NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) – COOPERATION WITH GFMC

NATO Advanced Research Workshop
Use of Satellite and in Situ Data to Improve Sustainability

Kyiv and Chernobyl, Ukraine, 9-12 June 2009

On 9 to 12 June 2009, the NATO Advanced Research Workshop Use of Satellite and in Situ Data to Improve Sustainability. The partners Sergiy Zibtsev (National University of Life and Environment Science of Ukraine – NUBiP), Chad Oliver (Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, U.S.A.) and Johann Georg Goldammer (Global Fire Monitoring Center / Max Planck Institute for Chemistry / United Nations University contributed on Early detection and monitoring wildland fires from satellite and in situ data: Preparedness and response and Wildfires in the irradiated forests around the failed Chernobyl nuclear power plant: Needs for development of early warning, detection and monitoring capacity for disaster risk reduction.

Fire science and management specialists and NATO / NOAA Advanced Research Workshop Organizers (from left to right): Sergiy Zibtsev (National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine), Johann G. Goldammer (GFMC), Felix Kogan (NOAA) and Alfred M. Powell Jr. (NOAA).

ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)

 

Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

On 16-17 January 2020, the OECD-PLACARD Workshop “Adapting to a changing climate in the management of wildfires” was hed at the OECD Conference Centre, Paris, France. The workshop aimed at identifying issues that need to be addressed to create a conducive environment for aligning wildfire actions, by public as well as private actors, and to design an effective funding architecture to boost wildfire adaptation actions, including ensuring the continued availability of financial protection against wildfire risk; to identify the added-value of international and intergovernmental cooperation on this issue, and to define priority areas where the OECD could contribute to addressing existing gaps in its work going forward. The GFMC contribution will address the role of innovation and technology in wildfire management (J.G. Goldammer); OECD Conference Centre, Paris, France

GFMC presentation “Innovative approaches in enhancing governance and interoperability in landscape fire management: Interagency and international”. Photo: S. Lahaye.

Follow-up Studies

  • OECD (2023), Taming Wildfires in the Context of Climate Change, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/dd00c367-en. (mirrored by GFMC, PDF 3.9 MB)
  • OECD (2024), Taming wildfires in the context of climate change: The case of Greece. Country Case Study. OECD Environment Policy Paper No. 43 (mirrored by GFMC, PDF 3.3 MB)
  • OECD (2026), Towards an integrated rural fire management framework in Portugal. Country Case Study OECD Environment Policy Paper No. 49 (mirrored by GFMC, PDF 1.9 MB)

OECD at the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference (2023)

ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

International Conference
“Forest Fires: Management and International Cooperation for Preventing Forest Fires in the APEC Region”

4-6 October 2010, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation

The International Conference “Forest Fires: Management and International Cooperation in Preventing Forest Fires in APEC Region” was convened at the initiative of the Russian Federation and aimed to strengthen cooperation between the emergency services of the APEC member economies in order to express readiness of the region to reduce the risks of disasters.

53 representatives from eight APEC member economies and key experts from the world took part in this event.

The subject of forest fire prevention under the APEC activities has been raised and considered for the first time. Primarily, this is due to the fact that in the context of the ongoing process of climate change, forest fires have become a growing problem globally and particularly in the APEC region and require mobilization of the international community to devise measures to prevent them.

Objectives of the Conference

  • Providing an opportunity for the emergency services of APEC member economies to share their experience in forest fires risk management both in research and practical activities;
  • Enhancing regional cooperation and verify the general similarities and differences in order to avoid duplication of efforts;
  • Developing a mechanism of cooperation and coordination between the emergency services of the APEC economies in forest fires management at local and regional levels.

Conference Agenda and Outcomes

The APEC Conference GroupDemonstration of aerial fire suppression (BE-200)

Memorial and minute of silence for Leonid Grigorievich Kondrashov, former leader of the Regional North East Asia Wildland Fire Network, who passed away on 29 April 2010). A medal of recognition was handed over by the Russian Federal Forest Agency Rosleskhoz to his widow Marina Shevchenko, accompanied by GFMC Director Johann Georg Goldammer.

Study Course
“Wildfire Management in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Region”

7-11 November 2011, Moscow, Russian Federation

In following-up the APEC conference , held in Khabarovsk in 2010 (cf. above) the Study course was held at the Academy of State Firefighting Service, EMERCOM of Russia, Moscow, Russian Federation.

GROUP OF SEVEN (G7)

Group of Seven (G7)
G7 Addressing Wildfires 1975–2025

Introduction
The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States; additionally, the European Union (EU) is a “non-enumerated member”. It is organized around shared values of pluralism, liberal democracy, and representative government. The G7 is not based on a treaty and has no permanent secretariat or office. It is organized through a presidency that rotates annually among the member states, with the presiding state setting the group’s priorities and hosting the summit.

The G7 Research Group is a global network of scholars, students and professionals in the academic, research, media, business, non-governmental, governmental and intergovernmental communities who follow the work of the G7, the G8 and related institutions. The group’s mission to serve as the world’s leading independent source of information, analysis and research on the G7/8. Founded in 1987, it is managed from Trinity College in the University of Toronto:

The G7 Research Group has provided an overview of the G7 Commitments on Wildfires since G7 summits started in 1975. G7 leaders have released five public, collective, precise, future-oriented, politically obligatory commitments on wildfires in their summit’s communiqués:

Summary of the Research Group: The first commitment was signed 2006 at St. Peterburg, Russia, when Russia was then a full member of the G8. The next came two years later, at the Toyako-Hokkaido Summit in Japan. The years after, at L’Aquila, Italy, in 2009, G8 leaders produced two commitments, followed 15 years later in 2024 Italy, G7 leaders produced the next one – announcing that “we will also take steps to prevent, manage, and address the negative impacts of extreme wildfires.


