Veld fires continue to damage ecosystems and rural livelihoods, making early preparedness more urgent as conditions grow hotter and drier. Against this backdrop, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support from the Government of Canada launched the three-year Integrated Fire Management ‘Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange and Global Indigenous Fire Network’ project.

Harare - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Canada have launched a major new project to strengthen wildfire prevention, preparedness and resilience.

A national kick-off meeting and stakeholder consultation for the Assuring the Future of Forests with Integrated Risk Management (AFFIRM) mechanism was held in Viet Tri Ward, Viet Nam on 26 March 2026, formally launching the initiative in the country and marking a significant step forward for integrated fire management (IFM).

Over 50 participants from government agencies, academia, NGOs, local communities and the private sector gathered on 26 February 2026 to review and validate findings from a preliminary report of Thailand’s national fire situation, explore new strategies for addressing forest fire challenges, and identify pathways toward more sustainable, community-driven fire management.

With countries across the world registering record temperatures in 2025, wildfires have been dominating headlines from North America to the Mediterranean. At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, wildfire resilience wasn’t just talked about; people showed how wildfires can be prevented and how good fire can be used to support communities and ecosystems.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Global Fire Management Hub (Fire Hub) placed integrated fire management at the centre of a hot topic: wildfire-resilient landscapes.

The Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience, now backed by 62 countries, set the tone as speakers highlighted early results from the Global Fire Management Hub and rising cooperation on prevention-centered strategies.