IANS
New Delhi, February 23, 2008
A new report released Wednesday by the UN Environment Programme and GRID–Arendal showed that climate change and land-use changes are expected to increase wildfires. This will lead to an increase in extreme fires by up to 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by the end the century.
The paper calls for a radical shift in government spending on wildfires. They should shift their investments from response and reaction to prevention and preparedness.
The report, Spreading like Wildfire. The Rising Threat of Extraordinary Land Fires, shows that there is a significant risk for the Arctic and other areas that were previously unaffected.
The report is made available before the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-52) resumes its 5th session in Nairobi, between February 28th to March 2.
The publication calls for governments to adopt a new Fire Ready Formula, where two-thirds are devoted to recovery, prevention, preparedness, and planning, while one third is for response.
Currently, wildfire response costs are more than half of the total, while planning is less than one percent.
Authors call for a combination data- and science-based monitoring systems, indigenous knowledge, and stronger regional and international cooperation to prevent fires.
“The current government responses to wildfires often put money in the wrong places,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director. UNEP Executive Director Inger Anderson said that support should be given to firefighters and emergency service personnel who risk their lives to fight wildfires in forests.
“We need to reduce the risk of extreme wildfires. This means that we must be more prepared. The poorest countries around the globe are particularly affected by wildfires. Wildfires have an adverse effect on progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They can last for days, weeks, or even years.
Wildfires are exacerbating climate change.
Climate change is making wildfires more common through increased drought, high temperatures, low relative humidity and lightning, and strong winds, which can lead to longer, hotter fire seasons.
Wildfires are also contributing to climate change, primarily by ravaging carbon-rich ecosystems such as rainforests and peatlands. This makes landscapes into tinderboxes and makes it harder to stop rising temperatures.
Wildfires often threaten wildlife and its natural habitats, leading to the extinction of some species.
Recent examples include the 2020 bushfires in Australia, which are believed to have decimated billions of wild and domestic animals.
Understanding wildfire behaviour is critical. To achieve and sustain adaptive land management, policies, legal frameworks and incentives must be combined to encourage fire-use and land use.
The restoration of ecosystems can be an important way to reduce wildfire risk and to rebuild better after they have occurred.
The essential investments in prevention, preparedness, and recovery include the restoration of wetlands and the reintroduction or restoration of species such as beavers and peatlands.
