of Sustainable Cooperation 

Arnaldo Carneiro - Coordinator, Amazon Regional Observatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Watch recording

Please use password: GFMH2025+

As wildfires intensify due to climate change, investment remains skewed toward suppression rather than prevention and preparedness. This high-level session tackled the urgent need to close the financing gap for IFM.

Bringing together multilateral banks, climate funds, and development partners, the panel explored how IFM aligns with broader goals in climate resilience, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction. Participants gained insights into donor priorities, learned how to align proposals for funding, and identified collaboration opportunities through the Global Fire Management Hub. 

Speakers:

Marc Dumas Johansen (virtual) - Agriculture, Forests and Food Security Specialist, Green Climate Fund 

Chris Dickinson (virtual) - Senior Climate Change Specialist, Asian Development Bank

Samantha Cook (virtual) - Senior Financial Sector Specialist - Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank

Sam Johnston - Director, International Savanna Fire Management Initiative

Genevieve Biggs (virtual) - Program Director, Wldfire Resilience Initiative and Special Projects, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Vladislav Arnaoudov - Senior Adaptation Officer, Adaptation Fund 

 


 

 

 

 

  Watch recording

Please use the password: GFMH2025+

This dynamic session showcased how IFM is being applied across Sub-Saharan Africa to reduce wildfire risks, protect vital ecosystems, and build resilience to climate-related challenges. Through a regional lens, participants explored a range of country-level experiences, from community-led fire strategies to fire management in fire-dependent landscapes and cross-border coordination efforts. 

Speakers:

Valerie Charlton - Director, LandWorks, South Africa

Baitshepi Edith Hill - Director, Department of Forestry and Range Resources, Botswana

Lithole Priscilla Manosa - Principal Range Management Officer, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Lesotho

Obasanjo Dembele - Head of Forest Information System Department, Mozambique

Nelton Mangezi - Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection Officer, Zimbabwe

Johnson Ndokosho - Director, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia

Lucy Amissah - Principle Research Scientist, Forestry Research Institute, Ghana

Matthew Warren - Forestry Officer, FAO

Harifidy Rakoto Ratsimba - Researcher, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar

Amaitum Joshua Elukut - Youth Forestry Specialist, FAO (Moderator)

    Watch recording

 

The closing session brought participants together to reflect on the insights, connections, and shared priorities that emerged throughout the Plenary, including through regional take-aways, a presentation by the COP30 Forests Unit team, and lively discussions among the audience with those seated beside them. It reaffirmed the urgent need for continued collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and action to advance IFM globally. The session also featured the official launch of Pyra, FAO’s new IFM mascot, designed to spark awareness and engagement of IFM through innovative communications and outreach. 

Speakers

Amy Duchelle - Senior Forestry Officer, Forests and Climate, FAO

Vanessa Grazziotin - Executive Director, ACTO

Luis Eduardo Ríos - Director of Cooperation and International Relations, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Somphavy Keoka - Deputy Head of Division, Forest Inventory and Planning Division, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Fouad Assali - National Fire Management Expert, National Water and Forest Agency, Morocco

Lucy Amissah - Principle Research Scientist, Forestry Research Institute, Ghana

Sandy Whight - Executive Director, Australasian Fire Authorities Council

Elder Joe Gilchrist - Traditional Fire Keeper, (Shuswap) Thunderbird Collective, Canada

Emanuel Montenegro Lins - COP30 Forests Unit Team, Brazil

Zhimin Wu - Forestry Director, FAO