Fires

This Manual is first and foremost a community tool to facilitate implementation of Ghana’ s National Wildfire Management Policy. However it will also serve as an instrument for fire management trainers in communities with little experience in fire management and for consultation by professionals, students, policy makers, practitioners and communities when faced with fire related problems and incidents. It is expected that the Manual will constitute a solid base for capacity building in fire management.

Fires are a natural phenomenon. However, over 90% of all wildland fires today are due to human action causing significant forest loss between 6-14 million hectares of forest per annum. This leads to enormous economic losses, damage to environmental, recreational and amenity values, and loss of life. There is strong recognition that action is needed to catalyse a strategic international response to forest fires. This report by WWF and IUCN reviews the global situation following the 1997-98 fires and suggests recommendations for action.