At the annual summit of the Group of Seven (G7), convened by the 2025 presidency Canada in Kananaskis, Canada, the leaders of G7 – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the USA – released the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter in which they expressed the concern that the world has experienced record-breaking wildfires and declared boosting global cooperation integrated action to reduce the incidence and negative impacts of wildfires and ensure our readiness to help each other, and partners, when needed.

Heads of Governments of G7 and the European Commission

Consultations betweeh heads of governments of G7, the European Commission and svereal heads of governments of the Group of Twenty (G20)

The Charter explicitly recognizes the Global Fire Management Hub as a key platform for strengthening wildfire resilience. The Charter encourages countries and invited partners to coordinated action on wildfire prevention, risk reduction, data-sharing, equipment interoperability, and post-fire recovery. 

Coming just days after the Fire Hub Plenary, this milestone reinforces the Fire Hub’s role on the global stage and sets the tone for stronger international collaboration as we move into our next phase of work. It was also followed by an announcement of new funds from Canada (CAD 13.5 million) to accelerate the work of the Fire Hub.

EURASIAN FIRE IN NATURE CONSERVATION NETWORK (EFNCN)

Germany-Ukraine Cooperation in Landscape Fire Management


Forest Management as a Prerequisite for the Development of Productive, Fire- and Climate-resilient Forests in Ukraine



Following the current war, Ukraine will require large quantities of timber during the reconstruction phase. Appropriate forest management (tending) strategies are crucial for increasing productivity and value in the commercial forests of Ukraine. Moreover, forest tending is of great importance for the maintenance of diverse tree mixtures as risk insurance in the face of climate change.

Forest management is also a key measure to reduce the wildfire risk in pine-dominated forests, especially close to settlements. By reducing combustible material through tree removal, but also with the help of controlled burning, safety measures can be taken to prevent or mitigate landscape fires. Adequate measures will be tested with the involvement of local stakeholders. With the proposed project, the existing forest management guidelines in Ukrainian forests can be revised, in order to implement optimized management regimes.

The expected results are relevant to the further scientific foundation and monitoring of forest conversion in the pilot forest enterprises Lviv and Sambir. Important goals such as the production of high-quality timber as well as other forest ecosystem services are addressed. The results will also be incorporated into Ukraine’s 2035 forestry strategy.

In addition, the proposed project will provide evidence on the prevention and control of landscape fires in Ukraine and thus support the refinement of Ukraine’s forest fire strategy to changing conditions

Project partners

  • Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE)
  • Ukrainian National Forestry University (UNFU)
  • National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP)
  • Regional Eastern Europe Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC)
  • Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC)

Additional information

Project Activities

06-10 October 2025

Joint excursion of project partners in Germany:

Group photo taken at Forest District Office Stift Neuzelle (Eisenhüttenstadt)

09 May 2025

Village Defense against wildfires – Kosachiv Village, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine: Planning a Wildfire Protection Corridor by the Regional Eastern Europe Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC) with representatives of Kosachiv Forestry Department of the Chernihiv Forestry Branch of the State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine.

07 April 2025
At the first Stakeholders Forum of the Platform for Action of the Green Recovery of Ukraine (Parkovy Convention and Exhibition Center, Kyiv, Ukraine and online) REEFMC addressed the problem of wildfires in land management, forestry and conservation.

28 March 2025
Briefing of leadership of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP) – including Rector Prof. Vadim Tkachuk – at the Regional Eastern Europe Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC) on the state of progress in landscape fire research and academic education, including monitoring and impact assessment of wildfires occurring during the war in Ukraine.

10-11 March 2025
Demonstration for the use of prescribed fire for natural regeneration of pine stands in Ukraine, conducted by Staff of the Department of Forestry of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Forestry and Horticulture of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP) and the Regional Eastern Europe Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC) at Boyarka, Ukraine.

  • Site preparation for the regeneration of pine forests of NUBiP of Ukraine “Boyarska LDS” using prescribed fire (Ukrainian and English PDFs)

11 April 2024
Staff of the Department of Forestry of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Forestry and Horticulture of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP), the Regional Eastern Europe Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC) and the Ukrainian Forest Safety Center (UFSC) jointly and with the support of specialists from the Chernihiv Forestry branch of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” carried out the second stage of planned measures to reduce the natural fire hazard of pine forests by prescribed fire application near the village of Kosachivka, Chernihiv region.

  • Forestry and fire management demonstration for reducing the wildfire hazard in forests near populated areas (Ukrainian and English) (PDF)

The joint Prescribed Burning Team of NUBiP, REEFMC, UFSC and the Chernihiv Forestry branch, State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”, demonstrating safe burning techniques aimed at reducing surface fuels and thus wildfire hazard near the village of Kosachivka, Chernihiv region. ©Photos: REEFMC.

GFMC – WALDBRANDFORSCHUNG IM FORSTREVIER HARTHEIM-BREISACH 

Grundlagenforschung und anwendungsorientierte Waldbrandversuche im Forstrevier Hartheim-Breisach, Deutschland

Durchgeführt von der Arbeitsgruppe Feuerökologie / GFMC zwischen 1977 und 2008 

Das Forstrevier Hartheim (Forstamt Breisach, Baden-Württemberg) liegt westlich von Freiburg und diente zwischen 1977 und 2008 als zentrales Versuchsareal für die Arbeitsgruppe Feuerökologie / GFMC. Das Revier umfasst Kiefernreinbestände (Pinus sylvestris L.), die auf ehemaligen Auwäldern zwischen den Mäandern des Rheins angelegt wurden, der Anfang des 19. Jahrhunderts von Johann Gottfried Tulla begradigt wurde.

