Bill de Groot Canadian Forest Service Roberto Martinez Dominguez Comision Nacional Forestal Tom Harbour US Forest Service Bill de Groot Canadian Forest Service Roberto Martinez Dominguez Comision Nacional Forestal Tom Harbour US Forest Service NAFC – Fire Management Working Group Report

NAFC-FMWG Charter Objectives: 1.Exchange experiences and technological advances regarding prevention, wildland fire management, and fire use. 2.Provide mutual aid and technical exchanges between Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the development of strategy and appropriate fire management actions. 3.Actively participate in programs with other fire agencies throughout the world to support international cooperation and development in fire management. 1.Exchange experiences and technological advances regarding prevention, wildland fire management, and fire use. 2.Provide mutual aid and technical exchanges between Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the development of strategy and appropriate fire management actions. 3.Actively participate in programs with other fire agencies throughout the world to support international cooperation and development in fire management.

Current Activities 42 nd Annual Fire Management Working Group Meeting Canada and Alberta co-sponsored meeting Oct. 7-9, 2008, Banff, Alberta Session theme: fire, mountain pine beetle, and fuel mgt Pre-meeting workshops: Canada-Mexico Fire Science and Technology Exchange Alberta Fire Management Tour: Provincial Forest Fire Centre: fire operations Canadian Forest Service: fire research University of Alberta: education National Parks: prescribed burning, fuel mgt Hinton Training Centre: National Fire Training 42 nd Annual Fire Management Working Group Meeting Canada and Alberta co-sponsored meeting Oct. 7-9, 2008, Banff, Alberta Session theme: fire, mountain pine beetle, and fuel mgt Pre-meeting workshops: Canada-Mexico Fire Science and Technology Exchange Alberta Fire Management Tour: Provincial Forest Fire Centre: fire operations Canadian Forest Service: fire research University of Alberta: education National Parks: prescribed burning, fuel mgt Hinton Training Centre: National Fire Training NAFC-FMWG

Ongoing Activities Fire Management Study Tours Purpose is to exchange information between countries on fire problems, and methods to find solutions. Usually results in recommendations and considerations for improvement from both visitors and hosts. Formal study tours started in 1968 when North America hosted a tour delegation from 23 countries Every 4 years, NAFC-FMWG hosts an Australia/New Zealand study tour delegation; Australia/New Zealand provides the same, so that the host location alternates every 2 years Other foreign delegation tours are regularly supported or hosted by NAFC-FMWG and its members Fire Management Study Tours Purpose is to exchange information between countries on fire problems, and methods to find solutions. Usually results in recommendations and considerations for improvement from both visitors and hosts. Formal study tours started in 1968 when North America hosted a tour delegation from 23 countries Every 4 years, NAFC-FMWG hosts an Australia/New Zealand study tour delegation; Australia/New Zealand provides the same, so that the host location alternates every 2 years Other foreign delegation tours are regularly supported or hosted by NAFC-FMWG and its members NAFC-FMWG

Ongoing Activities The International Wildland Fire Conference Series NAFC-FMWG is a major supporter of the IWFC’s, in cooperation with FAO and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Has become the major international conference on fire management, S&T applications, and wildland fire policy (the last conference attracted 1600 people from 88 countries) 4 previous conferences: Boston 1989, Vancouver 1996, Sydney 2003, Seville 2007 NAFC-FMWG is strongly represented on the International Liaison Committee, assisting to plan the next conference in South Africa (in 2011) The International Wildland Fire Conference Series NAFC-FMWG is a major supporter of the IWFC’s, in cooperation with FAO and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Has become the major international conference on fire management, S&T applications, and wildland fire policy (the last conference attracted 1600 people from 88 countries) 4 previous conferences: Boston 1989, Vancouver 1996, Sydney 2003, Seville 2007 NAFC-FMWG is strongly represented on the International Liaison Committee, assisting to plan the next conference in South Africa (in 2011) NAFC-FMWG

Ongoing Activities The Global Wildland Fire Network The Global Wildland Fire Network serves as an advisory body to the United Nations system (under UNISDR) NAFC-FMWG represents the North America region, one of 13 Global Regions in the Network Each Network is hosting a Regional Consultation to discuss regional fire problems, and identify steps towards solutions NAFC-FMWG is planning to host a Regional Consultation for the Americas (in 1-2 yrs), including South America, Central America and the Caribbean Results of the Regional Consultation process will be presented at the 2 nd International Wildland Fire Summit The Global Wildland Fire Network The Global Wildland Fire Network serves as an advisory body to the United Nations system (under UNISDR) NAFC-FMWG represents the North America region, one of 13 Global Regions in the Network Each Network is hosting a Regional Consultation to discuss regional fire problems, and identify steps towards solutions NAFC-FMWG is planning to host a Regional Consultation for the Americas (in 1-2 yrs), including South America, Central America and the Caribbean Results of the Regional Consultation process will be presented at the 2 nd International Wildland Fire Summit NAFC-FMWG

Future Focus: Critical Fire Issues Fire suppression challenges: steadily increasing costs, demographic changes (limited young recruitment), increasing fire activity and greater demand on limited resources, equipment renewal and upgrades, and litigation Wildland – Urban Interface (WUI): continuous expansion of the WUI and greater exposure to fire regimes of increasing fire activity Land management: need to focus on the core issue of fire in land management rather than the suppression of wildfire Climate change: consistent general trend of increasing area burned, fire intensity, fire severity, and longer fire seasons Air quality: increasing wildfire activity causing release of greater amount of pollutants, resulting in greater public exposure to hazardous emissions Fire suppression challenges: steadily increasing costs, demographic changes (limited young recruitment), increasing fire activity and greater demand on limited resources, equipment renewal and upgrades, and litigation Wildland – Urban Interface (WUI): continuous expansion of the WUI and greater exposure to fire regimes of increasing fire activity Land management: need to focus on the core issue of fire in land management rather than the suppression of wildfire Climate change: consistent general trend of increasing area burned, fire intensity, fire severity, and longer fire seasons Air quality: increasing wildfire activity causing release of greater amount of pollutants, resulting in greater public exposure to hazardous emissions NAFC-FMWG

Thank you – Gracias! 41 st NAFC-FMWG Meeting Guadalajara, Mexico Sept , 2007 North America-Australasia Joint Regional Meeting 4 th International Wildland Fire Conference Seville, Spain May 14-18, 2007