Landscape fire issues are complex with many inter-related socioeconomic and environmental factors. Humans, particularly smallholders and Indigenous Peoples, have used fire for millennia as a traditional tool for land management. Natural and cultural fires are important to maintain the composition and functioning of fire-dependent or fire-adapted ecosystems, such as tropical and subtropical savannas or boreal forests.
However, due to land-use change, extreme wildfires are on the rise, negatively affecting sustainable development, threatening communities’ livelihoods and security. Landscape fire emissions constitute a threat to human health and affect the atmosphere and climate.
Launched at the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference in 2023, the Global Fire Management Hub (“Fire Hub”) brings together key partners to assist countries in building capacities to implement integrated fire management, with the aim of reducing the negative impacts of wildfires on livelihoods, landscapes and global climate stability.
The development of guidelines and best practices, as well as sharing this knowledge with a broader audience, are key components of fire management work within the FAO Forestry Division. The Fire Hub’s activities will further strengthen and enhance global collaboration, information sharing and capacity building on integrated fire management.
Launch of the Global Fire Management Hub by the FAO Director General
FAO's Director General speaking at the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference
The Fire Hub approach
Integrated
Often, wildfires do not start or stop at the edges of forests. The Fire Hub focuses on the implementation of an integrated fire management (IFM) approach that helps to ensure that all fire activities are integrated into national policies and plans, are cross-sectoral, and involve diverse stakeholders. The IFM approach involves five elements, or the ‘5Rs’: Review and Analysis, Risk Reduction, Readiness, Response and Recovery, all of which will help governments understand the causes and factors driving wildfires and seek long-term, sustainable solutions.
Inclusive
For generations, many communities have relied on fire to manage their surroundings, developing extensive know-how in traditional fire management. Their day-to-day choices play a big role in either preventing or causing fires, and they're quick to react when wildfires break out.
The Fire Hub acknowledges the importance of this knowledge for integrated fire management (IFM) and community-based fire management (CBFM) approaches. However, exploring and adopting alternatives to using fire, especially in areas prone to wildfires, can also help prevent fires.
It's essential for everyone involved, including policymakers, land managers, forest owners, local communities, civil defense, and fire services, to work together in planning and carrying out IFM strategies to effectively prevent and combat fires.
The 5Rs
Review and analysis
Analysis of the fire issue and identification of options for positive change
Risk reduction
Focusing resources on the underlying causes of fires
Readiness
Preparing to fight fires
Response
Ensuring appropriate responses to damaging fires
Recovery
Community welfare, repairing infrastructure and restoring fire-damaged landscape
Activities
The Fire Hub’s work is divided into five main pillars.
Knowledge and data sharing
Including defining major fire concepts; publications; technical advice on integrated fire management; workshops and events; and ensuring easy access to datasets and products.
Capacity building
Including training with national actors and mentoring programmes for young fire experts.
Wildfire resilient communities
Including Indigenous and traditional knowledge; community-based fire management; and gender, equity, diversity and inclusion.
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Fire risk reduction and early warning
Including wildfire risk assessment methods and tools, post-fire loss and damage, and early warning systems.
IFM policy development and implementation
Including incorporating integrated fire management into national and subnational policies and support for regional fire networks.
Building on past research and achievements
The Fire Hub’s work is guided by the principles laid down by guidelines and best practices developed by the community of scientists and practitioners over the last decades, including the principles of the Integrated fire management voluntary guidelines (FAO, 2024) and the Landscape Fire Governance Framework (presented at the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference in 2023).