Kontrolliertes Brennen zur Reduzierung der Waldbrandgefahr in Kiefernwäldern: Erste Demonstration und wissenschaftliches Experiment in Hartheim / Breisach (1977)

Die ersten Untersuchungen der Freiburger Arbeitsgruppe Feuerökologie und des GFMC zur Anwendung des Kontrollierten Feuers als naturgemäße Methode der Bewirtschaftung von Wald- und Offenlandökosystemen fanden im Jahr 1977 statt. Zielsetzung: Entwicklung von Verfahren zur Nutzung des Feuers zur Reduzierung des Potentials bzw. Risikos von Vollfeuern in Kiefernwäldern oder die Erhaltung von Offenlandökosystemen wie Zwergstrauchheiden.

Erste wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichung:

Visuelle Eindrücke des ersten Kontrollierten Feuers zur Reduzierung der Auflagen von Brennmaterial in Kiefernbeständen: Forstamt Breisach bei Freiburg i.Br. 1977. ©Fotos: GFMC-Archiv.

Erste wissenschaftliche Konferenz in Freiburg (1977)

Das erste Freiburger Symposium Feuerökologie wurde von der Stiftung Volksagenwerk gefördert und brachte erstmalig Forscher aktiv in feuerökologischer Grundlagenforschung und Praktiker im Feuer-Management aus Deutschland, dem benachbarten Niederlanden, Österreich, Finnland und den USA zusammen. Die ersten Ergebnisse der Versuche in Hartheim wurden vorgestellt.

Erste Erprobung von Luftbildern und Infrarotsensoren zur Erkennung und Charakterisierung von Bodenfeuern unter dem Kronendach von Kiefernbeständen (1980)

Im März 1980 wurden erste Erprobungen optischer und Infrarotsensoren zur Erkennung von Bodenfeuern unter dem Kronendach von Kiefernwäldern durchgeführt. Die beiden Beispiele zeigen einen kooperativen Ansatz mit der Deutschen Luftwaffe – das Taktische Luftwaffengeschwader 51 „Immelmann“, früher bekannt als Aufklärungsgeschwader 51, war ein taktisches Aufklärungsgeschwader der deutschen Luftwaffe und bis Anfang der 1990er Jahre auf dem Luftwaffenstützpunkt Bremgarten stationiert. Gemeinsame Experimente zwischen der Arbeitsgruppe und der Luftwaffe wurden durchgeführt, um die Nutzbarkeit von Luftbildern und Infrarotsensoren zur Erkennung und Charakterisierung von Bodenfeuern Kronendach in angepflanzten Kiefernwäldern zu testen. Die auf der RF-4 Phantom II montierten Kameras und Sensoren wurden im Rahmen einer internationalen militärischen Aufklärungsmission nach Sardinien, Italien, auf dem Rückflug am Standort Hartheim-Breisach eingesetzt.

In March 1980, first experiments were conducted for testing optical and infrared sensor to detect surface fires under canopy of pine forests. The two examples show a cooperative approach with the German Air Force – Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 “Immelmann” (Tactical Air Force Wing 51 “Immelmann”), formerly known as Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 (“Reconnaissance Wing 51”), was a tactical reconnaissance wing of the German Air Force. Stationed at Bremgarten Airforce Base until the early 1990s. Joint experiments between the researchers and the Air Force were conducted to test the utility of aerial photographs and infrared sensors for detection and characterization of sub-canopy surface fires in planted pine forests. The cameras and sensors mounted on RF-4 Phantom II (McDonnell Douglas) were deployed to the Hartheim-Breisach site in connection with an international military reconnaissance mission to Sardinia, Italy.


Entwicklung und Tests von Schaumlöschmitteln für die Waldbrandbekämpfung (1982)

Anfang der 1980er Jahre arbeitete die Arbeitsgruppe Feuerökologie mit der Industrie zusammen, um umweltfreundliche Schaummittel für die Brandbekämpfung im Wald und im Offenland zu entwickeln. Einer ersten Reihe von Experimenten im Revier Hartheim folgten umfangreiche weitere Tests in realistischen Waldbrandsituationen wurden in Niedersachsen durchgeführt wurden.

Die Feldforschung zur Entwicklung von Schaumlöschmitteln begann 1982 im Revier Hartheim (oben), gefolgt von weiteren Experimenten mit Vollfeuern im Bundesforstbezirk Wense (Niedersachsen) (Mitte und unten). Die anspruchsvollsten Experimente auf dem Truppenübungsplatz Bergen der Bundeswehr beinhalteten u.a. den Einsatz von militärischen Kampfpanzern, um eine Feuerschneise in einem mittelalten Kiefernbestand zu schaffen, der mit Mittel. und Schwerschaum gesichert war, um damit erfolgreich Boden- und Kronenbrände aufzuhalten. ©Fotos: Arbeitsgruppe Feuerökologie.

Entwicklung von Satellitensensoren zur Erdbeobachtung von Landschaftsbränden (1994-95)

Seit Anfang der 1990er Jahre unterstützte GFMC die Entwicklung, den Test, die Kalibrierung und die Validierung von Satellitensensoren zur Lokalisierung und Charakterisierung von Wald- und Offenlandbränden und fotografischer Erdbeobachtung von Space-Shuttle-Missionen. In den Jahren 1994-1995 unterstützte das GFMC (über seine Vorgängerinstitution Arbeitsgruppe Feuerökologie) das Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) bei der Durchführung des Entwicklungsprojekts FIRES (FIre REcognition Satellite System).

Die ersten Tests zur Kalibrierung und Validierung von Sensoren zur weltraumgestützten Detektion und Charakterisierung von Landschaftsbränden: Geometrisch definierte Brände im Offenland und unter dem Kronendach eines Kiefernbestands im Forstrevier Hartheim / Breisach bei Freiburg. Die Instrumente wurden 1995 von einer Do-228-212 des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt vom Flugplatz Freiburg aus über die Versuchsbrände geflogen. Das erfolgreich kalibrierte Instrument wurde von der Mission Mars-96 gestartet. Das russische Raumschiff ging jedoch verloren. ©Fotos: GFMC-Archiv.

