Forest fire management through the promotion of community participation

The increasing area damaged by forest fires worldwide requires the developed and developing countries to increase their budget for fire suppression and control operations. However, their respective government(s) cannot at all provide bigger budget allocation for fire protection work and related activities. As such, community participation should be enhanced in the over-all implementation of forest fire management. This approach is seen to be more effective, less costly, and more sustainable in the long run. There are five stages of community participation that can be adopted in fire management namely: receiving of information, consultation, cooperation, communication' and participation in committee environment meetings. However, it is more ideal to have a community that is "responsibilized" and more committed in the practice of fire management. An active, reliable, and resourceful community in fire protection is the essence of community based fire management (CB FirM). It focuses on the development of local resources, knowledge, and systems in fire management. In the Philippines, the Canaam Watershed Project in Vintar, Ilocos Norte is a case whereby the communities are active participants in fire protection work. Through their association (association of Vintar Highlanders, Inc. AVHI), the rural people set up their fire organization, communication system, purchase tools and equipment, conduct training, and implement income generating projects in support of fire protection and control activities in the watershed area. The approaches that can enhance and promote community participation in fire management are (a) conduct of community organizing, (b) establishing coalition with existing organization, (c) getting the support of local leaders, (d) training and development of management, (e) land-use intensification, (f) provision of mutual assistance and security system arrangement, and (g) establishment of linkages and networking. There are several actors in CB FirM aside from the rural people (communities) and they have very important roles and responsibilities to perform. However, the bigger challenge to all concerned is how to develop the rural communities as the solution instead of being the cause of the problem on forest fire. They must be empowered to manage fire according to their own needs