Brazil - Focus on Forest Fire Prevention

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000712 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KGHG EAGR EAID SOCI BR SUBJECT: Brazil - Focus on Forest Fire Prevention ¶1. SUMMARY: The Brazilian environmental protection agency (IBAMA) and its forest fire prevention unit (PREVFOGO) are seeking ways to better control forest fires. These efforts included the organization of two seminars in March 2008 focused on promotion of inter-agency coordination and advanced planning for fire prevention efforts in the Federal District and the Amazon region. END SUMMARY. ¶2. IBAMA's National Center of Prevention and Combat of Forest Fire (PREVFOGO) plays a leading role in combating forest fires. They are seeking to improve their capabilities. As part of that effort, PREVFOGO and the Federal District's Environment and Urban Development State Secretariat (SEDUMA) hosted the 10th Federal District Forest Fire Forum and 1st Seminar on Amazon without Fire on March 1-4, 2008, bringing together over 70 participants from scientific institutions, universities, and governmental organizations. The Italian Cooperation General Direction also provided financial support to the Amazon without Fire program. ¶3. Brazil is currently ranked one of the top five greenhouse gas producers worldwide, with an estimated 75 percent of emissions cause by fires related to deforestation. Agricultural burning practices are also common in Brazil, ranging in scale from the itinerant cultivation traditions of small indigenous groups, to the large and highly intensified production systems of sugar cane and cotton. On a broad scale, fire promotes environmental damage through factors including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity reduction, damage to soils, and human health risks. Deforested and degraded areas are more susceptible to subsequent forest fires than healthy forests. ¶4. In the case of the Federal District, burning for agricultural preparation has contributed to devastation of the region's Cerrado ecosystems and local fauna and flora (loss of biodiversity), reduction in water infiltration, accidental death and property loss. With 42 percent rural land, the Federal District is heavily impacted by fire each dry season (May - October). Moreover, Federal District fire management specialists are challenged to overcome recurring peat fires. Tropical peat lands consist of humid layers of forest debris that serve as gigantic stores of carbon. When dry, these reserves pose major fire hazards, as peat fire can burn almost indefinitely, even underground, until fuel is exhausted. Peat fires are emerging as a global threat with significant economic, social and ecological impacts. ¶5. The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) employs real-time fire monitoring via satellite that shows a large proportion of fires occurring in deforested, degraded areas. Fires are set for a variety of reasons including: "slash and burn" agricultural pre-planting practices, sugar cane manual harvest time, land tenure controversies, and vandalism/arson. Over 300,000 heat points (fires) covering millions of Km2 are detected by INPE annually through satellite images, 85% of which occur in the Amazon states (Legal Amazon). Among recent years, 2004 recorded the highest number of fires, with progressive decreases observed in 2005 and 2006. ¶6. The Brazilian Agricultural Enterprise (EMBRAPA) has developed a campaign to reduce the use of fire for agricultural preparations. The goal of the campaign is sensitize communities to the damage caused by indiscriminate and off-season field burning, suggesting alternatives practices that can substitute for fire in agricultural production systems. Primary objectives of the campaign are to reduce deforestation, reduce the use of fire in cattle production, and educate producers of technologies for fire control. ¶7. The Italian Fire Cooperation program "Amazon without Fire" has expanded Italian fire prevention cooperation in 34 municipalities of the States of Acre, Mato Grosso and Para in the last seven years. The Italian program attributes success to stakeholder involvement and community management plan development. According to Italian representative Roberto Bianchi, the numerous positive program results included: - 75 percent fire reduction in municipalities; BRASILIA 00000712 002 OF 002 - Training of 50.000 families in the rural and urban families; - Training of doctors, nurses, and health agents in respiratory diseases treatment; - Agroforestry practices focused on perennial cultivation, ecological pastureland management, and creation of private reserves; - Social outreach stimulating literacy and fire-sensitive environmental education; - Civil society participation via "Environmental Defense Local Committees" - Radio-based public service announcements promoting fire management, respiratory diseases prevention and information and dry season fire calendar information. ¶8. In conclusion, enhanced inter-agency coordination and advanced planning amongst Brazilian institutions represent two elements of a national strategy to reduce the incidence of fire related to deforestation and agricultural production. These fire prevention efforts also will contribute to broader plans to reduce Brazilian greenhouse gas emissions. CHICOLA