Aufbauend auf den Experimenten in Freiburg / Hartheim erfolgte die weiterführende Entwicklung nachfolgender Generationen von Satellitensensoren zur Erdbeobachtung von Landschaftsbränden des DLR mit Unterstützung der AG Feuerökologie / GFMC, vor allem die Entwicklung des ersten spezialisierten Feuersatelliten BIRD (Bispectral InfraRed Detection):

Weiterführende Experimente im Hartheimer Wald zur Anwendbarkeit des Kontrollierten Feuers zur Reduzierung der Wildfeuergefahr in Kiefernbeständen (2008)

Zwei Jahrzehnte nach den ersten Versuchen zur Anwendung des Kontrollierten Feuers in Kiefernbeständen von 1977 wurde im Februar 2008 in der Nähe des ehemaligen Versuchsbestands ein weiteres Experiment zur Demonstration des sicheren Brennens durchgeführt. 

GFMC AND THE GROUP OF TWENTY (G20) 

GFMC Cooperation with G20 Presidencies India and Brazil 2023-2024

The G20, or Group of Twenty, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies. It comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, UK, USA) and the European Union (EU). Collectively, the G20 accounts for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade and two-thirds of the world population, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

In November 2020, at the Riyadh (Virtual) Summit of the G20 leaders, the G20 launched the Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats. The ambition of this Global Initiative is to prevent, halt and reverse land degradation and reduce degraded land by 50 per cent by 2040. The G20 countries harbor about two-thirds of the world population, twenty largest economies in the world and premier forum for international economic cooperation. The G20 nations acknowledge the commitment to accelerate progress on the implementation of the UN-SDGs and to support combating land degradation and creating new carbon sinks. 

India held the G20 presidency in 2023 and initiated a priority activity among G 20 nations, to support the capacity building, monitoring of implementation, filling the knowledge gaps, enhancing linkages between the existing multilateral and/or unilateral frameworks for restoration of forest fire impacted landscape. The “Study on restoration of forest fire impacted areas for recovering the natural biodiversity” identified opportunities to enhance cooperation and partnerships among G20 countries for a more robust response to restoration of forest fire affected areas that require urgent action. 

On 24 February 2023, a work visit of the Secretariat of the UN Convention on Combat of Desertification (UNCCD) at GFMC addressed the G20 Global Land Initiative:

Discussion of cooperative work between UNCCD / G20 and GFMC: Muralee Thummarukudy, Director, G20 Global Initiative on Land, UNCCD Secretariat (left), Tony Simons, Senior Fellow – CIFOR-ICRAF; UNCCD G20 Land Initiative (center) and GFMC Chief Johann G Goldammer (right). © Photo by Dennis Eapen Pulimittathu, UNCCD Secretariat.

UNFF Country-led Initiative Thematic Area I – Forest Fires / Wildfires (2023)

In preparation of the 19th session of UNFF (6-10 May 2024), the government of India initiated a country led initiative (CLI) with one focus on “Forest Fires/ Wildfires” and hosted a workshop at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, India, on 01 November 2023. In following-up, a delegation of the Government of India visited GFMC for a consultation, which was also held in conjunction of the G20 Global Land Initiative 

From left to right: K. Ravichandran (Director of the Indian Institute of Forest Management in Bhopal) – Johann Georg Goldammer (Chief, GFMC) – Bivash Ranjan (Additional Director General of Wildlife at the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in India.) – Sanjay Kumar Shukla (Inspector General for Forests in the Government of India) – Ishwar Narayanan (UNCCD Expert in India on Land Restoration). Photos: UNCCD Secretariat / Dennis Eapen Pulimittathu.

19th Session of UNFF, New York, 6-10 May 2024

At the 19th session of UNFF a thematic side event on 6 May 2024 aimed at facilitating an exchange on promoting integrated landscape fire management. Presentations included recent initiatives and policy developments, such as the Landscape Fire Governance Framework presented at 8th International Wildland Fire Conference in 2023, the newly launched Global Fire Management Hub, and the updating of ITTO’s Guidelines on Fire Management in Tropical Forests. India and Korea showcased best practices and lessons learned in their countries. GFMC contributions were highlighted by the contributions of ITTO and FAO:

The G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group

The G20 DRR Working Group, initiated in 2023, aims to integrate risk reduction measures into public and private sector investment decisions and policy making to reduce existing risk, prevent the creation of new risk and, ultimately, build resilient economies, societies, and natural systems. The roadmap of G20 DRR WG focuses on five high-impact Action Areas for disaster risk reduction: 1) Universal Coverage or Early Warning Systems, 2) Disaster and Climate Resilient Infrastructure, 3) Financing Frameworks for DRR, 4) Disaster Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, and 5) Nature-Based Solutions and Ecosystem-Based Approaches for DRR.

The second meeting of the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group chaired by G20 presidency Brazil with the launch of the “Compendium on Nature Based Solutions and Eco-System Based Approaches for DRR“ was planned on 28 May 2024 (postponed due to an emergency situation in Brazil – extreme rainfall and flooding emergency, which ravaged southern Brazil, particularly the State of Rio Grande do Sul, affecting 478 out of the state’s 497 municipalities, affecting over 95% of the region.). The Compendium includes16 cases of from Member States, out of which 4 cases were selected for presentation at the meeting – including the report submitted by the German Government “Serving the science-policy-practitioners interface in landscape fire management and wildfire disaster risk reduction at global level” highlights the role of Integrated Fire Management (IFM) as a relevant approach and the role of GFMC at international level serving the science-policy interface. Chair of the session: Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Mr. Kamal Kishore; presentation by GFMC; Brasilia, FAO Rome and online. 

