Community-based fire management: Trends, needs and next steps for capacities, technologies, gender equality and social inclusion

Forest fires pose a significant threat to Southeast Asia’s environment, economies and communities. The resulting transboundary haze affects public health and ecosystems. To address this, RECOFTC and the USDA Forest Service initiated a five-year project in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, focusing on community-based fire management (CBFiM).  

This report presents the results of a four-component capacity development needs assessment on CBFiM across these four countries. It identifies gaps, challenges and opportunities in fire management practices, technologies, and gender equality and social inclusion. It also highlights varying national priorities within the integrated fire management framework’s 5Rs: review, risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery.  

It outlines six key capacity-building priorities and offers recommendations to enhance fire management, including community training, technology adoption, gender-responsive planning integration and the inclusion of marginalized groups in decision making.