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Fire education needs to reach the whole community, including children
and others who may not have been involved in the community planning
process. The education program should cover:
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The community plan, fire protection assessment, and
reasons why the community has decided to protect certain areas from
fire.
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Emphasis on how easy it is to prevent wildfires,
compared to how difficult it is to stop a fire once it is large, or to
replant after a fire.
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Fire-related rules adopted by the community: for
example, limitations on fanners' burning their fields; how rules will
be enforced; penalties.
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Agreements on cooperation for fire suppression.
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Current fire conditions, early warnings about drought,
and whether burning is allowed by law or by the community.
Kalahan Education Foundation,
Philippines
An effective model of a community-based fire protection program was
started in the late 1970s at the Kalahan Education Foundation in Imugan,
Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. The Imugan community uses all
approaches in their fire protection program. To reduce the risk to the
forest reserve, farmers clear ten-meter wide strips and plant Senna
spectabilis trees (greenbreaks) along the forest boundaries.
The village's fire-brigade also suppresses fires: everyone who is
able rushes to a fire to help put it out when an alarm is sounded.
Wildfires are prevented by controlling traditional
agricultural fires. Farmers must apply for a permit before clearing
their farm plot. After they receive the permit, farmers clear their land
under strict prescribed-burning regulations written by the Foundation
members. Requirements include the following:
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A two-meter wide firebreak must be cleared around the
proposed burn area.
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Burning can only take place during the early morning or
late afternoon when there is little or no wind.
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Before burning, farmers must notify their neighbors of
the time, date, and location of the burn. Neighbors often help to
assure a safe burn.
Each farmer is responsible for any damage to his or her neighbor's
crops, trees, or buildings caused by wildfires escaping from his/her
agricultural burns. When there is fire damage, the damages are reviewed
at a village meeting and the settlement payment is set by the Foundation
Board of Trustees. This payment usually takes the form of food or work,
rarely cash.
The results of the Imugan wildfire prevention program have been
dramatic. In the first year, the area damaged from wildfires was reduced
by 90% (400 ha to 40 ha). 14,000 ha of Miscanthus grassland with
patches of native forest is now returning to native secondary forest. |