GFMC AND UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund


Safe from Wildfire Smoke – Healthy Environments for Healthy Children

The impact of wildfire smoke on children is profound and unsettling. Studies reveal that PM2.5 emitted by landscape fires is approximately ten times more harmful to children’s respiratory health compared to PM2.5 from other sources, particularly affecting the vulnerable age group of 0 to 5 years. Landscape fire smoke has been extensively linked to increased respiratory morbidity and mental health issues, ranging from asthma and cardiovascular diseases to lung ailments. Prenatal exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with low birthweight, premature birth and increased risk of child deaths. Moreover, the enduring impact of wildfires extends beyond immediate health concerns and casts a long shadow on children due to injuries, disabilities, trauma, loss of learning and recreational opportunities, and displacement. 

In 2024, UNICEF has published a technical note that endeavors to distil a wealth of research, guidance and tools, and synthesize a comprehensive understanding of the impact of wildfire smoke on children. It is intended for policymakers and implementers, and seeks to empower meaningful action that shields children from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke, supplementing existing guidance on air pollution. We also hope that this technical note along with country experiences will inform and help shape formal global guidance on this critical issue. GFMC and a member of the UNDRR Wildland Fire Advisory Group (WFAG) have supported UNICEF and provided relevant thematic information for the development of the technical note:

See also GFMC post on Community-Based Fire Management – Children:

GFMC DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES AND METHODOLOGIES

Selected Examples of Development of Fire Management Technologies and Methodologies by GFMC and Partners

Sequence: Top down from 2022 to 1977

Editorial note: The following examples represent the work of GFMC and its predecessor institution – the Fire Ecology Research Group of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Freiburg University – with emphasis work in Germany only. R&D work outside Germany is published on the GFMC website. Some photo collages published on the GFMC Germany web post have captions / explanations in German language. All GFMC support to technology development has been carried out on honorary, voluntary basis without any commercial involvement.

The Welte Backpack Tank

Hundred thousands of agricultural and forestry tractors in Europe and around the world are equipped with a standardized three point linkage (or three-point-hitch), a standardized system to attach implements to tractors. They comprise of three movable arms assembled in a triangle or ‘A’ formation, and are controlled by the hydraulic system allowing lifting, lowering and tilting. The low- and high-pressure pumps of the Welte Backpack Tank are powered by three point linkage and discharge water (including option of wetting / foam additives) from water tanks with volumes between 600 and 1300 liters. With the option of having highly maneuverable off-road units operated by foresters, farmers and communal (fire) services, this technology enable local communities if effective and water-saving response to landscape fires, including those burning the interface to villages, farmstead and other residential areas.

Field trials with the Welte Backpack Tank (Welte Tankrucksack) in Sexau, Emmendingen County, Baden-Württemberg State, Germany, March 2022.

Fire Management on Terrain contaminated with Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Active and abandoned military training areas in Germany, some of them in use for more than a century, have been subjected to mechanical disturbances as consequence of movements of military vehicles and tanks, and the direct and indirect impacts of artillery shooting and bombing exercises, often associated with wildfires started by explosive ordnance. These training areas provide habitats and refugia for endangered species and open land ecosystems. Abandoned or reduced disturbances by military training have resulted in plant succession towards forest formation, resulting in losses of habitats for endangered species dependent on open-land ecosystems, notably the Calluna vulgaris heathlands. In some areas the desired effects of meanwhile abandoned military activities and wildfires are substituted by targeted grazing, mechanical treatment or prescribed fire. However, within Germany a total area in the magnitude of tentatively 250,000 ha of high-conservation value is contaminated with unexploded ordnance (UXO). While grazing alone cannot maintain openness in all cases, mechanical treatment and prescribed burning cannot always be considered as complementary measures due to the threat of UXO explosions. 

Starting with the first conceptual plans in 2006, a project was launched in 2009, entitled “Testing and developing methods for heathland management using controlled fire on areas contaminated with ammunition in the Heidehof-Golmberg Nature Reserve (Teltow-Fläming county, Brandenburg State, Germany). The project was implemented between 2010 and 2014. While the core of the project initially focused on the safe use of prescribed fire on sites contaminated with UXO, which are protected and subject to a conservation requirement under EU law, it was foreseeable that the project would also develop technologies and procedures for safely fighting wildfires on UXO-contaminated terrain. From 2012 on, and especially in 2018-2023, the technology was successfully applied in the German Federal States Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hesse.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the highest proportion of UXO contamination – former military training areas / shooting ranges and combat areas of WW II

Securing safe prescribed burning with the SPOT-55 fire fighting tank (11,000 liters of extinguishing agent, full armor against uncontrolled detonations)

Ignition tank – a converted but still fully armored BMP command tank – with an ATV Drip Torch and a Pyroshot Green Dragon ignition sphere launcher for the safe ignition of controlled fires or suppression firing

Ignition of a prescribed fire (= suppression firing / backfiring) from the armored BMP ignition tank

Monitoring the progress of the fire using drones and tethered balloons (left) and UXO

Mapping the burned areas and handing over the uncovered ammunition to the explosive ordnance disposal service

Project results (in English):

Project websites with further details references and reports (in German):

EuroFire Competency Standards and Training Materials
EuroFire was a two-year project implemented by GFMC and partners between 2006 and December 2008, funded by the EU Leonardo da Vinci program. The project brought together partners with international expertise and experience in wildfire and prescribed fire research, management, and training to develop, evaluate, produce and distribute new European-wide, multi-lingual online training resources.

The EuroFire project researched and reviewed competency-based wildfire and prescribed fire training systems, including best practice examples from Europe and around the world. This research informed the production of competency-based basic training resources, for use in European countries.

The EuroFire training resources have been specifically developed to support firefighting personnel, the land-based sector, sectoral organizations and education, and training institutions.

The EuroFire outputs include competency standards, training modules, illustrations and general guidance on a competency-based training system. Training resources that can be used by industry practitioners to update their knowledge, learn new skills or increase their understanding of basic wildfire and prescribed fire management techniques.

After termination of the active project in 2008, the FMC continued involving partners nin countries / regions to around the world to translate and apply the EuroFire materials for creating a basis of international cross-boundary interoperability in fire management. 15years later, in 2023, the EuroFire materials – originally developed in English language – have been translated for the use in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil (Portuguese), Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Latin America (all Spanish-speaking countries), Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Nepal, Russia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. These 23 language versions are serving, among other, 88 English-speaking countries, 20 Spanish-speaking countries and 29 French-speaking countries.

GFMC Contributions and Support to Earth Observation of Landscape Fires
Since the 1990s, GFMC has supported the development, test, calibration and validation of satellite sensors and photographic Earth Observation from Space Shuttle missions. Instrument tests included sensors for ground-based fire and fire-smoke detection systems.

Through a series of field trials and large forest fire experiments near Freiburg and in Brandenburg State (Germany) in 1994 and in 2001, GFMC supported the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in the calibration and validation of satellite sensors, which were launched into orbit with the small satellite BIRD (Bispectral InfraRed Detection) in 2001, and provided data until 2004 that enabled the further development of spaceborne observation instruments. This mission is described in the FireBIRD brochure. © Photos and satellite data: DLR and GFMC.

Automated fire smoke detection systems, which had been developed by DLR, were calibrated and improved during the Brandenburg State (Germany) in August 2001, followed by commercial application in Germany since then. © Photos: DLR and GFMC.

For more information – including cooperation with NASA Space Shuttle missions, see dedicated website:

Firefighting with Foam
In the early 1980s, the predecessor institution of GFMC – the Fire Ecology Research Group – cooperated with the industry towards developing environmental-friendly firefighting foaming agents. A series of fire experiments, generating realistic wildfire situations, revealed the utility of foam application in suppression of wildfires in forests and open-land-ecosystems.

Field research on the development of foam extinguishing agents in Breisach Forestry District (Baden-Württemberg State) and Wense Federal Forestry District (Lower Saxony State) in 1982. The most demanding experiments on the military training range Bergen of the German Federal Army involved use of military combat tanks to create a fire break in a dense middle-aged Scotch Pine stand, which was secured by medium, and low-extension foam, able stopping surface and full-scale crown fires.

Publication of results:

Prescribed Burning Techniques for Application in Industrial Countries of Europe
First studies by the Freiburg Fire Ecology Research Group – predecessor institution of GFMC – on the use of prescribed fire as close-to-nature method of managing forest and open land ecosystems took place in 1977. Objective: Development of methods for using fire to reduce wildfire hazard in pine forests or in the preservation of open-land ecosystems such as dwarf shrub heath ecosystems. First publication in 1977:

Visual impressions of the first prescribed fire set to reduce fuels / wildfire hazard in pine stands: Breisach Forest District near Freiburg, Germany, in 1977.

Application of prescribed fire in the restoration of capercaillie habitats in the Black Forest – see field project highlight of April 2007: https://gfmc.online/feueroekologie/EU-Life-project.html

The first application-oriented research and development trials in the use of prescribed fire to maintain openness and ecosystem properties in cultural vineyard lands in Southwest Germany were conducted in the mid-1990s in Baden-Württemberg State.

Staring in the early 2000s, prescribed burning in conservation and restoration of open-land ecosystems, notably dwarf-shrub heathlands  

Further exemplary related references on the GFMC online repository:

GFMC AND THE OUTER SPACE

GFMC Contributions and Support to Earth Observation of Landscape Fires

Since the 1990s, GFMC has supported the development, test, calibration and validation of satellite sensors and photographic Earth Observation from Space Shuttle missions. Instrument tests included sensors for ground-based fire and fire-smoke detection systems.

The first steps in the 1990s and early 2000s

In 1994-1995, the GFMC (through its predecessor institution Fire Ecology Working Group) supported the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in carrying out the development project FIRES (FIre REcognition Satellite System).

First tests for calibration and validation of sensors for space-based detection and characterization of landscape fires: Geometrically defined fires in open land and under the canopy of a pine forest in Breisach Forest District near Freiburg, Germany. The instruments were flown by a Do-228-212 of the German Aerospace Center operating out of Freiburg airfield in 1995. The successfully calibrated instrument was launched by the Mars 96 mission. However, the Russian spacecraft got lost. © Photos: GFMC archive.

Preparation and execution of a large forest fire experiment in Brandenburg State (Germany) in August 2001. Objective: Calibration of the satellite sensors, which were launched into orbit a few weeks later with the small satellite BIRD (Bispectral InfraRed Detection) and provided data until 2004 that enabled the further development of spaceborne observation instruments. Picture below left: Symbolic representation of the fire observation satellites BIROS (front) and TET-1 (back), which have been flying in the FireBIRD mission since 2016 in a mini-constellation on two spatially offset sun-synchronous orbits. This mission is described in the FireBIRD brochure. © Photos and satellite data: DLR and GFMC.

BIRD Small Satellite Mission Flyers:

In a follow-up series of experiments in Brandenburg State (Germany) in July 2003, the sensors on board of BIRD were tested again. A few days later, on 4 August 2003, information on the location and intensity of landscape fires was sent to the Portuguese authorities. This contributed to decision support for prioritizing fire suppression. © Photos and satellite data: DLR and GFMC.

Peat fires and coal seam fires in Indonesia are predominantly burning sub-surface. In May 2002, radiative power is detected by BIRD – as documented in GFMC Working Paper 2002/1 (cf. below – Briess et al. 1997). © Photos and satellite data: DLR and GFMC.

Automated fire smoke detection systems, which had been developed by DLR, were calibrated and improved during the Brandenburg State (Germany) in August 2001, followed by commercial application in Germany since then. © Photos: DLR and GFMC.

Follow-up: The FireSense Project

On 23 March 2019, a prescribed burn in Zschornoer Wald Nature Reserve was conducted on a conservation site belonging to the Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) Naturerbe (German Federal Environment Foundation – Natural Heritage) – a former military shooting range (aerial bombing range). The aim of the prescribed burn was to regenerate overaged Calluna vulgaris heather, implemented by the Federal Forest Service Enterprise Lausitz in cooperation with GFMC and partners. The prescribed burn operation was associated with the FireSense Experiment. The experiment included real-time observation and characterization of fire behavior – with simultaneous testing of ground-based, aerial (drone and aircraft) and satellite (multi-sensor) observation from space.

This experiment aimed at developing improved algorithms and products for the quantitative assessments of landscape fires and their emissions of trace gases and aerosols or validation and calibration of satellite by testing polar-orbiting satellites accompanied with fixed-wing aircraft and UAV. For details see GFMC FireSense website.

Global Observations of Forest Cover and Land-use Dynamics (GOFC–GOLD)

Between 2002 and 2016, the GFMC Director served as Co-Chair, Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping Implementation Team, Global Observation of the Forest Cover (GOFC) program of the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) – alternate Co-Chair: Christopher O. Justice, University of Maryland, USA.

The GOFC/GOLD-Fire Mapping and Monitoring Theme is aimed at refining and articulating the international observation requirements and making the best possible use of fire products from the existing and future satellite observing systems, for fire management, policy decision-making and global change research.

  • Ahern, F., J.G. Goldammer, and C. Justice (eds.). 2001. Global and regional vegetation fire monitoring from space: Planning a coordinated international effort. SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, The Netherlands, 302 p. – Table of contents (PDF, 0.6 MB), Available now through Kugler Publications.

Websites and Online Information of DLR, GFMC and partners

GFMC and UN Office for Outer Space Affairs

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is the Secretariat for the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), a specialized committee of the UN General Assembly. The OOSA website provides background papers of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) which includes a report on Disaster Prediction, Warning and Mitigation (A/CONF.184/BP/2).

At the Forty-fourth session of the COPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (Vienna, 12-23 February 2007) a special session “Space-system-based disaster management support” included a presentation of GFMC:

GFMC Cooperation with NASA Space Shuttle Missions

Space Transportation System 60 (STS–60) (Commander: Charles F. Bolden Jr.) was the first mission of the U.S. / Russian Shuttle-Mir Program, which carried Sergei K. Krikalev, the first Russian cosmonaut to fly aboard a Space Shuttle. The mission used NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, which lifted off from Launch Pad 39A on 3 February 1994, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The mission carried the Wake Shield Facility experiment and a SPACEHAB module, developed by SPACEHAB Inc., into orbit, and carried out a live bi-directional audio and downlink link-up with the cosmonauts aboard the Russian space station Mir.

For the first time in the Shuttle program, there was a true international partnership for Earth observations. The photographs taken by the mission aimed at monitoring changes around the world. After return of the mission on 11 February 1994, a Debriefing of the Crew took place at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Huston / Texas on 7 March 1994. GFMC took over the role of debriefing / interpreting STS-60 observations of forests and vegetation fires around the world.

STS-69 Crew photo dedicated to GFMC – clockwise from bottom left: Kenneth S. Reightler Jr., Franklin R. Chang-Díaz, Ronald M. Sega, Sergei K. Krikalev, N. Jan Davis, Charles F. Bolden Jr.

Crew Incentive Program / Debriefing of STS-60 Crew hosted by Captain (German Navy) Johann G. Goldammer, from left: Sergei K. Krikalev, Johann G. Goldammer, Charles F. Bolden Jr., Ronald M. Sega, with Earth greetings (beer keg) of Rothaus Brewery (Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus), Black Forest, Germany, that was spotted by STS-60 from space.

In following up STS-60, the preceding STS-61 mission (2-13 December 1993) was evaluated, resulting in the following publication:

STS-61 Crew photo dedicated to GFMC – Standing (from left): Richard O. Covey, Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Thomas Akers; seated (from left): Ken Bowersox, Kathryn C. Thornton, Story Musgrave and Claude Nicollier.

Related Publications of DLR, NASA, GFMC and Partners

Note: References are listed in time sequence, starting 1995:

B.J. Stocks, G.N. Korovin, A. Sukhinin, D.R. Cahoon, and J.G. Goldammer. 1995. Forest fire occurrence in Russia and Canada: Ground, aerial, and satellite measurements. IUFRO XX World Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6-12 August 1995. Abstract Vol., p.87.

Goldammer, J.G., J.L. Pfund, M.R. Helfert, K.P. Lulla, and STS-61 Mission Crew. 1996. Use of the Earth Observation System in the Space Shuttle Program for Research and Documentation of Global Vegetation Fires: A Case Study from Madagascar. In: Biomass burning and global change. Vol. I (J.S. Levine, ed.), 236-240. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.

Briess, K., H. Jahn, and H.P. Röser. 1997. BIRD – A DLR Small Satellite Mission for the Investigation of Vegetation Fires and Vegetation Condition. Int. Forest Fire News (IFFN) No. 16 (January 1997), 40-44.

Cahoon, D.R., B.J. Stocks, M.E. Alexander, B.A. Baum, and J.G. Goldammer. 2000. Wildland fire detection from space: theory and application. In: Biomass Burning and its Interrelationships with the Climate System (J. Innes et al., eds.), 151-169. Kluwer Acad. Publ.

Oertel, D., P. Haschberger, V. Tank, F. Schreier, B. Schimpf, B. Zhukov, K. Briess, H.-P. Röser, E. Lorenz, W. Skrbek, J.G. Goldammer, C. Tobehn, A. Ginati, and U. Christmann. 2000. Two dedicated spaceborne fire missions. In: Proc. Joint Fire Science Conference and Workshop, Boise, Idaho, USA, 15-17 June 1999, Vol. I, p. 254-261. Published by the University of Idaho and the International Association of Wildland Fire. 

Goldammer, J.G., and P. Frost. 2000. Towards a global system for forest fire monitoring and mapping: Breakout recommendations and priorities. In: Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping: A Component of Global Observation of Forest Cover. Report of a Workshop (F. Ahern, J.-M. Grégoire, and C. Justice, eds.), 37-41. Eur. Comm. Joint Res. Center EUR 19588EN, 253 p.

Stocks, B.J., J.G. Goldammer, D.R. Cahoon, and P. Frost. 2000. Global fire monitoring: International policy requirements. In: Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping: A Component of Global Observation of Forest Cover. Report of a Workshop (F. Ahern, J.-M. Grégoire, and C. Justice, eds.), 79-84. Eur. Comm. Joint Res. Center EUR 19588EN, 253 p.

Goldammer, J.G. 2000. Current state and future role of synthesis initiatives. In: Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping: A Component of Global Observation of Forest Cover. Report of a Workshop (F. Ahern, J.-M. Grégoire, and C. Justice, eds.), 152-158. Eur. Comm. Joint Res. Center EUR 19588EN, 253 p.

Ahern, F., J.G. Goldammer, and C. Justice (eds.). 2001. Global and regional vegetation fire monitoring from space: Planning a coordinated international effort. SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, The Netherlands, 302 p.

Goldammer, J.G. 2001. Current state of synthesis initiatives in global vegetation fire monitoring. In: Global and regional vegetation fire monitoring from space: Planning a coordinated international effort (F. Ahern, J.G. Goldammer, and C. Justice, eds.), 71-103. SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, The Netherlands, 302 p.

Stocks, B.J., J.G. Goldammer, P.G.H. Frost, and D.R. Cahoon. 2001. Towards the development of an informed global policy on vegetation fires: what role for remote sensing? In: Global and regional vegetation fire monitoring from space: Planning a coordinated international effort (F. Ahern, J.G. Goldammer, and C. Justice, eds.), 35-46. SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, The Netherlands, 302 p.

Goldammer, J.G. 2001. Current state of synthesis initiatives in global vegetation fire monitoring. In: Global and regional vegetation fire monitoring from space: Planning a coordinated international effort (F. Ahern, J.G. Goldammer, and C. Justice, eds.), 71-103. SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, The Netherlands, 302 p.

Ahern, F.J., A.S. Belward, C.D. Elvidge, J.G. Goldammer, J.-M. Grégoire, C.O. Justice, J. Pereira, E.M. Prins, B.J. Stocks. 2001. The Fire Component of Global Observation of Forest Cover: a Plan of Action. In: Global and regional vegetation fire monitoring from space: Planning a coordinated international effort (F. Ahern, J.G. Goldammer, and C. Justice, eds.), 267-290. SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague, The Netherlands, 302 p.

Oertel, D., K. Briess, W. Halle, M. Neidhardt, E. Lorenz, R. Sandau, F. Schrandt, W. Skrbek, H. Venus, I. Walter, B. Zender, B. Zhukov, J.G. Goldammer, A.C. Held, M. Hille, and H. Brueggemann. 2002. Airborne forest fire mapping with an adaptive infrared sensor. Int. J. Remote Sensing 24, 3663-3682.

Zhukov, B., D. Oertel and J.G. Goldammer. 2002. BIRD Detection of Coal Seam Fires in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) Working Paper 1 / 2002 (PDF, 0.8 MB)

Goldammer, J.G., A.C. Held, M. Hille, K.-P. Wittich, E. Kuehrt, N. Koutsias, D. Oertel, K. Thonicke, and W. Cramer. 2003. Early Warning, Monitoring, Information Management and Simulation of Forest Fires: Results of the Research Cluster Forest Fire within the German Research Network for Disaster Reduction. 4. Forum Katastrophenvorsorge, Deutsches Komitee für Katastrophenvorsorge (DKKV), Extended Abstracts, 5-7. DKKV, Bonn.

Goldammer, J.G., A.C. Held, M. Hille, K-P. Wittich, E. Kuehrt, N. Koutsias, D. Oertel, K. Thonicke, and W. Cramer. 2004. Frühwarnung, Monitoring, Informationsmanagement und Simulation von Waldbrandgefahr. Teilprojekt A2. In: Risiken durch Naturgefahren in Deutschland. Abschlussbericht des BMBF-Verbundprojektes Deutsches Forschungsnetz Naturkatastrophen (DFNK) (B. Merz and H. Apel, eds.), 230-245. GeoForschungszentrum Potsdam, Scientific-Technical Report, 339 pp. <ISBN 1610-0956>. 

Huang, S., F. Siegert, J.G. Goldammer, and A.I. Sukhinin. 2009. Satellite-derived 2003 wildfires in southern Siberia and their potential influence on carbon sequestration. International Journal of Remote Sensing 30, 1479-1492. doi: 10.1080/01431160802541549. ISSN 0143-1161 print/ISSN 1366-5901.

Mallinis, G., I. Mitsopoulos, E. Beltran, and J.G. Goldammer. 2016. Assessing wildfire risk in cultural heritage properties using satellite imagery and spatially explicit fire simulations: The Case of Holy Mount Athos, Greece. Forests 7 (46), 1-19. ISSN 1999-4907. doi:10.3390/f7020046.

Myroniuk, V., S. Zibtsev, V. Bogomolov, J.G. Goldammer, O. Soshenskyi, V. Levchenko, M. Matsala. 2023. Combining Landsat time series and GEDI data for improved characterization of fuel types and canopy metrics in wildfire simulation. J. Env. Management 345, 118736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118736

Related

Since 2019, GFMC – in honorary role – supported the start-up OroraTech. The company, growing since then, offers the global wildfire intelligence solution, including risk assessment, early detection, real-time monitoring, and damage analysis with data from 20+ satellites (Status: December 2023).

OroraTech website: https://ororatech.com/wildfire-solution/